Recycle Project - Christmas Tree Treat Holder

Do you have a collection of those extra large take-out plastic drink cups? I just can't bear to throw them out because the plastic is the thick, strong kind that I intend to make into planters.... someday. Awhile ago I was looking at an upside-down empty cup and I imagined it as a Christmas tree. My husband thought it was another ploy to hoard more 'to-be-recycled' stuff. Well, here's a step-by-step of how I recycled a plastic drink cup into a Christmas tree treat holder. (My husband is no longer skeptical about my intent to recycle.) I started with the cup (one with a small bottom that is designed to fit in the car cup holder) and some used Xmas wrapping paper (yes, I saved some from last year). I taped the paper onto the cup without being concerned about neatness (patch where necessary because it won't show). Scrunch the top of the wrapping paper into a wrinkled cone shape.

Next, glue (I used Fabri-Tac) the tinsel around the papered cup. The tinsel garland in the photo has wire in it so it is easy to form it around the cup. Glue on the plastic star.

After filling the finished tree with treats, glue down a bottom made from recycled cardboard which was cut into a circle (use the cup bottom to trace the size).

The finished tree makes a lovely table decoration and filled with homemade treats it will be the perfect teacher, coach, or co-worker gift. (Bag your treats before sealing them in the cup as it probably isn't airtight.) I think I will try to find a larger tree topper as I think the star is a little small for the size of the tree. Ben Franklin Crafts has many colors of the wired tinsel and they are very reasonably priced. One roll will make one tree with some leftover. Making a treat holder like this takes very little time and expense; it is a good way to recycle what you would normally throw away. I hope that you will try this gift idea as a present to a friend and the environment. Happy Recycled Crafting!