As I travel to my hometown in the weeks ahead, my excitement grows in anticipation of visiting my parents and extended family, enjoying good eats and exchanging gifts. But one of my favorite traditions is circling the tree to look over my sister’s and my childhood holiday ornaments. Some of the decorations are falling apart and others are fading, but my mom insists they all must be hung on our tree.
This year, however, I would like to introduce a new practice of upcycling disregarded items into beautiful treasures to last for many years to come. I thought Natalie’s sparkly mosaic-style ornaments would be a great first craft. It’s easy to follow, and we only need unused compact discs (CDs) with silver backing, ribbon, scissors, glue and new or used glass ornaments. Visit Crème de la Craft for a step-by-step video tutorial to get your entire family started in making their own.
Turn Waste into Holiday Cheer
It’s estimated that we throw away millions of CDs each year and approximately 100,000 pounds of discs are tossed aside each month in exchange for downloads and/or apps (applications) to use on smartphones, computers and other electronic gadgets, according the Compact Disc Recycling Center of America.
The lightweight, portable circles are made up of various materials including but not limited to aluminum, silver, gold and nickel, all of which are extracted from the Earth. There’s also a mounting list of negative environmental impacts occurring during the manufacturing, packaging and distributing processes of CDs and their accompanying inserts and jewel cases.
Nevertheless, we can extend the life cycle of CDs and eliminate more additions to the already overpopulated landfills by repurposing them into fun crafts like drink coasters, wind chimes and/or sun visors, just to a name a few ideas. You also might consider swapping your favorite discs with a friend or donating or renting them to ensure they avoid the recycling bin or trash. Check out this infographic by the Environmental Protection Agency for more information on reusing discs and other helpful websites.
You don’t have to be a craft guru this holiday season to add a touch of eco-chic pizazz to your family’s décor. Find more upcycling projects at Crème de la Craft’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin pages.
Image courtesy of Crème de la Craft