• Design your own Christmas decor while helping the environment.weihnachtszeit image by Westa Zikas from Fotolia.com
  
  Instead of throwing away your old Christmas cards and wrapping paper, turn them into treasured gifts and decorations. Not only will you help save the environment, you'll also save money on all the things you don't need to buy since you mad them yourself. There are various paper Christmas crafts that you can choose to suit adults and kids of all ages. Gather the family and make a holiday activity out of creating recycled paper Christmas decorations.
  
  

Wrapping Paper Bookmarks

• For this craft, you'll need leftover Christmas wrapping paper, cardboard, glue and scissors. Cut out a 1-by-6-inch rectangle from the cardboard. Wrap it in wrapping paper and secure it with glue or tape. To make a sturdier bookmark, cover it with translucent contact paper.
  
  

Christmas Card Placemats

• Once the season is over, pick your favorite Christmas cards to use for this craft. Make a circle template from cardboard or select any round object you can use to trace circles, then cut circles out of your selected cards. Use construction paper as your placemat and glue on the circles. For an even more decorative touch, wrap the construction paper in wrapping paper first. Cover both sides of the placemat with clear contact paper or laminate it.
  
  

Wrapping Paper Ornaments

• Gather Christmas wrapping paper, old Christmas cards, glue and ribbon. Fold a piece of paper in half. A good size is 20 inches long and 5 inches wide. Next, fold the wrapping paper or card accordion-style, then glue or tape one of the short ends. Fluff the craft out into a fan shape and decorate it with items like tiny bells, glitter, small ribbons and bows. Attach a ribbon on top as a hanger.
  
  

Musical Baton Craft

• Paint an empty wrapping paper roll in bright colors and allow it to dry. Alternatively, wrap it in Christmas wrapping paper and/or decorate it with stickers. Fill the paper roll 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up with dried beans or rice. Secure both ends of the roll with contact paper or duct tape, which you can also paint.