Recycled Magazine Christmas Trees

Make these gorgeous Christmas trees using recycled magazines!

Simply collect unwanted magazines: craft, women’s, airlines magazines etc. Consider asking your Avon lady to keep her outdated books for you; they are ideal if you want to make small christmas trees for table decorations. Invite relatives of residents to join in the fun!

Decorate tables, reception areas, nurses stations and in bedrooms with these lovely trees!

Object:

• Engage in the spirit of Christmas
• Relax and enjoy a creative outlet
• Socialize with friends

Materials:

• Old magazines
• Glue and paint brushes
• Construction/kindergarten paper
• Felt off-cuts in Christmas colors for decorating
• Christmas decorations, anything you have: paint, glitter, buttons, beads, ribbons, knitting wool, cotton wool, ‘faux’ pearls.
• See video to learn how to separate magazines. Separate as many as you like in 28 to 34 pages.

 Preparation:

• Ask your staff and volunteers to make a few trees prior to the activity session and leave them un-decorated to show and inspire residents.  The idea is to have a few trees ready to be decorated by residents once you have finished the demonstration.

Instructions:

• Sit with residents around a table and make sure they all have a good view. If any of your residents are able to fold the magazines for you, by all means let them do so. The other residents will be intrigued and curious watching you. Explain to them what you are doing and show them a couple of trees you have made previously.
• Start 1st folding: Lay magazine in front of you and gripping the right hand corner of one page and fold towards the middle of the magazine. (See video).
• Continue in this fashion until all pages are folded.
• Stand magazine on a table gently so it won’t crush. 
• Start 2^nd folding:  Fold the bottom right hand corner up to meet the first fold. Continue until all pages are folded.
• Start 3^rd folding: Take right hand corner of page (where first 2 foldings meet) and fold down as far as it will go against the spine of the magazing (similar to first folding).
• The tree is ready, pass it around and let residents handle it. Begin a conversation about tree decorations.
• Give one tree to each resident able to participate in decorating.
• Place as many decorations and glitter as possible near each one. Allow them the use their creativity and decorate as they please. Praise them when finished! Ask  if they would like to decorate one for their family.

Video demonstration