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Green Holiday Idea #2: Wrap It Your Way
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One of the things that gives us instant holiday blues: all those piles of post-gift-opening wrapping paper, crumpled and used and pretty darn sad. It's sad because some fun is over, but it's really sad because that's a lot of wasted paper. Did you know that half of the paper consumed in the U.S. every year is used to
wrap and decorate stuff? Even if we're normally good about saving paper, it seems like the holidays are a time when people forget about conserving resources. But presents need to be pretty, right?
Ah, but that's where you can really have some fun! Wrapping doesn't have to mean cutting a huge swath of store-bought printed paper. It can be a chance to get creative and express yourself, and make your gift extra-special because you did something different and original with it. Here are a few ideas:
Don't forget the finishing touches! Give your gift some bling such as fabric or reused bows and ribbons, or take a walk in your backyard and scoop up leaves, fir or cedar branches, pine cones, and sticks. (Avoid berries, since they can be poisonous to young kids and pets.)
If you create something truly fantastic, snap a photo and email to us at itsmylife@pbs.org!
Ah, but that's where you can really have some fun! Wrapping doesn't have to mean cutting a huge swath of store-bought printed paper. It can be a chance to get creative and express yourself, and make your gift extra-special because you did something different and original with it. Here are a few ideas:
- First, the "duh." Save wrapping paper to reuse by opening it neatly. If you need a large sheet, try collaging together smaller ones.
- Paper can be found everywhere. The Sunday comics is a time-tested favorite, as is torn out sheets from magazines. Where else? Think about old calendars, posters, unused wallpaper, and even old road maps. Fancy them up if you need to with a layer of clear or colored cellophane.
- Tear open brown paper grocery bags and decorate the insides. Buy a roll of "butcher paper" at a craft or art store. If something's small enough, grab a brown paper lunch bag. Decorate with drawings, painting, stickers, rubber stamps, words cut out from magazines, glitter, etc.
- Put something pretty (a ribbon, some glitter, beads, etc.) between two pieces of wax paper; ironing it will glue them together and make a single, spectacular sheet for wrapping.
- Consider fabric, too -- fabric scraps make great wrapping material. If you or a family member like to sew, make reusable fabric gift bags that can maybe even become a holiday tradition in your home.
- If you just have to buy wrapping paper, look out for the kind that's biodegradable or has recycled content.
Don't forget the finishing touches! Give your gift some bling such as fabric or reused bows and ribbons, or take a walk in your backyard and scoop up leaves, fir or cedar branches, pine cones, and sticks. (Avoid berries, since they can be poisonous to young kids and pets.)
If you create something truly fantastic, snap a photo and email to us at itsmylife@pbs.org!
Green Holiday Idea #1: Make Your Own Cards
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Did you know that there are enough greeting cards sold in the United States each year to fill a building as long as a football field and at least 10 stories high! That's a lot of paper, and most of it does NOT go into the recycling bin!
We're feeling very green over here at IML, mostly because our brand new section on Green Living is now live! We hope you come check it out, get some good tips, and post your own ideas on our Green Living You Said It page. In honor of that, we thought we'd post a few suggestions that fit with the season.
There's no better way to save paper (and money!) during the holidays than to make your own cards for family, friends, teachers, and others in your community you want to show some love this season. Start with some plain solid-colored notecards or cardstock and try these ideas with items you probably already have in your house (and are just waiting to get used!):
Now you might be thinking, "Well duh, but I never know what to do with this stuff." Using these materials, you could make a:
Besides helping the planet, remember this: If you don't have the cash to buy someone a gift, a homemade card created from the heart is a great substitute (and often even better!).
If you make a holiday card you're super proud of, scan it and email it to us so we can post it on this blog!
We're feeling very green over here at IML, mostly because our brand new section on Green Living is now live! We hope you come check it out, get some good tips, and post your own ideas on our Green Living You Said It page. In honor of that, we thought we'd post a few suggestions that fit with the season.
There's no better way to save paper (and money!) during the holidays than to make your own cards for family, friends, teachers, and others in your community you want to show some love this season. Start with some plain solid-colored notecards or cardstock and try these ideas with items you probably already have in your house (and are just waiting to get used!):- Cut out images from wrapping paper, magazines, personal photos, and even last year's cards (if your family saved them) to make collages.
- Dig into your stock of stickers for funny images and accents.
- Fabric, ribbons, and buttons add a great artsy look.
- Check the kitchen for aluminum foil and cupcake sprinkles.
- If there's already a stock of craft supplies in your home, look for beads, glitter, pipe cleaners, sequins, felt, yarn, etc.
- Make a design on the computer and print it out, then glue onto the card.
- Go old school -- get some markers or crayons and DRAW!
Now you might be thinking, "Well duh, but I never know what to do with this stuff." Using these materials, you could make a:
- Peace sign
- Christmas tree
- Cross
- Picture of yourself
- Home
- Snowflake
- Snowman
- Santa
- Menorah
- The numbers "2010"
- Or anything you think your card recipient might like...
Besides helping the planet, remember this: If you don't have the cash to buy someone a gift, a homemade card created from the heart is a great substitute (and often even better!).
If you make a holiday card you're super proud of, scan it and email it to us so we can post it on this blog!
DVD Review: "Earth"
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When we read IML'ers postings on our "Helping The Environment" You Said It page, we get the feeling our planet's future is in really good hands. So many of you are already doing what you can to conserve Earth's resources or educating yourselves about how our actions affect that floating ball in space we call home.
Earlier this year, the movie "Earth" was released in theatres and maybe you got a chance to see it on the big screen; now it's out on DVD and Blu-ray. If you love Planet Earth (or maybe just have a little crush), this flick is much more than a nature documentary. It tells the story of one year on the planet, capturing incredible footage from every continent and focusing on three very different animal families (polar bears, humpback whales, and elephants) trying to survive in challenging and changing conditions. It's by turns fascinating, funny, tension-filled, and sad. (If you're like us and hate to see animals scared or suffering, a few scenes are hard to watch. But all part of reality and important to see.)
We watched this and kept thinking, "Whoa! How did they shoot
that?" Fortunately, the DVD offers up a real treat: a behind-the-scenes mini-documentary showing the awesome amount of work, patience, and expertise that goes into making a movie like this.
IML's Rating: A
Hopefully "Earth," along with other films and TV programs like it, will inspire young people to get involved in wildlife conservation. Because our favorite animals in this movie were the humpback whales, we've gathered a few tips on how you and your family can help them out:
Seek out information about conservation issues
--Check out books from your local library on whales and the places where they live to learn more about these amazing animals.
--Contact local conservation groups to find out what they are doing to help animals like the humpback whale and to learn how you can get involved.
---Visit zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to see marine mammals, support marine mammal conservation, and learn more about how you can animals like whales in the wild.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish
--Conserve water at home. Help family members check for leaky faucets and encourage them to use cold water in the wash. Challenge your entire family to take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, and make a rain barrel. This saves water for animals (and people) everywhere.
--Remember, all drains lead to the ocean! Be careful what chemicals, pesticides, and household products you use. Encouraging your family to use green cleaning products is one way to help keep waterways clean. Finding alternatives to chemical pesticides is another way to help wildlife. And recycling motor oil and disposing of hazardous waste properly can ensure pristine lakes, rivers, and oceans for future generations.
Look for and purchase environmentally friendly products
--While many whales are protected from hunting, they sometimes still end up trapped in nets or fishing line intended for other animals. If your family eats seafood, make sure it is "whale and dolphin safe" - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt other animals.
--When dining out, have your parents ask if the seafood is sustainable - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt the fish population or other animals (such as whales and dolphins).
--When fishing, use eco-friendly gear such as fishing line that will decompose and lead-free spinners and weights. Learn about environmentally friendly hooks that can reduce damage to fish during catch-and-release fishing trips. All of these things can help protect aquatic animals and habitats.
--Check out books from your local library on whales and the places where they live to learn more about these amazing animals.
--Contact local conservation groups to find out what they are doing to help animals like the humpback whale and to learn how you can get involved.
---Visit zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to see marine mammals, support marine mammal conservation, and learn more about how you can animals like whales in the wild.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, and replenish --Conserve water at home. Help family members check for leaky faucets and encourage them to use cold water in the wash. Challenge your entire family to take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, and make a rain barrel. This saves water for animals (and people) everywhere.
--Remember, all drains lead to the ocean! Be careful what chemicals, pesticides, and household products you use. Encouraging your family to use green cleaning products is one way to help keep waterways clean. Finding alternatives to chemical pesticides is another way to help wildlife. And recycling motor oil and disposing of hazardous waste properly can ensure pristine lakes, rivers, and oceans for future generations.
Look for and purchase environmentally friendly products
--While many whales are protected from hunting, they sometimes still end up trapped in nets or fishing line intended for other animals. If your family eats seafood, make sure it is "whale and dolphin safe" - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt other animals.
--When dining out, have your parents ask if the seafood is sustainable - meaning it is caught in a way that won't hurt the fish population or other animals (such as whales and dolphins).
--When fishing, use eco-friendly gear such as fishing line that will decompose and lead-free spinners and weights. Learn about environmentally friendly hooks that can reduce damage to fish during catch-and-release fishing trips. All of these things can help protect aquatic animals and habitats.
The 3 R's 4 R World
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Hopefully you've heard these words so much lately that you've taken them to heart -- or are sick to death of them. Or both. It's all good, because then you know what they mean!
So now IML needs your help. We're putting together a brand new section of our site called "Green Living," full of advice for tweens on how to accomplish those 3 R's, as well as other actions that will help save our planet's resources. It's not easy to change habits and give up certain things, but we're sure lots of you out there have already found creative and maybe even fun ways to do just that.
So we want to know: How do YOU reduce the amount of trash you generate? Do you reuse something on a regular basis? Have you and your family hit upon a good formula for recycling? Maybe you and your friends had a clothing-swap party. Maybe you've figured out how to make something rather than buy it new. We're looking for your ideas to include on It's My Life! You can send them to us with your first name and age. If we use your comment on the site, we'll send you a package of groovy IML light-up pens and stickers!
