Learn how you can to SAVE MONEY and SAVE EARTH This Holiday!

Saving money and the planet for the holidays can be easier with these simple tips!

These ideas and suggestions are just the beginning of things you can do for your pocket and Mother Earth. The biggest step of all is simply to cut down on the amount of things -- presents, decorations, and just plain "stuff" -- you buy.

That's hard during the holidays. So, to help you cut down where you can, we have compiled one of the best list of tips on earth:

Gift Giving:

• Make it! Have a talent for baking, crocheting, knitting, artwork. stained glass or wood crafts? What could be nicer than a scarf on ones favorite color made by you?
• Choose or make gifts that are practical and consist of environmentally friendly materials.
• Make a gift basket tailored to the recipient. Home made cookie mix and baking pan, A lovely plant and garden tools, Vintage candlestick and candles. Be creative!
• Instead of exchanging unwanted items with coworkers or extended family, suggest donating to a charity as a group.
• Have a good old-fashioned Yankee swap, exchanging unused items that might be useful to someone else!
• Think about doing a theme—for instance of you all love books do a book swap.
• Give the gift of an heirloom! Does a niece or a friend admire your mother’s old cookie jar or uncle al’s old trinket box? Pass it on! Put a treat inside!

Wrapping:

• Use recycled or recyclable materials for packaging gifts; reuse a nice tin, box or gift bag
• Use your newspaper's comic section as a cheery, bright, and recyclable wrapping.
  
• Select uncoated giftwrap that can be recycled and/or burned safely.
• Make gift tags from small pieces of the existing wrap or from old holiday cards.
  
  Cards:
  

• Many people still enjoy sending and receiving holiday greetings.
• Consider cutting back your list, choosing cards made
  of recycled materials, or even buying them from a charity that benefits the environment.
• If your friends are Web-savvy, skip the Post Office altogether and send cards via email.
  
  Trees:
  
• Consider a synthetic tree or wreath that can be used year after year.
• Buy a potted tree with roots that can be planted after the holidays
  
• Decorate with recyclable, compostable, or bird-friendly materials
  
• Instead of buying new ornaments use family heirlooms or buy them in thrift store.
  
  Lights:
  
  
• Trade in your energy guzzling lights for the newer energy saving lights
  
• Use less lights overall
  
• Use smaller lights
  
• Light more candles (but please be careful!)
  
  With Kids:
  
  
• Get kids involved! Whether you are preparing a dish to bring to a friends house, decorating the tree or bringing a gift to grandparents, kids can pitch in. It makes it more memorable and meaningful. Go a step further and teach them to be green: Try to incorporate earth friendly ingredients or recycled as well as reusable items.
• Here are some small ideas that will make a big difference for your kids this holiday:
•  Have the kids make gifts for one and other or help you. They will learn the joy of gift giving as well as learn new skills!
• Make cards from craft supplies or make cards from last year’s cards and wrap.
• Make cards from homemade paper and envelopes
  Make homemade cookies or breads and decorate them or fun food art
• Grow plants or herbs from seeds starting early!
• Plant small seedlings in hand painted pots or recycled pots
• Make ornaments from paper mache or lint clay and hand paint them (See Planetpals.com for the best paper mache recipes ever including lint dryer clay and play clay).
• Make origami ornaments
  Print gift wrap, using nontoxic paints and dyes on recycled (and recyclable) craft paper. Use potato prints or rubber stamps.
• Kids love making a good old-fashioned popcorn balls or popcorn tinseland it can be yummy!
• A no cost solution: Have them write a poem or story and illustrate it! Use a recycled frame, home made frame and frame it!
• Make boxes for their gifts from cereal boxes and other cardboard
• Lastly, make a Planetpals ornament for your home or tree. It's got an Eco friendly theme. Free Download to print and assemble:
  
  After The Holidays:
  
  What you do with your tree, wreaths, ornaments and wrap after the holidays is as important as how you decorate for the holidays.
  
• MULCH: If you have use of a shredder: Mulch the trees into chips that can be used for landscaping. Many towns will have the sanitation department pick
• When tossing decorative trees, wreaths and plants, Be sure to remove
  all decorations, including tinsel, before you recycle your tree.
  
• If you live in a nice climate, plant that Poinsettia, don’t toss it!
  
• Recycle those gift bags and Christmas cards by putting them away and reusing them next year…or giving them to someone who will.
  
• Have left over decorations, boxes wrap or unwanted gifts? Keep on giving by donating them to a recycle center, swap shop, freecycle.org, or a thrift store.
  
• Donate used cards to St. Judes who reuses them to
• Flatten all gift boxes, packaging and cartons and dispose of by recycling. If you are not sure what you can recycle…contact your town. * Don’t know what to do with it? Post it on Craigslist or Freecycle for free. Someone else might have the perfect use!
• Don't toss old toys and clothing when it is replaced by new--where and how to give it away
• Save wrap, tissue and boxes for crafts during the year and to make next holiday.
  
  For more tips and fun facts about earth consult Planetpals.com

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Napkin Folding Ideas For The Holidays.

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Planetpals Activity Books
Top Ten Toy: Planetpals Puzzle! Rated among top ten for this season! 5 puzzles available Learn more
Planetpals Products
Planetpals Exclusive Holiday Activities
Green Holiday Stickers / Clip Art

We suggest you make decorations and gifts from recycled materials-It's the green way to go!

No matter what your holiday, one thing is certain, this is the time of year for gift giving. While thinking of others don't forget the planet! Here are plenty of ways to THINK green this holiday season.

Remember the 3 "r's: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

See our greatest list of green tips ever for the holidays

Tis the Season for Homespun Traditions

The holiday season is a time for sharing with friends and family near and far. Why not start a new old fashioned tradition this year that will last a lifetime. Use one of these simple ideas that scream "Home Made Holiday Spirit.... read more

Say Merry Christmas in Any Language

We want all our friends everywhere to be able to communicate--so we made this dictionary to help you. Whether the language is Amharic - Catalan - Danish; It's all there for you.

Read More--Say it now

Be a Tree Hugger With That Christmas Tree!

Our ultimate list of tree hugging Eco tips to dispose of that tree in a GREENER way after the holiday.... read more

Make Your Own Gift Boxes From Recycled Materials

One way to wrap up the holiday greener is to make your own gift boxes. You can make boxes from recycled materials such as old cereal boxes, oatmeal tubes, and other food containers just by turning them inside out. It's a good way to renew them.

Download these simple patterns from Planetpals. Then, once you make your box, you can decorate it. Leave it natural and decorate with twine and other natural items such as pine cones, or decorate by painting the box or gluing images.

How ever you wrap your gifts, they are sure to be conversation pieces.

Happy GREENER Holiday from Planetpals!

Planetpals helps You Make Your Own Gifts!

One way to make gift giving greener is to make your own gifts! try some of Planetpals recycle crafts and make a gift (or holiday decor) for someone you love:

• Paper Mache Recipes and Patterns
• Dryer Lint Crafts
• Natural Play Dough
• Make Natural Dyes
• Sand Art (Recycle Sand and Jars)
• Paper Making Recipe to MYO Cards
• Make a Recycled Button Bracelet
• Make a Recycled Button Pins
• More

More gift ideas here

Planetpals Card

Bring in the holiday with this adorable and exclusive Earthman "Season's Greenings" ornament. Assemble it with your kids or classroom. It's sure to put a smile on any tree.

Be a Planetpal and use recycled paper to print it on and don't forget to use it year after year. Remember the 4 R's: reduce, reuse, recycle, renew. You will be sure to have many happy and healthy holidays to come!

Download the ornament.

Water You Think of This Party Tip?

Melted Snowman DIY Make a label for water for your guests. Now here is a healthy idea for the holiday party!

The 4 R's of Gift Wrapping - Wrap Gifts the Recycled Way

One way to have a greener holiday is to wrap all your gifts in a greener way! All you have to do is think out of the BOX and onto the wrap to find new ways to use old materials to bring new life to your gifts.

It's a great family project and one that will put a special meaning to home made and add extra love to your holiday giving. And remember, you can tailor make the wrap to the gift or to the person, such as maps for men or antique scarfs for antique lovers.... read more

DIY Green Ribbons and Bows

A great way to recycle gift materials and make attractive and fun bows. A different twist on gifwrapping that's greener...Free download and printable instructions.

Edible Food Art Holiday Crafts:

Green healthy ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and your Halloween Party:

Egg Snow Men take the chill out of winter breakfast made with eggs and fruit-rasberry, cherry any fruit should do!

Kiwi Tree for Christmas
This edible food fun will be a present at desert time for kids. Kiwi, red fruit, decorate it with raisins!

Rice Krispies Snow Balls and Snowmen.
Make with rice cereal recipe or a popcorn balls recipe. Use pretzel or cinnamon stick arms and a hard candy hat. Why not add a candy cane! For a scarf a fruit roll up.

Marzipan Fun!
Yum--make it for anyday or a holiday!

Merry Holiday Food Tree
This puts merry in food! Holiday decorations that look good enough to eat! Serve with dip?

Christmas Tree Pancakes from Betty Crocker...try to make them healthier. Add fruit? Their apple crisp or gingerbread sound good

More edible food crafts for holidays and everyday

St Judes Recycled Card Program For Greener Holidays!

What can be greener than finding a place to recycle and reuse everything after the holiday? St Judes offers us a meaningful holiday card recycle option....read more

Free Activities for kidsclub members Sign up for our Kidsclub List and get exclusive activities only available to members in your email.

Holiday Presents Recycle Crafts:

Make a Recycle Treasure or Tool Jar!
Planetpals Exclusive!
Unique Ideas, how to instructions, samples. Make a treasure jar for holidays, mothers day, fathers day, everyday. Simple and Easy.

Recycle Trophy Cup
Lots of fun for any special person made from cups and paper rolls. "World's Best Mom" "World's Best Dad" "World's Best Brother" or "Best Soccer Player"."World's Best Planetpal" Possibilities endless and so cute!

Planetpals Exclusive Holiday Crafts:

Make a Christmas Card:
Exclusive Planetpals card. Print and play, cut and color.

Make a Holiday Ornament:
Exclusive Planetpals "Seasons greenings" print, cut, paste tree ornament

Make Your Own Box Ornament:
Exclusive Planetpals Print, Design, Cut, Hang this square box shaped ornament for any holiday!

Japanese Origami STAR Ornament
Exclusive Planetpals Learn about the Japanese art of paper folding. Make an Origami star ornament from paper squares. Make one for your tree, or several to decorate your house or presents!

This Popcorn Garland is a Natural!

You need: Popcorn, String, and Needles. You can also add Berries!

Decide how long you want it. If you want it to go around a tree, make it at least 6 feet. Make it alone or have each family member make a certain length and tie them together. Cut the thread or string to length and knot the end. Pop the popcorn and place it in a bowl. One by one, thread the popcorn onto the string. You can alternate cranberries or any kind of berries. Wrap it around the tree, the room or hang by the hearth to hold cards or Christmas stockings. After the holiday it makes a terrific treat for the birds!

Send Holiday Greeting to a Friend
CLICK HERE to send this card to a friend!

Send New Year Greeting to a Friend
CLICK HERE to send this card to a friend!

Recycle Holiday Crafts:

Winter / Christmas / Chanukah Themes and Holidays Recycle Crafts:

• Christmas
• Kwanzaa
• Islamic New Year
• Chinese New Year
• Jewish Holidays
• All New Year

Make Snow globes
All you need is a trinket, glitter, jar. Use small toys or ornaments, make it for any day or holiday. See all Planetpals Recycled Holiday Crafts

.

Sharpie and Wax Paper Stained Glass Craft. Make candle holders on glass jars, frame or window clings. Simple!

Christmas Choir:
Made from toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Cute as can be
.

Toilet Paper Santa Made from toilet paper and cotton -you can use a photo of dad or pain the face!

Recycle Box Gingerbread House
Made from boxes this gingerbread house can be made by any age group. Decorate with paint, felt, frosting, clay, add small toys, anything goes! Pattern here.

Popsicle Stick Santa,
Dress up this adorable Santa from sticks with a variety of recycle materials

Popsicle Tree, Reindeer, Sled, Chanukah Star
Popsicle sticks have never been so cute-preschool simplicity!

Popsicle Stick Ornament
Try this happy ornament! Could you make a Halloween Pumpkin? Easter Bunny? Pilgrim? Santa?

Cereal Box Snowman So many recycled objects-box, cups, covers, Love this!

Make a Snow Measuring Stick-Use a paint stick and recycle items to measure snow. This snow ruler is a cute holiday decoration, too!

Make a Paper mache Santa (or Snowman) Ornament Use a paper to make a santa-free instructions to download

Bottle Cap Snowman Use a recycle materials to make a snowman picture or snowman, Santa or elf head ornament

Egg Carton Christmas Tree-Simple-cut-paste-paint

Another Menurah Made with Recycle Paper Rolls. Use giftwrap scraps or paint them.

Wreath Made with fabric scraps. You could also use plastic bag strips or tissue paper strips.

Hebrew Made with Recycle Buttons. You coud also use left over beads.

Hebrew painted on stones and rocks. Paint them or draw ith ink