Blog Edition | Just Add You
Creating Holiday Magic with Upcycled Crafts
A few years ago, my son brought home a gift he purchased from his elementary school’s holiday market. I had known he was going and braced myself for a pipe cleaner and glitter contraption held together with an abundance of Elmer’s glue and hope. I was not prepared to be so wowed by his purchase that years later, I look forward to holiday decorating just to hang it up.
This present opened my eyes to a whole world of similar kinds of crafts that I am itching to make. They are exactly the kind of pure, handmade goodness that evoke a sense of nostalgia and childlike wonder that are worth sharing. And, because I love you, I am going to point you to YouTube instructions on how to make each one:
Paper Bag Snowflakes. These are similar to the one my son brought home (shown above), but the ones in this video are more ornate since they were made by an adult rather than a third grader. Watch the video by CreateWithJenn to get instructions on how to make your own.
Designer Decor Dupes. There are some amazing West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel inspired holiday items made from folded paper that look amazing. A creator named Oksana FancyBloom has put several on her channel from elegant stars to pine trees and an assortment of ornaments. Check out her Shorts for super-fast tutorials.
Book-Page Pouches. Treasure Books has a great video by this same title that I think are beautiful for giving gift certificates to our favorite local businesses or to wrap small gifts like jewelry that comes on flat cards (like those gorgeous sparklies from Polka Dots Boutique and Grace Old Town).
Simple Book Page Wreath. Kinda Shabby has a gorgeous and SUPER easy wreath tutorial on her channel using little more than old book and some glue. This is one you can leave bare and it’s just as spectacular as if you were to coat it with fake snow or spray glitter.
You know I’ll be adding pine from my yard and dried oranges from my neglected fruit bowl to these crafts to maintain my nature-centered upcycled vibe, but even if I left plain, they’d still be exquisite. I hope you grab a stack of old books, your glue gun, and some friends for a cozy craft party to fill your homes with these delightfully sustainable decor.
