Before recycling something, it’s best to see if there are ways we can repurpose the item to extend its life. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, what better way to upcycle common household items than by turning them into practical decor pieces for the holiday? Here are three simple projects you can take on—and you can even have your kids help out! The best part? These crafts can be recycled once you’re done using them.
Silverware Holder & Name Tag
This silverware holder & name tag is a fun way to personalize the place settings around your Thanksgiving table.
What you’ll need:
- Old breakfast boxes (cereal, oatmeal, etc.)
- Scissors, box cutter, or X-Acto knife
- Glue
- Ruler
- Decorating supplies
First, carefully take apart the box so that it opens flat. You’ll then want to cut out two pieces of the same width. The first piece will act as the back of the utensil holder and should be slightly taller than the length of your silverware. The second piece will be used to form the pocket. It can be a shorter rectangle (half or a quarter of the height of the first piece), or it can have a triangular shape like an envelope. Our box had this pre-existing triangular shape, so we used that to avoid extra, unnecessary cutting.
Next, glue the second piece to the top of the first piece. Both pieces should be facing the same direction (brown side facing up). We used a glue stick, but we recommend a stronger glue or hot glue if you have it on hand. Decorate the front to your liking. You can have kids decorate their own for a fun Thanksgiving morning craft. (This will also keep them occupied while you cook!)
Place silverware and a napkin inside each holder, and that’s it! These are a cute, simple addition to any table. Plus, they can be recycled once you’re done with them!
Napkin Ring
If you’re hosting a more sustainable Thanksgiving feast with reusable cloth napkins, these recycled napkin rings are the perfect addition to your table.
What you’ll need:
- Old toilet paper or paper towel rolls
- Ruler
- Scissors, box cutter, or X-Acto knife
- Decorating supplies
First, cut your cardboard roll into half-inch tubular pieces. We recommend placing tick marks half an inch from the edge around the tube to ensure the cut is even. If the roll gets bent or smushed during this process, you can reshape it afterward.
Decorate the ring to your liking. We used some extra twine and decorative berries leftover from previous projects. (If you choose to wrap your rings in twine or ribbon, we recommend avoiding glue so that you can reuse the twine/ribbon again later.) You can also have your kids color the rings, glue on some paper leaves, etc. Just slide your napkin through the ring, and you’re done! These can look so chic that no one would ever be able to guess they’re made from old toilet paper rolls!
Thankful Turkey Box
This is a project that your kids are sure to love helping out with. You can use this box as a centerpiece with fall-themed flowers, or as a collection box for everyone’s responses to what they’re thankful for.
What you’ll need:
- Old tissue box (ideally a square one)
- Glue
- Ruler
- Scissors, box cutter, or X-Acto knife
- Old paper and/or cardboard
- Decorating supplies
If your tissue box doesn’t look festive, you can choose to wrap it with decorated paper. Just measure out four to five sheets of paper to fit around the box (covering the top is optional). Kids can have fun decorating these as the “body” of the turkey. Next, cut out a piece of the cardboard in the shape of a turkey head. We went for a figure 8 type of shape. Glue the head to the front of the box—it should stick up above the box a few inches.
Next, cut out a triangular piece of cardboard. This will provide stability to the “feathers.” From paper or cardboard, cut out several feather shapes (we went with oval-like shapes to keep it simple). We recommend cutting out a variety of sizes.
Color or decorate the feathers to your liking. This is another step perfect for kids. Then, glue the feathers onto the triangular cardboard piece. We recommend gluing down the smaller feathers first, with the larger feathers on top. This will hide any “edges” on the bottom of the feathers. The feathers should stick out from the triangular piece.
Glue the triangular piece with feathers to the back of the turkey. This piece should be about halfway on the tissue box and halfway off. This will ensure the piece is secure while still letting the feathers spread out behind the turkey head.
Add finishing touches, like a face or wings, and that’s it! To use this as a collection box, set the finished product on a table next to a stack of papers that prompt guests to write what they’re thankful for. These can be read aloud around the table later.
