Ghosts of Decorations Past

Understanding the lifecycle of holiday decorations gives helpful context for the choices we make each year. It's important to recognize the environmental impact behind traditions like decorating. When trends change, and decorations are discarded, they become ghosts of holidays past, lingering in landfills long after the season ends.

One of the easiest and most sustainable things you can do if you’ve made these purchases in the past is to extend their lifespan. Reuse what you already have instead of replacing pieces every season. Store everything in weather-protected bins or a storage cabinet so you can reuse them year after year (trust us, proper storage saves a lot of heartache).

You can also donate gently used items to a friend, neighbor, or community organization to give them new life. Small, creative alternatives (like handmade or upcycled projects) also make a meaningful difference over time, helping lighten your holiday footprint and making the season a bit brighter on our planet.

Why Choose Handmade Decorations

What You’ll Need

1. A large cardboard box (packaging boxes of our UltraHD® Height Adjustable Workbench, UltraHD® 11-Drawer Rolling Workbench, and UltraHD® Storage Cabinet are the perfect size for this project)

2. Pencil or black marker

3. Scissors or a craft knife (adult supervision recommended for Santa’s littlest helpers)

4. Tape

5. Ruler

6. Optional: Paint, color markers, or craft paper for decorating (bonus points for using scrap materials around the house)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sketch Your Design Outline your design of choice.
Below is a walkthrough of a tree design. Feel free to choose a tree or a reindeer (find the tree stencil here and the reindeer stencil here); the concept works the same. Or create both the tree and reindeer (and multiples) to bring a complete cardboard wonderland to life!

2. Cut the Outline
Carefully cut along your outline using scissors or a box cutter, whichever feels safest. Adults should handle sharp tools or assist with this step.

3. Cut Center Slits
Using your ruler, mark the center point on each cardboard tree. · On one piece, cut a straight slit from the top down to the center mark. · On the other piece, cut a slit from the bottom up to the center mark.

4. Assemble & Decorate
Slide the two pieces together along the slits so they interlock and stand upright, forming your 3D tree. Add tape for stability. Decorate using items you already have; lights, bows, garlands, or craft scraps all add holiday charm. Set milk and cookies out on an ottoman or side table to add a cozy, fun element.

Written by Jeanette Gijon

Jeanette Gijon is the copywriter at Seville Classics. With a degree in Literature and Creative Writing and eight years of experience in content marketing, she blends research-driven insight with creative storytelling to inspire readers to live more mindfully. When she's not writing, she's likely exploring nature or reading through her ever-growing TBR pile.