TIP OF THE MONTH


Each month, the Goddess of Garbage will post a hot tip about how to "recyclize" those dumpster finds! So before you throw it away, check out her latest ideas.

THE HOT TIP

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING:
WIRED FOR LIGHT

The "shining star" of Holiday dining, this festive table ornament accented with old fashioned Christmas tree lights and a beautiful scented candle, will be an "electrifying" conversation piece for years to come.
    Materials Needed:

    A Wood or Cardboard Spool
    (mine was used for audio-visual wire -- measurement: Height 11 3/4 inches x 10 1/2 inches diameter)
    Corrugated Cardboard
    Brown Shipping Paper
    Hot Glue Gun
    Six Small Natural Covered Boxes, Different Sizes
    (mine were jewelry and mini candy boxes)
    Rafia
    Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Color Lights (one large green, two small red)
    Scissor
    Pencil
    Staple Gun
    Natural Craft Paper Excelsior
    Small Pine Cones
    Three Small Cardboard Dowels from Fax Paper Rolls
    Candle of Your Choice
    Red and Green Plaid Wire Ribbon

    Here's how:

    Step A

    Out of corrugated cardboard cut: 2 circles the diameter of your spool, cut additionally: 2 more circles for underneath the top and lower bottom of spool. Remember, these two circles have the center cut out to accommodate the center of spool.

    Cut: Two 1 3/4 inch wide strips of corrugated cardboard for edges (cut vertically for a more interesting effect).

    Cut: Two small fan shape pieces (corrugated cardboard) for inserts to tuck between the circular disks (for underneath and bottom of spool).

    Cut: One (Mine is 9 1/2 inches in height) piece of corrugated cardboard vertically to wrap around column stem of spool.

    Step B

    Staple your two 1 3/4 inch wide strips to the edges (overlap edges and staple in place).

    Glue one piece of corrugated cardbord vertically to wrap around the column stem of the spool.

    Glue all four circles to the spool as explained in Step A..

    Glue fan shape pieces to underneath and lower bottom of spool disk, then glue circular pieces to underneath top and bottom to overlap fan disk for a finished look.

    The spool is now completely covered with corrugated cardboard.

    Step C

    Wrap any individual boxes with brown shipping paper if needed (try and find natural brown boxes).

    Tie rafia around all boxes.

    Stagger and stack your design of boxes going up the front of the column. Glue into place.

    Place and glue into place the fax dowels. I criss-crossed three in front of the boxes for an interesting shape.

    Tie ribbon around column and over boxes and dowels. Glue in place, if necessary.

    Glue and tuck your excelsior in place.

    Glue and place your mini pine cones in place.

    Place your three light bulbs in a pleasant design in front of ribbon bow. Glue in place.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE GODDESS OF GARBAGE!!!!