The holidays cost big bucks, bigger bucks than some out-of-work elves and cash-strapped consumers can afford.
But if you want to pay for Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanzaa gifts this December, especially during difficult financial times, now is the time to plan ahead, now is the time to turn summer trash into Christmas cash.
I sometimes start as early as May or June, making quilted Christmas ornaments, sometimes to give as gifts, other times to sell, raising the funds to purchase presents for my partner, perhaps iTunes for my nephews, a mirror for my mom.
These tree ornaments can be made from found fabric and repurposed paper—skirts to shirts, magazines to maps.
fabric version
another fabric ornament
paper version made from canned tomato labels
variation on the label ornament above (notice ingredient list)
This mixed fabric and paper ornament uses recycled New York Times.
close-up of the same fabric and paper ornament
What you will need:
–found fabric (40 squares per ornament, 2 inches each) OR
–repurposed paper from books, maps, or newspapers (40 squares per ornament, 2 inches each)
–straight pins (approximately 200-210 per ornament)
–Styrofoam balls (2.5 inches each)
–ribbon (5/8 inch, ½ inch, and ¼ inch)
–beads
–scissors
–ruler
Follow these steps:
- Cut fabric and/or paper into 2 inch squares. You will need 40 squares per ornament.
- Pierce center of first square with pin.
- Fold fabric/paper as shown in photos below and attach to ball.
- Add fabric/paper squares until you have 4 in the first circle, 8 in the next, and 8 in the last.
secure with 4 pins across the bottom of the triangle
secure second folded triangle opposite the first
add the third triangle
add the fourth to complete the first set of triangles
add the first triangle of the next set between triangles of the first, inserting the top pin about 1/4 inch from the center
add the second opposite the first
attach the third triangle of the second set
add the fourth
the fifth
the sixth
eighth triangle finishes the second set
second triangle of third set
third triangle of third set and so on until third set is complete
- Repeat steps 2-4 on the opposite side of the ball, again adding 4 squares in the first circle, followed by 8 each in the following 2 circles, until fabric/paper squares nearly meet in the middle and you can see only a narrow band of Styrofoam circling the center of the ball. (See images below.)
side one and side two meet in the middle
- Pin 8 inch strip of ribbon (5/8 inch wide) around the middle of the ball to cover pins.
secure one end of ribbon with two pins
where ends meet secure with two more pins
- Add optional ¼ ribbon over the 5/8 inch ribbon to create layered effect and pin in place.
secure quarter-inch ribbon on either end with pin
- Attach ribbon to form bow on top in desired pattern and color. Secure with pins. I usually use two colors, applied in opposite directions and crossed in the center.
attach first half of bow in the same direction as 5/8 inch ribbon
attach the second perpendicular to the first
- Secure loop for hanging with decorative beads and pin.
loop attached with pin
decorative bead finishes the top
- Pin optional decorative beads in the center of the smallest star on either side of ornament.
feed bead onto straight pin
finished ornament
(Note: I would make a number of ornaments with fabric before proceeding to paper, which is more difficult to manage.)
Will you rethink your ethic of giving this Christmas? Do you have a holiday ecology?
Kathryn M. McCullough 