Upcycle for green holidays

While the chilly breeze outside keeps everyone bundled up and reminds us that the holidays are near, remember that going green on gifts and decorations can not only lessen our impact on the environment but on our wallets, as well. It's no secret that the U.S. has a tendency to spend a pretty penny on commercialized products around this time of year, but it shouldn't be an excuse to create mountains of waste and junk. Use your financial powers for good this season, and try your hand at recycling, upcycling and repurposing things for all of your holiday needs.

Make – if you must – those big purchases, such as TVs or laptops, but for everything else use a little more creativity than the average consumer. Many of us forget that the meaning and thought behind giving presents is much more important than the gifts themselves. If you're not much of a crafter, try perusing vintage shops and thrift stores to find perfectly good gifts, which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Eco-friendly stores like Uncommon Goods, upcycling boutiques like Green House, and sustainable brands like TOMS Shoes are wise choices for green gift giving ideas, as well. Buying from local retailers not only reduces packaging and shipping waste related to shipping, but is a good way to invest in our local economy and sustain jobs in our neighborhoods.

A great way to cherish old greeting cards from loved ones is to turn them into ornaments and use them to decorate your tree or home. Cut out stars, snowflakes or other festive patterns in the cards, then punch a hole in the top of your design and hang them with string. To make decorative garlands and wreaths try using natural materials you can find outside like pinecones and branches, or classic treats like popcorn and Cheerios. Both options save you from buying mass-produced, plastic junk that you don't need anyway.

Wrapping paper can really wreak havoc on our landfills, especially types of paper that are difficult or impossible to recycle because of dyes, tape, foil and other non-paper additives. Old newspapers, magazines, maps, T-shirts and other fabrics can be used to create unique, beautiful and green-friendly wrappings. According to statistics from

the University of Colorado, if every American household wrapped a mere three presents using recycled or upcycled methods, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields and enough ribbon to tie a bow around the entire Earth. That is an immense amount of

waste we can save by simply using alternative gift-wrapping techniques.

As for the gifts, try making them yourself this year and save a bunch of money instead of purchasing commercial items that can be easily made from home. There are several simple homemade projects that the whole family can work on together without harming the environment. My "Jill of All Trades" column in the Accent is focused on easy, do-it-yourself crafts that can also make great gifts, such as screen-printing custom T-shirts, homemade

journals and paper lantern lamps.

Making a gift for someone with your own hands is far more meaningful than charging a factory-forged product to your credit card. It can also be a deed for the greater good by promoting sustainable living during a highly commercialized season. Don't forget to recycle all your wrapping paper, packaging materials and Christmas tree once the holidays are over. Enter your ZIP code at recyclingcenters. org/Texas to find recycling centers near you.