Simple green gifts for Christmas

Giving a green gift for Christmas is simpler than it sounds. These green Christmas gift ideas are easy to make or buy. They're inexpensive and uncomplicated. Use recycled items from your home for most of the green gift ideas suggested here. You will have to purchase the last two but they'll last for years of green gift making.

Seed paper

This is recycled paper, embedded with seeds for easy planting. Simply use shredded newspaper blended with a slight amount of water to make a pulp. Cover a baking sheet with foil or saran wrap and roll the pulp onto it evenly. Place the seeds into the pulp 2-3 inches apart. Now let the whole thing dry in the sun. Gently peel the paper off. Cut into squares for planting. Tuck each seed paper square into a starter size clay pot. Include a paper bag of soil to complete your green Christmas gift.

Crazy quilt throw

Simply sew together fabric scraps leftover from various projects. The idea is to be as random as possible and not use any new fabric. Try to end with a square shape. Take the square and put it face to face with a piece of inexpensive fleece from a fabric or craft store. Sew it together on three sides then turn right side out. Now tuck the fleece and quilt piece under on the remaining side and sew together.

Recycled candle

Melt old crayon and candle pieces together in a double boiler. Leave some in chunks for a colorful effect. Add candle scent if you wish. Pour into prepared jar to make a new candle. Prepare jar by sticking a wick holder with wick to the bottom of the jar with a teeny bit of wax. Keep the wick straight while pouring wax, by wrapping the opposite end around a pencil laid across the top of the jar. When your green Christmas gift candle is set it's ready for gift giving.

Glass bottle cutter

This handy gadget makes a useful green Christmas gift. Recipients can make used soda or other bottles into drinking glasses, vases or other glass containers by cutting around them and sanding down the edge with sandpaper. Leftover flat glass can be used for glass mosaic objects.

Aluminum can crusher

Not everyone has the space to collect aluminum cans for recycling. This green Christmas gift is for the apartment dweller who wants to do their part by recycling aluminum cans. Simply rinse and crush the cans. They'll fit in a small waste container until ready to be taken to the recycling center. Add a waste can and biodegradable plastic bags to make this green Christmas gift complete.