Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Make 2015 A Greener Year Pals!

We give you the tools to help the planet. Learn from Planetpals.com, Planetpalblog.com and planetpals daily greenspirations on your favorite social network @planetpals




Monday, December 29, 2014

DIY Disco Ball Recycle Crafts


Have a Ball

Whether it's New Years Eve or A Dance Party you can have a ball!  Here are 10 ways to make a #DIY disco ball.


From buzz feed a CD Disco Ball Made with CD Chips
From Tikkido Make a Disco Ball Piñata with sequins..or maybe you could make one with dimes!
From designmom.com a Tin Foil Disco Ball.  So simple! Make more than 1!
From chickabug.com Make a ball with glitter
From Edible Crafts A Cupcake Liner Ball 

From Sparkleball.com make a ball with plastic cups and Christmas light
   From Gomestic.com great big CD Ball! 
A Broken Mirror Disco Ball Direction from A House on The Way.com

From Eva Truffaut a Disco Globe: Take an old globe and cover it in CD or mirror chips 

Lastly Disco Ball Ribbon wrapped around a ball of any kind of Ball

Get Dancin!





Sunday, December 28, 2014

Last Minute New Year Ideas That Are Blast!

Fab and Fun Collection ideas or any New Year Party with Friends, Family or Kids. Activities, tablesetting, crafts, clever! 
Fab and Fun Collection ideas or any New Year Party with Friends, Family or Kids. Activities, tablesetting, crafts, clever!
New Years or not, these party tips can help you celebrate in style, on budget and in green.at Planetpals http://www.planetpals.com/green-new-year.html 

Happy New Year’s Eve Recycled Glitter Ball 


Dress your wine glasses with black bow tie with a Bow tie folded napkin. Cloth napkins for the New Year Party are a greener choice


Greener is cleaner and healthier with NON TOXIC GLITTER Recipes

New Year's Eve countdown. and other fun food art:

New Years Eve activities for families (e.i. camping in living room with tent, hot cocoa, smores,etc)


New Years Eve surprise bags with a different, fun activity to do in each bag throughout the night. Ideas to put in the bags - CD for a 30 minute family dance party, popcorn and DVD, toppings to make your own pizza, sprinkles and candy to make your own cupcake, board game, talent show, photo props for a crazy photo shoot, charade ideas,

Great Idea. Start the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. Then, on New Years Eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year. Good way to keep things in perspective.

Lastly, Make a green New Year resolution.  Make a 1 year,  five year or a decade long list!  Sure is fun to look back on!

After New Years: 


What To Do With Outdated Calendars
http://planetpalsblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/what-to-do-with-outdated-calendars.html







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Friday, December 26, 2014

How To Compost and Recycle Christmas Trees and Wreaths

Don't Trash that Tree!
What can you do with your Christmas tree and Christmas wreaths after the holidays? Just recycle and compost them instead of trashing the planet!  The following pictorial and tips will walk you through it every step of the way.
Step by Step Directions:
To dismantle, simply cut the tree branches with hand pruners until you end up with a tree trunk, some loose branches and a recycle bin full of twigs and leaves.  
See steps 1,2 and 3, then to dispose, compost or recycle the parts read the tips below:
Step 1: 

Step 2: 
Step 3: 
Casasugar suggests you can do the following:
  • Mulch it! Mulching programs are common in communities. Check with your local department of public works for information on mulching your tree, or see if it can be left with your green bin. (or mulch in your yard)
  • Stop erosion. See if your community uses Christmas trees as soil erosion barriers. These barriers are particularly effective along beaches and on river beds.
  • It's for the birds! Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Make your tree extra-irresistible by placing fresh orange slices or strung popcorn in the branches.
  • Garden mulch. Since a Christmas tree is biodegradable, its branches may be removed, chipped, and used as mulch in the garden. 
  • Don't burn it in your fireplace! This can contribute to creosote buildup in your chimney, and most Christmas trees will dangerously pop and spark in a fire. 
Also from Consider recycling your tree.  Planetpals complete Christmas Tree and Wreath Recycle Guide
Lastly, Consider This!
Next year, think about getting a live, rooted tree, which you can then plant in your yard after Christmas! 
 HAPPY SAFE AND GREEN HOLIDAYS PALS!

Learn more about composting with Squirmy Wormy at Planetpals.com



Sunday, December 21, 2014

Be a Tree Hugger With That Christmas Tree


Think ahead how to dispose of your holiday tree

how and where to recycle christmas trees
Our ultimate list of tree hugging tips to dispose of that tree in a GREENER way after the holiday

Mulch It!
Our complete guide How to mulch Christmas Trees and Holiday Wreaths.
Curbside Pick-up for Recycling:
Most towns will collect trees during their regular pickup schedules on the 2 weeks following Christmas.  There are often requirements for size, removing ornaments, flocking, etc; see below for details.
Non Profit Pick Up:
Call for an appointment to have a non-profit in your area pickup your tree. Some boy scout troops are offering a pickup service for a small donation.
Drop Off:
Take your tree to a drop off recycling center. Most counties have free drop-off locations throughout the county. Usually, you may take up to two trees to any of the following drop-off locations at no charge.
*DON’T BURN IT:
Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Pines, firs and other evergreens have a high content of flammable turpentine oils.  Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire.
Mulch it:
A Christmas tree is biodegradable It’s great if you have a shredder or a friend with one!  But if you don’t, cut the tree to fit loosely into your yard waste container or chip the branches for mulch.
Town Mulching:
This is a fast-growing trend in communities nationwide. Some towns will chip and shred your trees, then make the mulch available for use in your garden.   Check with your local department of public works for information.
General Rules for Preparing the Tree:
Before you throw:
Remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and other NON-Organic decorative materials. Don’t forget the tree stand!
Trees are sometimes required to be cut into 4 ft lengths. In some locales, the trees must be cut small enough pieces to fit inside your yard waste container.
Flocked trees will often need to be chopped-up and disposed with regular solid waste.
*Be sure to check with your local hauler - these are just general guidelines!
ALTERNATIVE IDEAS: Mulching is great but there are other yard ideas, too!  If you have a sizable yard or live by a lake or woodland—here are some creative ways to reuse that tree.
Soil erosion barriers: Christmas trees make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management.
Fish feeders: Sunk into private fish ponds trees make excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.
Bird feeders: Place Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Orange slices and popcorn will attract birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. Within a year the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper. See this article from Perdue University for more information.
© jag www.planetpals.com

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Art of The Edible Christmas Tree

These yummy Christmas tree food ideas are healthy alternatives bound to amuse your family and friends this holiday.

 
Whether you are feeding one or a houseful of holiday guests, the fun food tree will bring on the cheer and make you the star on top!  So much so, that your friends and family won't even realize they are eating healthy.
Fun Food Art Christmas Trees To Decorate Any Holiday Table:
Say Cheese! Delish Cheese and Grape Tree from Cabot Cheese - Any hard cheeses will do.
Cream cheese Christmas tree from Betty Crocker
 Not Cheesy! Cream Cheese Christmas Tree from Betty Crocker - you could use Brie also.

Christmas Tree Pizzas With Pizzaz from Family Fun
Brocolli and Tomato Tree a Healthy Munch For A Bunch from Meal Planning Magic.com 
So Sweet! The Tutti Fruity Tree from Ginger and Garlic Blog  
Rosy and Red Strawberry Christmas Tree  from Maddycakes Muse
Ole! Tortilla Roll Christm as Tree by Better Homes and Gardens
Snap up smiles with snap peas christmas tree by Little Nummies 
Christmas Pancakes Won't Leave Breakfast Flat By Cute Food For Kids
This Grape Tree Snack Plate Is A Natural from Kitchen Fun with Mummy

For more food art and crafts go to Planetpals Crafts pages or seePlanetpals holiday Journals Jam packed with holiday ideas!