A recent Dallas Business Journal article reported Michaels craft stores had a $2 million profit in the second quarter. My deduction? When people are counting pennies, they stay home and get crafty.
They also get healthy. I didn’t learn this from reading; I learned it through doing and going to work. My coworkers and I have gone whole hog for wellness this year, committing ourselves to healthy habits and fitness. In our quest to look, feel and be fabulous, we have consumed many, many eggs (and often just egg whites).
Eating lots of eggs not only boosts energy and muscles, it produces a lot of empty, purposeless egg cartons So I got to thinking about different ways I might reuse egg cartons. The possibilities are endless. Today, I give you one: how to create a recycled wreath to dress up doors, walls, cakes and gifts. (Note: Parents can make this a kid-friendly project by preparing a few steps in advance ~ perhaps creating the wreath and allowing the kids to stuff the paper into the various pieces.)
Supplies:
- Egg cartons
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks (or regular Elmer's glue to make this kid-friendly)
- An old magazine or sheet of gift wrap (paper must bunch up easily)
- Cardboard (to use as a backer for larger wreaths)
- Optional: Ribbon and hole punch to create a hook for hanging
Instructions:
1) Cut up the egg carton. Trim the edges of each piece to create uniform shape and height.
2) Line up carton pieces to create a to-scale mock-up of your wreath. If making a larger wreath, find a piece of cardboard to construct a sturdy backer to which you can glue carton pieces.
3) Use hot glue gun (or regular glue) to attach carton pieces to one another or to the cardboard backer in a pleasing arrangement.
4) Cut 2x2-inch squares of old magazine pages, gift wrap or paper scraps. You can go with one color, a melange of hues, text-filled pages or any theme you like. Shoot a dollop of hot glue (or regular glue) into the carton piece, crumple up a square of paper and place it snugly into the carton piece. Repeat to fill all carton pieces.
5) Allow wreath to dry, remove any strands of glue from the wreath.
6) Use wreath as eye candy by hanging it where you can enjoy it!
For step-by-step photos of the recycled-wreath-making process, please visit our Facebook page.
Other ideas using the same techniques:
- Make letters (initials) for people you love
- Create a peace sign
- Construct a picture frame
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