Recycled Christmas Decorations: 13 Free Ideas Hiding in Your Recycling Bin

Recycled Christmas decorations might be the best kept secret of the holiday season, because the supplies are already sitting in your kitchen. Before you take out the recycling this week, look again. That soup can, the jar lid, the wine cork and the shipping box from your last order can all become decorations that look charming, cozy and handmade. Millions of people are watching these ideas online right now, and it is easy to see why: they cost nothing, they keep waste out of the trash, and they are fun to make on a cold evening with a cup of cocoa. Here is how to turn your bin into a box of holiday magic..

Recycled Christmas Decorations for the Whole Table

This whole table of decorations started in a recycling bin. Tin cans became star lanterns, jar lids turned into tiny snow scenes, a wine cork became a reindeer and old newspaper folded into stars. Facebook videos of ideas like these have pulled in hundreds of thousands of reactions, because everyone loves a free project. Start by rinsing and saving your cans, lids and boxes for a week, and you will have plenty to work with. Which of these will you make first..

You will need: clean tin cans, jar lids, corks, cardboard, old newspaper, acrylic paint, ribbon, glue, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Rinse and dry everything you save and sort it into a box. 2. Pick two or three projects from this list. 3. Set up a craft night and make them together at the kitchen table.

Tin Can Star Lanterns: Recycled Christmas Decorations That Glow

Fill a clean can with water and freeze it overnight. The ice holds the shape while you tap holes with a nail and hammer, so the metal does not bend. Paint it red or white, slip a string of battery fairy lights inside and the stars glow on a porch step or mantel. They look like expensive lanterns from a home store, and they cost nothing. Ask an adult to handle the hammer and nail. Where would a row of these glow best at your house?

You will need: clean tin cans with smooth edges, water, freezer, nail and hammer (adult only), marker, spray or acrylic paint, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Fill the can with water and freeze it solid. 2. Draw stars with a marker and tap holes along the lines with a nail. 3. Let the ice melt, dry the can, paint it and add battery lights.

Scrap Wood Reindeer Ornaments

Thin scraps of plywood left over from a project, or the backs of old picture frames, can become lovely reindeer ornaments. Trace a round ornament with a deer and little trees inside, and have an adult cut it out with a scroll saw, or simply paint the scene on a plain wood circle. The warm wood glows beautifully against green branches. Who in your home has a pile of wood scraps in the garage?

You will need: thin plywood scraps or old frame backs, pencil, scroll saw (adult only) or acrylic paint, sandpaper, drill (adult), twine.

How to make it: 1. Trace a round ornament with a reindeer scene on the wood. 2. Have an adult cut it out, or paint the scene with acrylics. 3. Sand the edges, drill a small hole and add twine.

Lace Doily Angel Ornaments

Old lace doilies from a grandmother’s drawer or a thrift store bin make the most delicate angels. Fold a round doily into a cone for the dress, use a smaller piece for the wings and tie it all with a thin red ribbon. Stiffen it with a little fabric starch so it holds its shape. These recycled Christmas decorations look like antiques the moment they go on the tree. Do you have a box of old linens waiting for a new purpose?

You will need: old lace doilies, fabric stiffener or starch, a small wooden bead, thin red ribbon, needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Dip the doily in fabric stiffener and shape it over a paper cone to dry. 2. Fold a smaller piece into wings and stitch them to the back. 3. Glue a bead head on top and tie a ribbon bow and hanging loop.

Cereal Box Tags to Match Your Recycled Christmas Decorations

The plain brown inside of a cereal box is the perfect kraft paper for gift tags. Cut tree, star and rectangle shapes, punch a hole and tie on baker’s twine. Add a sprig of rosemary or a paper snowflake and they look like the tags sold in gift shops. One box makes dozens, so you will never pay for tags again. How many presents are on your list this year?

You will need: empty cereal boxes, scissors, hole punch, baker’s twine, a pen, small greenery sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Open the box flat and trace tag shapes on the brown side. 2. Cut them out and punch a hole at the top. 3. Write names, tie on twine and add a little sprig.

Newspaper Star Garland

Old newspaper pages fold into beautiful stars that look vintage and cozy on a tree or mantel. Fold simple paper stars, then string them on twine with a few wooden beads between them. The gray text gives a soft, farmhouse look that goes with any color scheme. It is a calm, quiet project for an evening with a holiday playlist. Which room needs a little vintage charm?

You will need: old newspaper or book pages, scissors, glue stick, twine, a large needle, wooden beads.

How to make it: 1. Cut paper into squares and fold them into simple stars. 2. Glue the points so they keep their shape. 3. Thread the stars on twine with beads in between and hang.

Recycled Christmas Decorations From Old CDs

Those old CDs in the drawer can finally shine again. Cut them into small pieces with sturdy scissors, then glue the shiny bits onto a plastic ball or a cardboard star. When the tree lights hit them, they sparkle like a disco ball. It is one of the most eye catching recycled Christmas decorations, and the reflections dance on the walls at night. Ask an adult to cut the CDs because the edges can be sharp. Will you make one big ball or a set of small ones?

You will need: old CDs, sturdy scissors (adult only), plastic or foam ornament balls, strong craft glue, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut the CDs into small pieces. 2. Glue pieces shiny side out onto the ball, leaving small gaps. 3. Let it dry and add a ribbon loop.

Cardboard Snowflake Wall Art

Cardboard from shipping boxes becomes crisp snowflakes with a little white paint. Cut thin strips, glue them into star shapes or roll paper tubes into petals, then paint everything white. Hang a cluster on a wall or window and it looks like a store display. If you have a lot of paper towel tubes, this is where they shine. How many snowflakes could fit on your front window?

You will need: cardboard boxes or tubes, scissors, craft glue, white paint, string or removable hooks.

How to make it: 1. Cut cardboard into thin strips or tube rings. 2. Glue the pieces into a snowflake shape and let it dry. 3. Paint white and hang with string.

Coffee Can Planter: Recycled Christmas Decorations for a Mini Tree

A metal coffee can makes a sturdy pot for a tiny real or faux Christmas tree. Paint it green or red, tie a ribbon around the middle and set the little tree inside. Add a string of battery lights and a few small ornaments, and you have a tabletop tree for a kitchen, office or dorm. It is one of the easiest recycled Christmas decorations in this list. Where could a little tree make someone smile?

You will need: clean coffee can, spray or acrylic paint, ribbon, small potted or faux tree, mini ornaments, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Paint the can and let it dry. 2. Tie ribbon around the middle. 3. Set the tree inside and decorate it with tiny ornaments and lights.

Book Page Origami Christmas Trees

A worn out paperback or an old magazine folds into a little tree that looks like modern art. Fold each page toward the spine, again and again, until the whole book fans out into a cone shape. Leave the soft printed pages as they are for a vintage look, or brush the edges with gold. A row of three on a shelf makes a calm, cozy holiday scene. Did you know a stack of old books could look this good?

You will need: an old paperback or magazine nobody will read again, glue, gold paint (optional), a small star for the top.

How to make it: 1. Fold each page’s top corner to the spine, then fold again into a point. 2. Repeat for every page until it stands like a tree. 3. Paint the edges if you like and glue a star on top.

Burlap Coffee Sack Stockings

Coffee shops often give away their burlap sacks, and the printed fabric makes rustic stockings with real character. Cut two stocking shapes, sew or glue the edges and add a cuff of old flannel or sweater. Hang them on the mantel for a farmhouse look that money cannot buy. If you like rustic ideas, our pine cone Christmas crafts pair perfectly. Who in your home would love a stocking with a story?

You will need: burlap coffee sacks, a stocking template, fabric glue or sewing machine, flannel or sweater scraps for the cuff, twine.

How to make it: 1. Trace and cut two stocking shapes from the burlap. 2. Glue or sew the edges, leaving the top open. 3. Add a cuff and a twine loop for hanging.

Broken Jewelry Sparkle Ornaments

Single earrings, broken necklaces and loose beads finally have a purpose. Glue the sparkly pieces onto a plain ornament or a felt circle and they catch the tree lights like jewels. Old costume jewelry from a grandmother makes these extra special, because every gem holds a memory. Ask family members to check their jewelry boxes for orphan earrings before you start. Whose old brooch would you love to see on the tree?

You will need: broken or single pieces of costume jewelry, plain ornaments or felt circles, strong craft glue, pliers (adult help), ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Remove backs and clasps from the jewelry with pliers. 2. Arrange the pieces on the ornament and glue them in place. 3. Let it dry overnight and add a ribbon loop.

Shipping Box Gingerbread House, the Biggest Recycled Christmas Decorations

That big box from your last delivery can become a gingerbread house the kids can actually sit next to. Paint it brown, add white puffy paint icing on the roof and windows, and glue on paper candies. Put a battery light inside so the windows glow at night. It is the last of our recycled Christmas decorations and maybe the most fun. Who would be the first to move in?

You will need: a large cardboard box, brown and white paint, white puffy paint, colored paper, glue, craft knife (adult only), battery light.

How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut a door and windows and fold extra flaps into a roof. 2. Paint the box brown and add white icing lines. 3. Glue on paper candies and set a battery light inside.