With all due respect to Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley, white and blue are out as Christmas colors. Green is this year's hue of choice. And that's just as true for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. So this season, give a gift to Mother Earth with these nine ideas that turn holiday and household surplus into festive decorations and eco-friendly packaging.

Besides the ideas below and on the next page, find out how to create Gingerbread Folk, Fabric Wrap-ups, and Gift Card Envelopes, plus new looks for old bags and Pie Plate Ornaments. And be sure to check out our Out of the Box idea for recycling holiday packaging into an out-of-this world drum kit!

POP-DOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Inspired by an idea from the Hales family of South Jordan, Utah, this bubble packaging countdown calendar offers a daily burst of fun, so you'll probably have to make one for each family member.

To make a Christmas countdown calendar, cut a tree shape with 24 bubbles from bubble packaging (as shown), use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach it to a piece of paper, then decorate circular stickers with markers and adhere them to each bubble. Have your kids squeeze a bubble to start each day of December with a bang!