F E ATU RE S
7
DECEMBER 9, 2011
Beyond’
Tis the season for holiday crafts and cheer:
^ ' JC Reuse The Guilfordian for green gifts/decor
By Meg Holden
Features Editor
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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 re-use The Guilfordian
and bring some sustainability into your holiday.
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.
Get in touch with your inner third-
grader with this easy craft. Make
snowballs in different sizes for different
uses. Ffang them from the ceiling, use
them as tree ornaments or string tiny
ones around your neck for unique green
jewelry.
• Assemble your materials. You will
need a copy of The 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).
• Trace 10 circles onto the paper, or fold
or stack the paper to make several
circles at once.
• Cut out the circles.
• Fold each circle in half.
• Stack the folded circles, one inside
the next, with creases touching.
• Staple circles together at the top and
bottom of the crease.
• On the right side, glue the top edges
of the first and second circles together
about a third of the way around the
-edge, as shown in photo 1.
Still on the right side, glue the bottom
edges of the second and third circles
together about a third of the way
around, as shown in photo 2
Continue gluing the right side of the
circles together, alternating between
top and bottom edges.
Do the same thing on the left side,
again starting with the top edge and
alternating with the bottom edge.
Let dry. You might want to flatten the
circle with a heavy book.
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, as shown in
photo 3. You will probably need to
hold these edges together while they
dry with your fingers or a paperclip.
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!
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.
• Assemble your materials. You will
need a copy of The Guilfordian or
other paper (try white or silver paper
for an elegant winter look), scissors, a
gluestick or tape, and a stapler.
• Cut your paper into six squares of any
size, as long as all six are equal.
• Fold one square diagonally into a
triangle.
• Fold this triangle diagonally into a
smaller triangle.
• Cut two lines parallel to the edge that
hasn't been folded, as shown in photo
A. Do not cut through the second
folded edge.
• Unfold the square.
• Overlap and glue together the loose
corners of the smallest (inner)
diamond to form a cylinder, as shown
in photo B. You will probably need to
hold the corners together while they
dry.
• 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). This is
shown in photo C.
• Repeat with steps 3-8 with the other
five squares of paper.
• 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, as
shown in photo D.
Your snowflake is done! Use a needle
and thread to create a loop to hang from
your tree or ceiling.