How to Make Adorable Recycled Christmas Creatures for Holiday Decor
"Want to add a unique touch to your holiday decor this year?"
Instead of buying new decorations, why not use what you already have? In this post, I’ll show you how to create adorable recycled Christmas creatures using old cans and containers.
Not only will you be reducing waste, but you’ll also have fun creating festive snowmen, gingerbread, and reindeer from everyday items!
This post was transcribed by a member of the Hometalk editorial team from the original HometalkTV episode.
Tools and Materials
- Old tin coffee can
- Plastic protein powder canisters
- Spray primer
- Acrylic paints (off-white, brown, orange, red, black, pink, and white)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Green yarn
- Scissors
- Fabric scraps (red and buffalo check)
- Sponge brush
- Paint markers (black)
- Evergreen picks and pinecones (for reindeer)
- Drill and awl (for reindeer)
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1. Prep the Containers
Start by grabbing an old tin coffee can and some plastic protein powder canisters from your recycling bin.
Take the labels off and clean them up. Once the containers are ready, prime them with spray paint.
Let the primer dry completely before moving on to the next step.
2. Paint the Containers
Once the primer is dry, it’s time to give each container a few coats of acrylic paint.
Use off-white for the coffee can (this will be your snowman), and two different shades of brown for the plastic canisters (one will be your gingerbread creature and the other will be your reindeer).
3. Add Decorative Features
Now it’s time to get creative!
For the snowman, cut two pieces of green yarn and make pom-poms. To make a pom-pom, wrap yarn around your fingers about 150 times, tie it tightly in the center, cut the loops, and give it a little trim.
Hot glue the pom-poms to either side of the coffee can.
Next, add a piece of fabric around the top of the can (1-inch wide) and a larger piece around the bottom (3-inch wide).
Fray the edges for a rustic look and glue them down. For facial features, use black paint to make eyes, pink for blush, and orange for the carrot nose.
For the gingerbread creature, wrap some buffalo check ribbon around the base of the plastic container and secure it with hot glue.
Paint a squiggly half circle for a mouth and black circles for eyes. Add a red oval nose and pink circles for cheeks.
Use white paint to add accents to the eyes and nose.
For the reindeer, add black circles for eyes, a red nose, and pink cheeks.
Tie plaid fabric around the base of the container, securing it with glue.
Drill small holes at the top of the container and add evergreen picks, pinecones, and jingle bells to complete the look.
Need more Holiday crafts?
Eco-Friendly and Fun: Recycled Christmas Creatures
Creating these recycled Christmas creatures is a wonderful way to combine sustainability with holiday fun.
These charming little decorations not only reduce waste but also add a personal touch to your home.
So, gather your supplies and start crafting— I'd love to hear what recycled holiday creatures you've created!
Share your tips and tricks in the comments below and inspire others to join in on the fun!
Comments
Join the conversation
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gosh dad made a seasons greeting sign about 65 years ago using metal coffee cans. He slot open, pounded flat, cut out letters and mounted between 2x4’s. Painted top and bottom rails black and each letter red and white. Pieced together smaller cans to get size. It was beautiful and we kids were so proud of our unique outdoor decoration.
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I think this would also work nicely on plain candles.
Frequently asked questions
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