For the last four months, The Guilfordian has been pleased to run a weekly sustainability column. With the end of the semester now upon us, it is time to wrap up “Beyond Green and Beyond” in the best way possible — by using The Guilfordian to wrap up your own holiday gifts. Use these tips to reuse The Guilfordian and bring some sustainability into your holiday.
Wrapping Paper
We’ve all seen the funnies used as wrapping paper for birthday gifts, but show off your Guilford pride by using The Guilfordian to conceal your gifts. The front page or an inside spread will have lots of colors to add visual impact. For an understated beauty, use a text-heavy page and a contrasting ribbon. Or add color by doodling on the page with markers before wrapping your gift.
Pro tip: anything can be used to hide the contents of a gift. I’ve wrapped presents with used bingo score cards, flyers from around campus and even cloth napkins.
Snowballs
Get in touch with your inner third grader with this easy craft. Make snowballs in different sizes for different uses. Hang them from the ceiling, use them as tree ornaments or string tiny ones around your neck for unique, green jewelry.
1. Assemble your materials. You will need a Guilfordian (other paper works fine — try scrapbook paper or cardstock for a colorful orb), a pair of scissors, something round to trace, a pen or pencil, a stapler and a gluestick (or tape).
2. Trace 10 circles onto the paper, or fold or stack the paper to make several circles at once.
3. Cut out the circles.
4. Fold each circle in half.
5. Stack the folded circles, one inside the next, with creases touching.
6. Staple circles together at the top and bottom of the crease.
7. On the right side, glue the top edges of the first and second circles together about a third of the way around the edge.
8. Still on the right side, glue the bottom edges of the second and third circles together about a third of the way around.
9. Continue gluing the right side of the circles together, alternating between top and bottom edges.
10. Do the same thing on the left side, again starting with the top edge and alternating with the bottom edge.
11. Let dry. You might want to flatten the circle with a heavy book.
12. Now to form the sphere. Glue the bottom edge of the top circle together, joining the two sides. Join the bottom circle in the same way. You will probably need to hold these edges together while they dry with your fingers or a paperclip.
13. Your snowball is complete! Arrange several in a bowl on your table for a centerpiece. Poke a hole in the top and create a loop with thread or ribbon to hang the snowball from your ceiling, window or tree. Get creative!
Three-dimensional Snowflakes
This more challenging craft makes a 3D version of the six-sided snowflakes we have all been making since grade school. These look awesome hanging in a window or above a mantel.
1. Assemble your materials. You will need a Guilfordian or other paper (try white or silver paper for an elegant winter look), scissors, a gluestick or tape and a stapler.
2. Cut your paper into six squares of any size, as long as all six are equal.
3. Fold one square diagonally into a triangle.
4. Fold this triangle diagonally into a smaller triangle.
5. Cut two lines parallel to the edge that hasn’t been folded. Do not cut through the second folded edge.
6. Unfold the square.
7. Overlap and glue together the loose corners of the smallest (inner) diamond to form a cylinder. You will probably need to hold the corners together while they dry.
8. Do the same with the corners of the center diamond, gluing them on the opposite side of the paper, and with the corners of the outer diamond, gluing these on the first side of the paper (with the first diamond).
9. Repeat with steps 3-8 with the other five squares of paper.
10. Staple three of these diamonds together at the bottom. Do the same for the other three. Staple the stapled edges together to form a snowflake.
11. Your snowflake is done! Use a needle and thread to create a loop to hang from your tree or ceiling.