Candle making is a tradition from the Old Country. Hanging wicks and dipping them in wax until the candle is the correct consistency was something we did in art class. Get the family together during the holiday season and teach the kids how to make beeswax candles.

Beeswax candles can be made with beeswax sheets. True beeswax candle makers don’t use these sheets but for homemade candles, beeswax sheets are easy and safe for children to use. The wax is pressed into sheets for use in making different shapes of candles.

Beeswax is a clean burning candle wax. It cleans the air and removes odors as it burns. Beeswax also melts away until almost gone. Any that is left can be molded with more beeswax to create new candles to burn.

Before making beeswax candles, prepare by getting all of your supplies together and setting up an area to work. To make these candles you will need: beeswax sheets, scissors or a knife, candle wicks, a cutting board or other hard surface for cutting. When purchasing the supplies, check to see that the wicks do not contain any lead or other chemicals.

Beeswax usually comes in a light color which is the color of the wax. Adding color introduces chemicals into the wax that can be burned off in the flame. You can get beeswax candles in different colors but they may not burn as clean.

First, watch the children when sharp objects are around. Do any cutting that needs to be done and keep the knife pointed away from the body. Work on the kitchen table so the kids can lean as they work.

1. Lay out a sheet of beeswax. If using colored wax in combinations cut the sheet and add other colored pieces. Lay them close together so they overlap.
2. Take the wick and place it near the beginning of the wax sheet. Let an inch or so of the wick hang out of the bottom of the candle and two inches out of the top of the beeswax sheet.
3. Press the wick gently into the beeswax sheet. The wick needs to be secured so that it will not be displaced during rolling. After the wick is firmly in place, it is time to create the candle.
4. Slowly, roll the beeswax sheet over itself. Keep the rolls tight so no gaps are present in the wax. Continue rolling until the entire sheet is finished or the candle is as wide as you would like it. Larger candles like pillars have one or three wicks depending on width.
5. Cut the wick at the bottom even with the bottom of the candle. Trim the wick at the top of the candle until it is about half an inch long.

Create beautiful candles in various sizes and shapes. Kids can use their creations as homemade gifts or to decorate the house for the Christmas holiday.

Let’s face it-Christmas is a time of excess. We eat too much, we spend too much and, unfortunately, we use too many trees in order to send out Christmas cards. Yet the latter doesn’t have to be a constant if you implement the use of eco-friendly alternatives to the standard wasteful variety.

Christmas Cards That Grow On You

According to Wikipedia.org some 1.9 billion Christmas cards were mailed out in 2005. That’s a lot of dead trees and waste for a one-time-use greeting. When sending out your Christmas cards this year take a minute to evaluate those on your card list. Not everyone necessarily needs a physical card to know you’re thinking of them during Christmas. Personalized e-cards work great for co-workers and waste no paper whatsoever.

For those instances where an e-card just won’t cut it, such as with family or close friends, try sending a Christmas card that will warm their hearts and beautify their flower beds come summer. Seed paper cards are greeting cards created from 100% recycled paper which are imbedded with perennial flower seeds. The recipient can save the card and come spring simply plant the biodegradable card in ground. The seeds will germinate and grow lovely flowers for years to come. You’ll be happy knowing you reused paper that was recycled and your Christmas card recipient will have reduced the number of cards in landfills by planting their Christmas greeting. That’s the three “R’s” covered with one simple card!

Be Caring and Crafty with Homemade Christmas Cards

A huge trend in Christmas cards of late is the personalized touch of creating your own greeting cards. While the supplies to make your own holiday cards are abundant at any craft store the items offered don’t necessarily have the environment in mind. If crafting your own Christmas cards is a hobby you enjoy relax in knowing that you don’t have to give up this holiday pleasure-you just need to find eco-friendly materials to use.

Purchase blank cards and card stock made from recycled paper. Accessorize your cards with natural embellishments such as rustic strings, and dried flowers or fruits. Cut out holiday designs from decorative recycled paper and use these as decals on your handmade Christmas greetings.

Spread the Word

Taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility. Unfortunately with today’s hectic lifestyles being green often takes a backseat to our daily routine. When sending out your eco-friendly Christmas cards you can remind friends and family to put the Earth first by designing your own U.S. postage stamp with a pro-environmental message. Many online companies offer this service and designing your own stamp is easier than you might think.

This Christmas why not take the time to see how you can reduce the impact the festive season has on our planet? While being eco-friendly during the holidays does take some planning the rewards benefit us all. By using recyclable and reusable papers for your Christmas cards you send a message of holiday cheer and environmental responsibility at the same time.

With daily schedules bursting at the seams, decorating your home for the holidays can seem like just another chore on your to-do list. Although it may seem quicker and easier to buy your ornaments at your local discount store, consider clearing some time in your schedule to make your own holiday ornaments.

You’ll find that the time spent creating your unique holiday creations will be well spent.

Here’s a recipe for making your very own Dough Ornaments. It’s simple, fast, and very expensive. More importantly, they are fun to make with family, and you will love the sight of them hanging from your Christmas tree!

Homemade Dough Ornaments

For the dough mixture, you will need:

4 cups of flour

1 cup of water

½ cup of salt

Food Coloring bottles (optional)

Cookie Cutters (optional)

2 cups ground cinnamon (optional)

For decorating your ornaments:

Ribbon
Acrylic paints and brushes
Glitter, Stickers, Stamps, Etc.

Clear protective paint sealant

Mix the dry ingredients together, and then add water. If you’d like, you can add food coloring to your dough mixture. You may want to mix up several batches of different-colored dough, or you can plan on decorating your ornaments later with acrylic paints.

For an extra special treat, mix two cups of ground cinnamon into your dough mixture. Your ornaments will be tinged with a wonderful cinnamon scent!

If your dough mixture feels too sticky, add more flour. Knead the dough until it is smooth and stiff. Use a roller pin to flatten out the dough.

Once the texture is smooth and consistent, use cookie cutters to cut out different shapes. You can also shape the dough into a design of your own.

If you used food coloring to create batches of different-colored dough, now’s the time to get creative.

For example, if you’ve mixed up a small batch of red dough and another batch of regular-colored dough, you can create candy cane decorations. Simply create one batch of red colored dough, and leave aside a portion of regular dough. Then flatten out the dough and cut out two long strips from each batch. Intertwine the two strips to create candy cane decorations!

Once all the dough has been shaped, use the tip of a pen or straw to make a small hole at the top of each of your ornaments. Then place them on a baking sheet, and bake them in the oven at a low setting for about an hour.

After your ornaments have baked, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. Once they are cool to touch, the fun part really begins.

Pull out the paints, felt-tip markers, stickers, glitter, and anything else you can think of, and begin to decorate. Be creative.

When you’re finished decorating, let the paint dry for several hours, and then seal your work with a coat of clear protective sealant.

When the ornaments have dried, string a ribbon through the top and tie into a knot. You can also use metal hangers. Hang your new creations from the Christmas tree and enjoy!

Who doesn’t want to have a few presents to open on Christmas morning? Once the gift is open we are left sitting in a pile of paper and plastic tidbits. These items litter the landfills for hundreds of years because they are not biodegradable. Here are some ideas for alternative gift wrapping this year.

There are men and women sitting eagerly at the counter waiting to get a hold of our gifts. They are the department store gift wrappers. They swaddle our purchases in brightly colored paper, metallic ribbon, and handsome bows. Obviously they have some artistic talent because our home wrapped gifts never look that good.

The problem with all of this is that the person opening the gift is going to trash their careful handiwork into a million tiny paper pieces. There are a few exceptions. Some people carefully unwrap their gifts, folding the paper as they go. These are the ones who reuse the paper each year for other presents. We applaud you.

For the rest of us, the garbage can gets full rather quickly with discarded wrapping paper. Much of this doesn’t get recycled or isn’t recycled. Decide to end the senseless landfill waste by using other materials for gift wrapping this year.

Try recycled wrapping paper. This paper may not look as pretty as other wrappings but the purpose of gift wrap is to conceal a present inside. It is not the paper that is most important but the treasure within.

How about cloth wrappings? Stores sell fabric in Christmas colors each year. Purchase a few yards in different colors and create reusable gift wrapping.

If you are good with a sewing machine it will take no time at all to turn that cloth into a fabric wine bottle cover, a wrapping for flat boxes, a cloth wrapping for a square box, or a cloth bag for multiple gifts. The wrappings can be sewn with a drawstring to cinch the bag closed.

These decorative cloth wrappings can be used by the recipient to give a gift the next year at Christmas. The point is that the garbage won’t be filled with wrapping paper again this year.

Gift baskets are a fun alternative to traditional wrapping. Baskets come in many sizes and are made from natural materials. Fill them with items the person will love including homemade presents.

The gift basket can be used throughout the year after the gifts are gone. Use it to hold towels, bath toiletries, fruit and vegetables, or whatever else you choose. The basket can continue to be used or passed on the next Christmas.

How will you present your gifts this year? Go for the environmentally friendly approach and you will not only be giving a gift to someone you love but will be helping to protect the earth as well.

Decorating Christmas trees with cookies and candy is a great way to give your tree that personal touch. It is creative and the results can be astounding in terms of their creative impact.

Decorating an artificial tree with baked goods is one way to make it look more homey and real. A slim Christmas tree really looks great with decorations made out of slim wrapped candies. The snowy color of shortbread confections also plays off nicely against any color of tree including the artificial white Christmas tree.

Decorating Christmas trees with food goes back to the times before Christ was born. Offerings of food were often placed along sills and windows to feed the good spirits and protect from the evil ones. The first Christmas trees were in fact imitations of the pyramid shape of real conifers.

The custom of placing pickles and other foods on the steps of cedar pyramids of wood that were hand constructed was very common in Germany before the 16th century. It wasn’t until Martin Luther came along and presented the upright tree that was brought indoors and lit with candles that we became familiar with the Christmas tree that we know today.

Using food as adornments on evergreen boughs is a time-honored tradition. Perhaps the strangest one is the German custom of hanging pickles on the tree. Today you can buy German ornaments made of glass that feature pickle cartoon characters wearing tiny Santa hats. Decorating Christmas trees with shortbread and ginger bread men is also a tradition that came out of Germanic and Slavic cultures. Of course today you can buy all kinds of different cookie cutters that certainly pique one’s creativity when it comes to making edible Christmas decorations. Popular cookie cutter shapes are Christmas stockings, Santa, reindeer, presents and stars. However you could also decorate your tree with shortbread or gingerbread cut into any shape you like.

There are some really interesting novelty cookie cutters on the market including ones shaped like nativity scenes. One nice idea might be to decorate your tree with heart shaped cookies. You could also make one very large angel, decorate it with edible gold and glitter and use it as a tree topper.

Decorating Christmas trees with candies can be even more fun. You can hang single candies from a tree - such as lollipops and foil wrapped chocolates. Toffees wrapped in foil look especially nice on a tall slim christmas tree. Candies can also be glued together in sunburst shapes to make interesting decorations or even strung together to make a long, shiny and delicious garland.

It is also very easy to make Christmas tree decorations using pins and Styrofoam balls or backing. Simply spray the Styrofoam balls with green gold or silver and pin the candies so that they cover the surface of the ball. A similar idea comes from Martha Stewart who does the same with gumdrops and miniature marshmallows. You could also use candied fruit. In fact one age old Christmas decoration is the oranges that is stuck with cloves and hung from the tree. In theory you could also use oranges as the base for any type of home made candy ornament.

One idea is to create a tree topper for your Christmas tree using peppermint candy canes. This involves gluing them onto a round Styrofoam ball so that they radiate from the center in the circle. The same thing can be done with gumdrops on toothpicks and lollipops.

By the way, the candy cane is one of the most potent of Christmas symbols and it is actually a symbol of Jesus. A candy maker invented them in Indiana in the late 1800’s. He came up with the idea of bending a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. The three small stripes to symbolize the pain Christ on the cross. The reason there are three is because they represent the Holy Trinity. The one bold stripe represents the blood of Jesus. Right side up it looks like a shepherd’s staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. Upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus’ name.

So candy canes are more than just pretty confections. They have quite a serious meaning. When it comes to decorating Christmas trees, one cannot say enough about popcorn. Popcorn is one of the most versatile of Christmas tree decorations. Most traditional is the Christmas tree garland that is strung with the popped kernels. Popcorn balls that are dyed with food coloring also make very attractive Christmas tree decorations. Left white, however, these popcorn balls look like snowballs hanging on your tree.

Christmas tree garlands can also be made out of any kind of berries. Cranberries and holly berries (not edible!) make especially nice garlands because of their festive red color.

Some years, cereal companies also put out cereal in Christmas colors such as red and green. These types of cereals can also be made into shapes using a Rice Krispy Square recipe and hung by a thread.

Another unique idea is to decorate your Christmas tree with homemade candy apples. These bright glossy red treats look absolutely fantastic, especially on a white or green tree. A nice compliment to the color of the candy apples would be gold chocolate coins or foil covered chocolates in the shape of Santa also strung on the tree. A starburst of candy apples would make a stunning tree topper for a slim Christmas tree.

When decorating Christmas trees with candy and baked goods remember that our success is only as limited as your imagination. If you are stuck for ideas, Martha Stewart’s cookbooks are an excellent source of inspiration. You can also get great ideas on the Internet and by searching traditional Christmas tree sites to get ideas about how these decorations are supposed to look.

One of the mainstays of aromatherapy is candles. Candles put us in a good mood. The flicker of the flame mesmerizes and relaxes our mind. But, most candles are made of paraffin wax. There is another alternative-beeswax candles.

Beeswax candles are made by, you guessed it, bees. Bees work to make the honey for the wax. It is all natural. Beeswax candles have many advantages over paraffin candles.

Paraffin is the wax that comprises most of the candles on the market. It is made from vegetable, animal, and petroleum wastes. You’d never know it to look at the candles, but this is what is in them. Most people don’t read the labels on candles anyway.

When you burn these substances, toxic substances have the potential to be given off in the flame. Have you ever seen black smoke coming from a candle flame? It occurs when the candle is getting close to being burned out because there is no more wax to burn. These are the chemicals being released into the air.

Decorative candles of this type do not burn clean. When the wax re-hardens you will see the black residue in the wax. The wax creates a pitting phenomenon in the center of the candle and the wax also drips down the side and ruins the look of the candle.

A little known fact is that the wicks in the center of the candles contain lead. The metal button that holds the wick can also be dangerous. When burning the wick, the lead can be released into the air as well. As we burn candles, we are polluting the air around us. People with respiratory problems shouldn’t burn paraffin candles.

On the other hand, beeswax candles are available. Many people pass them over as a fad. They cost more so why buy them when there are cheaper better smelling candles on the market?

Beeswax candles are environmentally safe. They burn clean. That means no pollutants are released into the air. The air is actually cleaner because what is given off by the beeswax works to eliminate odors and other pollutants from the air.

For people who like the way that their candles look, beeswax candles do not do any pitting when the wax is burned. In fact, the wax burns out towards the end of the candle. It doesn’t drip over. It continues to burn until there is nothing left.

Beeswax candles are not scented artificially. They do give off a smell of sweet honey. The color of the candle is the natural color of the wax.

Beeswax candles burn longer than paraffin wax candles. For your twenty bucks you will get over 100 hours of candle burning pleasure. So, use candles for aromatherapy and setting the mood, but clean the air and freshen your home in the process with beeswax candles.

We send sentiment to people in our lives that we care about. And Christmas is definitely a time were we want to connect and express our feelings to family and friends. It is important to let others know that we are thinking of them during the holidays. But should we send a paper card or an electronic one? Here are some pros and cons for each.

Paper cards

Paper greeting cards have been around for at least a hundred years. It is cheaper than a telephone call and people can choose to keep our sentiments if they wish. Christmas cards say what we would like to but can’t seem to put into words. The fun begins when we shop for the cards and choose just the right one for someone we care about.

In that regard, Christmas cards meet a need. Many companies are striving to be more environmentally friendly by using recycled paper for their cards. The argument against recycled paper is that it is not as strong as virgin wood pulp. That may be a consideration for paper grocery bags but for cards, the strength is in the wording not what they are printed on. Purchasing greeting cards on recycled paper supports the recycling industry as a viable alternative to plastic and other materials.

On the other hand, after the holidays, paper cards end up in the trash along with wrapping paper and other items. Some people recycle but most throw everything away in the regular trash to get rid of it. This paper goes to the landfill and stays their indefinitely.

Yes, paper is made from trees and trees are organic and therefore biodegradable. Unfortunately, in a landfill, the conditions are not appropriate for that kind of biodegradation to occur. Paper hands around as long as plastic in a landfill.

E-cards

The electronic card is the greatest innovation. It helps out those of us who forget to send out paper greeting cards in a timely fashion. An electronic card can be sent on December 23rd and arrive on the twenty-fourth. They make noise, show interactive scenes and can be personalized to say whatever we want.

Online, people get to choose from free card offerings or pay for more detailed cards for Christmas or the service to be able to send cards at any time and for any occasion. E-cards can be saved on the computer and viewed as many times as you want.

Electronic card programs eliminate the need to go to the store for cards. Some people use those. These cards can be created and sent to others. People do print them out and that contributes to the trash situation in the landfill.

Which is better, e-cards or paper? That is up to you. Be responsible with your choices and instead of throwing out those paper cards, find creative ways to reuse them.

We all want our homes to look nice for Christmas. But, we envision that the only way that we can do this is to buy new stuff each year. New items are not the only ones that shine and make an impression on visitors. Learn how you can create recycled decorations from things lying around the house.

There are a lot of items that can be reused for creative decorations. Think of your Christmas cards. We get them and after the holiday is over we threw them away. Instead of throwing them away, use them to make new decorations for the house.

Christmas cards can be used to create a collage. For a wooden coffee table, have a piece of glass cut to match the dimensions of the table top. Underneath the glass, place a piece of thin cardboard the same size and cover it with the fronts of various Christmas cards. Cover with the glass.

Old ornaments can be given a new look with some non-toxic paint and some string. The color comes off of bulbs all the time. Instead of throwing them away, come up with other ideas to save them like covering with ribbons, colored buttons, or sea shells. Save some from the summer at the beach. Color them with holiday paint and create ornaments, candle holders, and wreath accessories.

Local artisans use soda cans, bottles, and cardboard boxes to make ornaments for Christmas. Around the holidays, several local artisans will showcase their crafts at venues around your area. You’d be amazed at the wonderful things they can come up with from items most people have thrown away.

Even used light bulbs can be turned into ornaments. Cover a light bulb with a brown sock or stretchy material. Fashion ears out of felt and use felt pieces for eyes, nose, and mouth and you’ve got a reindeer ornament. Tie a string around the top to secure the brown fabric and make a second loop to hand the ornament on the tree.

Besides recycling items around the house and creating ornaments, try using decorations that are friendly to the environment. Collecting these items can start at any time during the year. Like we said before, sea shells provide a wealth of ideas for decorations. Scratched CDs can be turned into Christmas tree ornaments.

Collect pine cones, nuts, sand, and broken tree branches. The tree branches can be weaved together to form a natural wreath. Pieces of discarded wood from household projects can be fashioned into nativity scene figures, crosses, wooden angels, and toys by someone who is skilled in wood working. Websites like www.ctstore.com use recycled Christmas trees to create wooden ornaments.

Before you throw out what appears to be useless ornaments and Christmas cards, think about how they can be reused for another year of celebration. Get the kids involved and turn the quest for recycled materials into a treasure hunt through the house.