Turn those tomato cages upside down and recycle them into Christmas trees

Today's transformation uses tomato cages turned upside down to make Christmas trees.

 

When your tomatoes start looking like this:

You know it's time to decorate for Christmas.

Turning a tomato cage into a Christmas tree is so easy.

1. Turn it upside down.

2. Tape the ends together. I used clear packing tape.

3.Then head to the ornament stash and hook on your ornaments. I did mine in different colors.

If you want to get fancier, try this tomato cage tree made with lights and a recycled sweater.

And to not leave out Hanukkah, check out this Menorah made from repurposed plumbing pipe!

 

It was made by Josh Korwin and Alyssa Zukas of the website Notschlock and is just one of the cool projects in one of my all-time favorite books:

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse
Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew
By
Garth Johnson

Artists and crafters have always been recyclers, but for many, it has not only become a thrifty choice, it has become a moral imperative. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse contains a cutting-edge collection of the most inventive work being made with re-used, upcycled, and already existing materials. The work in this book ranges from clever and humble personal accessories to unique and important large-scale works of art, including paper art, fashion, jewelry, housewares, interiors, and installations.

Garth Johnsonis a studio artist, writer, and educator who lives in Eureka, California. In addition to maintaining the website "Extreme Craft" (www.extremecraft.com), Garth writes about a variety of topics, including art, craft, and creative reuse.  He and his wife Claire are currently writing a blog for Readymade Magazine called "Keeping Up With the Johnsons (http://readymadeblogs.mydevstaging.com/blogs/johnsons/). His DVD, ReVision: Recycled Crafts for Earth-Friendly Living, was released by Eyekiss Films earlier this year (www.reconstructdvd.com). His artwork was recently featured in solo shows at Gallerie Maxim in Cologne, Germany and the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Garth received a BFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MFA from Alfred University. He has taught at Georgia State University, Columbus State University and is currently an assistant professor at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA. In addition to teaching, he is a sought-after lecturer and visiting artist, with recent lectures at Ohio State University, Louisiana State University and the Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China.

 Holiday Goodness Giveaway Time!

Here's how it works:

• We ask a question each weekday.
• You leave your answer in the comments section each day to the question (and you can enter each day!).
• We will randomly pick a winner each day to send a free book to!

Today is DAY 4 of 19!

Question:

How do you decorate outside? Is it the same every year or do you do something different each year?

My answer:

As you can see in the photo, I have my little forest of tomato cage trees and my candy cans (which I must point out I rescued/liberated from the recycling center).

I really want to cut out some deer from leftover wood I have around but as of yet each day gets away from me and I don't get to it.

If you want to see what I did last year (it was pretty cool!), pop over to this post.

Be sure to read the comments of others; maybe you can pick up a good idea, a new place to find your inspiration, or just a good giggle!

Comments

[Liz Bayer]

I ususally like to add one new idea to my traditional outdoor display. Last year I put up wreaths & pine roping as usual, but added a Peace Flag with a spotlight to honor the soldiers...this year I am adding an American flag opposite the Peace flag & will light this too. I will also add a yellow ribbon to honor a local soldier from my town who was killed in Afghanistan in Oct. RIP Kyle

[Muriel Fulgione]

We'll just do a lot of lights this year; we'll be visiting family for most of the season (need to get to the studio instead of playing on the computer. . .smile), so we won't do as much as in the past. There are 3 small trees on the front porch that are also lit and I'll take my old sled, add greens, a big red bow and recycled ice skates for outside the door.

[whitney]

I live a condo so I don't have a lot of options but I do hang a wreath on my balcony.

[Alison Liebman]

I don't really decorate much outside. On the inside we do things differently every year.

[wendy m]

We just do lights on the front bushes every year - nothing fancy. Some of our neighbors go all out with those inflatables, as many as a dozen in one yard! They do look a little sad during the day, though, what with all those Santas and snowmen face down on the lawn. ;-)

[MAry Anne]

Our outside decorating is pretty minimal...we fill our two flower urns with little artificial Christmas trees leftover from when we used to decorate our kids bedrooms. This year I'm planning to buy a couple of big red bows to put on them. We no longer put a nice wreath on the front door because my husband absolutely refuses after we got a nice new door a few years ago. We put lights up (inside) around the front window (again husband, who doesn't like freezing to death putting lights outside...can't say as I blame him!).

[Sandi Christen]

I shop the after christmas sales, and add something new from last years after christmas sale. I use everything I have!

[Terri N-W]

I don't do outdoor decorating. May put lights in the front room windows and a wreath on the front porch. I'm too lazy to decorate too much and then have to go to the work of putting it all away. LOL!
Hugs!

[Lila Schmidt]

I intend to do something different each year but usually end up doing the same old thing. At some point in the midst of all the seasons' madness, I say to myself, if it's not broke, don't fix it. My recurring theme will always be angels in some shape or form. Hugs to all.

[julie m]

I used to do lots of lights on trees and posts and whatever else was around. Now I am getting older and just hang out wreathes.

[Shari in Colorado]

I have 2 small oak barrels by the front porch that I fill with artificial poinsettias that I gather all year long at the thrift stores and from what I saved from last years bunches. I really pack them full and they look lovely. We put up some signs for Santa, a snowman or two made of masonite and painted and cover the front door to look like a large package tied in ribbon. The benches on the porch get garlands and red bows. That is about it for the outside.

[Lynda]

I love the idea of the tomato cages that we just put away!! I usually just put out those two small trees already with lights on either side of the front door. Maybe next year I'll add more.

[Cyndi L]

Why did I *never* notice before how much tomato cages look like upside down Christmas trees? :-)

[f lynn rush]

we don't decorate for the holidays, but our porch is constantly in light. these have the round bulbs that people might use to make their gardens festive. we have them attached to the motion detector and kind of draped between the two columns at the entry to the porch. when we lived in another place, we used different strands of mini lights and wove them into the wrought iron porch roof support. we had different combinations. one we especially likes was spring green and midnight blue. we keep these lights on through the entire year. we purchase left-overs at the end of december in case we need to replace the ones we have.

[Tammy]

We, sadly, don't decorate outside for the holiday. It's all we can do to get something going on inside as far as decorations!

[Ellen Lai]

We live in flats, no outside to decorate, the most is some small potted plants placed at the corridor near the main door. How I envy those who have yards and gardens.

[invierta proyectos]

Loved those ideas!