I had to save the best for (almost) last. I have had my eye on Jo Totes for a long time. If you (or a woman you know) own a DSLR camera, or really any quality camera that you use all the time, you will L-O-V-E these bags.

I’ve had my Nikon D40 for a few years now, and I learn something new about it every day. Wen I bought it, I also bought an ugly, but functional, boxy Nikon camera bag. I hate it. It is big and clunky, and I only use it for storage or traveling when absolutely necessary. Most of the time, I just stick my DSLR in my purse. But it’s not a very good idea to have an expensive camera jostling around inside a bag full of keys, pens and Lord knows what else. (aff)

Imagine my glee when I discovered Jo Totes, a company that clearly felt my pain and decided to make fabulous camera-ready purses to ease it. Wait. You mean that’s not why the company started? Well, that’s how it feels to me!

So what’s the green part? These bags are made of vegan leather. Ie. No animals were killed in the making of these bags. On top of that, they are very affordable for bags of such awesome quality. Plus, they are available in several gorgeous styles and beautiful colors — including turquoise (swoon) and yellow. That was all the information I needed to become a fan from afar. But the up-close and personal experience? Much, much better!

I received the Rose bag in Pewter, and boy, am I smitten! I have a habit of carrying large purses, so this sizable bag felt right at home on my shoulder. It also has an optional longer strap so you can wear it as a crossbody bag if you choose. However, the magic happens inside the bag. Rose comes with 5 detachable padded partitions that can be arranged as needed to fit your camera and accessories.

There was more than enough space to hold my camera, charger and extra memory cards, and since I put a new lens on my Christmas list, I left some space for that too After all that, there was still ample space for my iPhone, wallet, checkbook, keys and a couple of reusable shopping bags that I always keep in my purse. If I did have one complaint, it would be that there is no space for my iPad. But of course, Jo Totes has already thought of that too. Their newest bag style, the Betsy (shown below in Mustard), features a rear pocket that is large enough for an iPad. Problem solved!

Seriously, I couldn’t love Rose more. She makes me happy. And I know you want to feel the love too

Why It’s Green:

• Made of vegan leather.

Price: $84-90

Want to Win?

Jo Totes is going to make one camera owner of the female variety very happy. One lucky reader is going to take home a Jo Totes bag in the style and color of your choice! Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/27/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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I always have the best intentions when it comes to setting my table. I will pin photos of lavish table settings on Pinterest, and promise myself that for the next holiday, I’ll make my table look just like them — or better. Needless to say, it usually doesn’t work out that way. After spending all day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever, the last thing I’m interested in doing in making the table look great. Jennifer Nelson of Home Sweet understands that, and she has created a product that will let you give your table a little something extra without all the fuss.

Her “chopped” table runner is just 24″ long — big enough to make the table look fancy, but small enough to avoid getting in the way while you’re eating. While having the place settings at the ends of the table on top of a traditional table runner looks nice, the ends of the runner always end up requiring more cleaning than the middle — because the person seated there is likely to spill something on it. This “chopped” runner is a great solution.

Like all of Home Sweet’s other sustainable home textiles, the table runner in block-printed by hand with water-based inks. The table runners are printed on a gray recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric that has a cool, slubby appearance — sort of like linen. I personally love the texture of it, and the gray and navy color scheme is perfect for my dining room — a great complement to our ikat dinnerware.

Why It’s Green:

• Hand-printed with water-based inks
• Made of a recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric

Price: $28/ea.

Want to Win?

Home Sweet is offer a chopped runner to one lucky reader. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/27/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas!

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I’ve been a little lazy with my gift wrapping this year, and I’ve used more paper than I’d like. So for the rest of my wrapping, I’m determined to get creative and reuse gift bags, boxes, fabric and anything else I can find. Here are some of my favorite green gift wrapping ideas:

Use boxes and bags from last year

My family has been reusing the same gift bags and boxes for years now. As we unwrap (or inbox or unbag) gifts on Christmas morning, I neatly fold them up and put them in a stack. I also save bags and boxes from birthdays, Valentine’s Day, etc., all in my gift wrap bin. As a result, we are able to use the same gently used bags and boxes over and over. We simply replace the tags, or use the same bag for the same person so the existing tag still applies

Use what you already have

Before you purchase another roll of wrapping paper, look around the house to see what you already have. Chances are, you’ve ordered some gifts online and had them shipped to you. I’ve personally received a LOT of boxes over the past month or two. Many of them came stuffed with paper instead of packing peanuts. I’ve been reusing a lot of that paper to wrap gifts.

To wrap the gift above, I reused two sheets of crinkled brown paper from a package I had received (and I actually like the crinkled look). Then I used some tulle that I had leftover from a tutu a made my niece for Christmas. I simply wrapped two colors of tulle around the package and tied them in bows. Easy, and beautiful! (NOTE: Please ignore the extremely blue coloring of these photos. I forgot to change the white balance on my camera when I was taking them )

There are other ways to reuse that brown paper, though. I used it to wrap another gift, then used a couple of craft sponges to paint circles on it in our chosen Christmas color scheme (turquoise, gold and lime green). I also used those colors to paint a gift tag that I printed for free! Looking for more free printable gift tags? Click here or scroll down. The finished look is handmade and luxe at the same time. And it took only a few minutes.

You can also take a cue from green guru Danny Seo and use newspaper to wrap gifts. Believe it or not, it will curl much like ribbon. This is a great way to wrap a bottle of wine. Simply put the bottle in the middle and fold the newspaper up around it, then secure it at the top with a rubber band. Cut the excess into strips and use scissors to curl it just like you would curl ribbon. Makes a really festive host gift! I would show you the video, but it looks like Danny has removed it.

Lastly, you know all those tote bags and shoe boxes you have in your closet that you never use? They make great gift packaging

Wrap a gift in a gift

See that gift above? It’s not wrapped in just any piece of fabric. That’s actually a pillow cover. I put the other gifts inside it, then carefully folded and wrapped it with ribbon. Of course, this works best when the other gifts are small, but it can work in other situations as well.

For example, I put together a personalized gift basket for someone using a $2 basket from Goodwill. I was trying to figure out how to conceal the items in the basket, and I remembered that the recipient has been wearing a lot of scarves lately. Inspiration! I made her the circle scarf that you’ll find on the DIY gift ideas page in the Green Gift Guide. I then used the scarf to enclose the gifts inside the basket, then tied it all up with a stray piece of tulle (see below). Easy peasy, and she’s getting 2 gifts in one!

This can work with sooooo many gifts: A recipe book wrapped in a tea towel. A pair of earrings inside a decorative, lacquered box that the recipient could display on their dresser or a bookshelf. Candles wrapped inside fabric napkins. An organic stuffed animal wrapped inside a baby blanket. Anything at all inside a reusable shopping bag (like a ChicoBag, Envirosax or RuMe bag). The possibilities are endless. (aff)

Use paper just for the kids

Let’s be honest — part of the Christmas magic for kids is tearing their gifts open with wild abandon. It’s just not the same with a gift bag, or if they have to carefully untie a piece of fabric. Adults and teens will be better equipped with the patience required to open a carefully wrapped gift.

So if you’re going to use paper for wrapping, use it just for the kids — and make sure that paper is either made of recycled materials or at least recyclable. Even Walmart, Target and Dollar Tree offer recycled wrapping paper if you take the time to look. And please stay away from shiny foil, velvet flocked, or glitter-covered paper, because it is generally not recyclable. Simple printed paper is best.

What are you doing to make your gift wrapping more eco-friendly this year? Share your ideas in the comments below!

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There are some green products that will always be on my go-to list when gift-giving time comes around. Sprout Watches are absolutely among those items — which is why they appear in so many categories of the Green Gift Guide! They are stylish, high quality, eco-friendly and affordable. And best of all, Sprout is constantly evolving and releasing new styles. So while you can get some of the same watches this year that were available last year, you can also find a variety of new styles.

Among those new styles are watches made from — believe it or not — fish leather! Yes! Sprout recycled skin from salmon and other fish to create bands with beautiful texture, as shown in the photo above. Fish skins are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather because it is made of the by-product from fish farmers who are catching non-endangered species for human consumption. In other words, if companies like Sprout didn’t find ways to use it, it would simply be thrown away. Fish skin is praised as being one of the strongest leathers on earth, as well as having great elasticity. Plus, there’s the bonus that no two skins are exactly alike.

Their other new watch style is made from Tyvek®. Ever had one of those really tough envelopes from the post office that you couldn’t tear with your hands if you were Hercules? They’re made of Tyvek®. It is a very strong, high-density fiber that is also water and tear resistant AND recyclable. Also, given the nature of the fibers, Tyvek® develops a leather-like look over time, as you can see in the photo above. Continuing Sprout’s history of innovation, they’ve found a way to turn this material into a long-lasting product rather than a throwaway.

Seriously, how could I not love this company? I have never ever looked at salmon skin and thought to do anything with it but toss it — immediately. So anyone who can figure out how to turn something I’d never give a second thought into a product I’d be happy to give as a gift will get my attention every time.

Why It’s Green:

• All Sprout’s watches are made from eco-friendly materials, including bamboo, organic cotton, recycled Tyvek, fish leather (yes!), biodegradable corn resin, stainless steel, mineral crystal lens, natural mother of pearl and more.
• Mercury free
• Sprout packaging is made from at least 80% post consumer fibers. It is both recycled and recyclable.

Price: $30-75 (aff)

Want to Win?

Sprout Watches is giving away not just one, but THREE of their beautiful products — one each to three different winners! One winner will take home a ladies’ fish leather watch, one winner will get a ladies’ Tyvex watch and one winner will receive a men’s corn resin watch (not necessarily in the colors shown above). How awesome is that? Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/26/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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Buying green gifts for kids can be tough. They’re seeing toys made of plastic plastered all over the TV and everywhere else, and those are usually the gifts that wind up on their wish lists. Thankfully, though, more and more companies are making eco-friendly alternatives to traditional kids’ gifts. miYim is one of those companies, and I was truly excited to have found their organic Disney plush collection. After all, what kid doesn’t like Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh?

These adorable plush toys are designed for infants and toddlers, ie. the ones who we really should be trying to protect from toxic chemicals and plastics. Available characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.

miYim sent me an organic Winnie the Pooh plush, and it is too cute! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there was a rattle inside, which all parents know will keep an infant or toddler endlessly entertained. It is also extremely soft, but sturdy. The seams are well-made, so this is not a toy your child would be able to tear apart.

If you or your kids love Disney characters, this is your chance to give them a Disney fix without all the questionable materials that usually come with character-branded toys.

Why It’s Green:

• Made from certified organic cotton and colored with nontoxic, low-impact dyes that contain no heavy metals.
• miYim’s environmentally responsible manufacturing process reduces waste by using less heat, energy and water.

Price: $25.99/ea.

Want to win?

miYim is offering one lucky reader the chance to take home an Organic Pooh plush. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/26/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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Just call today “Free Art Friday.” The second giveaway of the day is a beautiful letterpress print by Etsy seller EnormousChampion. The minute I saw this piece, I knew I had to include it in the Green Gift Guide. The 8″ x 10″ print features a vortex of gold and black skeleton keys printed by hand on extra thick cotton paper. To make it even more special, it is printed in an edition of 125 and signed and numbered on the back.

Why It’s Green:

• Printed by hand on cotton paper

Price: $33

Want to win?

One winner will receive a Keys print from Enormous Champion! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/23/11.

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Do you need some artwork for your bare walls, or a gift for the person on your list who has everything? Well, you’re in luck! You have a chance to win a custom-printed, 16″ x 20″ rolled canvas from online printing service UPrinting.com. They offer canvas printing with soy-based inks and finish them with a non-toxic UV coating. And they make great gifts, for you or someone else on your list, and you can have the canvas printed with the image of your choice: from a family photo to a portrait of your favorite pet, a landscape shot of your home, or a closeup of your favorite flower. What’s even cooler is that you can build a design right on the UPrinting website using photos, text, shapes and colors.

Want to win?

The winner will receive one 16” x 20” rolled canvas print with 2-inch border or no border, with turnaround in just one business day and free shipping! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/23/11. Restriction: Entrants must be at least 18 years old.

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I am incredibly excited about this giveaway. Red Clay Home has been on my radar for a while, mostly because I have a whole lot in common with the owners: We both are passionate about sustainability and about creating beautiful spaces at home — and we are both looking for ways to make doing that easier and more affordable for the average person. So when I learned they had created a collection of gorgeous, eco-friendly ceramics, I didn’t hesitate to add them to the Green Gift Guide.

Their Peek-a-Boo vase, Incline at Sunset bowl and Bubble plate and Bulba vase are all handmade in partnership with Mudshark Studios, a sustainable ceramics studio. And I love the way Red Clay crowdsources their designs. In a nutshell, the community submits design ideas for new products, and then votes on the designs that will go into production.

Their first collection makes me eager to see what will come next! Don’t you just love the bright pops of color these products provide? As you can see in the photo above, Red Clay sent me a Peek-a-Boo vase in peacock (that’s becoming a theme around here, isn’t it?), and I used it to create my simple Christmas centerpiece. I really can’t wait to decorate the rest of the table around it.

Why It’s Green:

• Ceramics handmade in the U.S. in small-run production

Price: $29-69/ea.

Want to win?

Red Clay Home is giving away not just one, but TWO of their beautiful products! One winner will take home a Peek-a-Boo vase, and one winner will receive an Incline bowl, both in the color of their choice. How awesome is that? Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/20/11.

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I’m not much of a girly girl, so while I love earrings (feathers, anyone?), I’m usually not big on other jewelry. However, every other woman or girl on my Christmas shopping list loves it. From my daughter to my nieces and all the adults, they’d be overjoyed to receive a new necklace for Christmas. And the wonderfully eco-friendly jewelry by Kris Nations would also satisfy my desire to give green.

All Kris Nations jewelry is made in the U.S. from recycled materials, but the state necklace is my favorite piece. It’s available for every state in both gold and silver, and it is incredibly cute. While I wish that U.S. territories were included so I could get a Virgin Islands necklace, I can think of more than a handful of people who would be happy to wear their state pride around their necks.

Kris Nations sent me a gold Georgia necklace, and I love it. The chain is 16-18″, so it fits a little longer than a choker. It felt a little short for me, but maybe I just have a large neck I’m a plus-sized woman though. It would likely be perfect for a smaller woman (than me), a teenager or an older child.

Why It’s Green:

• Made in the U.S. from sheets of recycled metal

Price: $48/ea.

Want to win?

Kris Nations is offering two readers the chance to win a State Pride Necklace in your state and finish of choice! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/20/11.

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I’ve really been agonizing over a “WOW” gift I can make for my daughter this year. She used to have a plastic play kitchen when she was a toddler. We donated it a long time ago, but I’ve noticed that she always heads right for those types of kitchens whenever we go to a toy or thrift store. I’m seriously considering making one for her — though I’m worried about where we’d put it. Here are the best of the best in DIY play kitchens I’ve found online, made from desks, entertainment centers, nightstands and more.

This boy-friendly kitchen from Finding Joy comes complete with a rack to hang pots and cooking utensils and magnetic chalkboard doors for making shopping lists. Love it! Be sure to click the link for many more photos and details on how it was built.

If you have an older or taller child, an entertainment center might be too small. Utah County Mom solved that problem by using a corner desk to create this kitchen. The best part? Because she already had the desk, she was able to create this for less than $50!

Maybe you don’t have room for something so large. No problem! Start with a side table or nightstand like this version from SAS Interiors! There’s room for enough sweet little details to still make this worth doing, and it will fit nicely in a corner.

The attention to detail on this kitchen by Britt & her Boys is amazing! Check out the tiled backsplash, which was meticulously laid out, painted and adhered one rectangle at a time! I also love the realistic buttons on the microwave. And this crafty mom didn’t stop there. She also made a bunch of felt play food to go with the kitchen. Is she amazing, or what?

Have two tables or nightstands? Then you’ve got a stove and a sink with storage below! The set in the photo shown above was actually made from scratch by Blue Eyed Yonder, but you can see how 2 nightstands could easily become these two pieces!

This one by Bonne Nouvelle is made from a changing table. Love that idea, particularly because changing tables outlive their usefulness really quickly. I also love how she used the back of the piece to make chalkboards so it can be used in the middle of a room, as well as up against a wall.

Seriously, there are about a million ways to do this, and you can add tons of details to make it completely unique and super special. If play kitchens aren’t your kid’s fancy, how about an awesome work bench, complete with hardware store details (built by The Frugal Granny):

Or you could use two nightstands to make a washer and dryer. The possibilities are endless! All of these are much better than a store-bought play set, and your child (or whatever child you make it for) will be able to pass it down with a great story about where it came from.

You can add some eco-friendly pretend “food” from Plan Toys, Green Toys, or Melissa & Doug and your kid would be ready to go!

Since I refuse to buy a plastic kitchen set, my daughter may have one of these in her future. Now it’s time to convince my husband to let me chop up a side table that’s way too small for the spot it’s in!

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My daughter goes through a LOT of pencils. She uses them for her homework during the week, but she also loves to write and draw just for fun. Needless to say, I am always looking for pencils made from recycled or otherwise sustainable materials, because I hate the idea of buying pencils made from virgin wood. It just doesn’t seem like a very good reason to cut down trees. Lisa Bacon of Write with Moxie gets that. And her beautiful, recycled paper pencils are just the kind of thoughtful gift that show we can consider sustainability in even the most humble of purchases.

Each pencil is made from layers of recycled colored paper, and the color around the lead changes as you sharpen it. I tried photographing the pencils myself, but I just couldn’t do them justice. So I used some of their official product photos to show you just how spectacular they look, particularly when grouped together in a pretty jar or cup. Because they are made of paper, the weight of the pencils felt different in my hand — slightly lighter. This made writing with them an entirely new experience. Seriously. Plus, they are packaged in cute little cardboard tubes so kids (or whomever) can easily keep them in one place.

These make awesome stocking stuffers (which is why they were a no-brainer for the Green Gift Guide), as I believe in filling stockings with useful items rather than meaningless trinkets that may never be used. Write with Moxie also offers simple, recycled kraft paper journals. Given with a pack of pencils, this is a gift that is sure to jump-start some creativity.

They are available in solid colors as well as colored pencils in sets of 5 or 10.

Why It’s Green:

• Pencils and journal handmade with recycled paper

Price: $6-12

Want to win?

Thanks to Write with Moxie, one winner will take home great prize package that includes a set of green pencils, a set of colored pencils and a kraft paper journal. Sweet! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/19/11.

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I don’t know for sure that I am the No. 1 of Nostalgia Organics, but I can say with certainty that I’m no lower than number 2 or 3. I keep a regular stash of Nostalgia soaps in my bathroom, and I freak out whenever I realize I’m running low. Suffice it to say that I love these products. So when I found out they were getting ready to release two new scents, I knew I had to try them!

Honestly, opening a box from Nostalgia Organics is one of my favorite things to do. The fragrances always hit me in a rush after they’ve been enclosed in a box for shipping, and they are at their most potent right when I break the seal. The combination of the two new fragrances, Lemon Flour and Henrietta, was a powerful cocktail. And honestly, these two are among my favorites.

Lemon Flour smells like fresh lemon zest, or the way you’d love your kitchen to smell right after you clean it. It’s fresh, sweet, citrussy and wonderful. Henrietta is a bold lady, fragrant with full-bodied spearmint and just a hint of floral sweetness. My all time favorite Nostalgia soap is also a minty fragrance, so I was eager to see if this one competes. It does

These fragrances are so new that the Lemon Flour products aren’t even available on the Nostalgia site yet. Get them here first!

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade with organic and natural ingredients

Price: $8-10

SAVE BIG! Get a whopping 25% off your order with coupon code GreenYourHoliday. Good only at http://nostalgiaorganics.com.

Want to win?

One winner will receive an awesome gift set from Nostaglia Organics that includes: one each of Henrietta soap and hand creme, along with one each of Lemon Flour soap and hand creme. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/17/11.

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Many families traditionally give pajamas for Christmas. This had not been true for our family until recent years. The problem is that most kids’ pajamas are made with toxic chemical flame retardants, because most of them are made of polyester. Finding 100% cotton PJs is a challenge, and finding 100% organic cotton PJs is even harder. So when I discovered New Jammies and their stylish, kid-friendly designs, I was thrilled. Plus, they made a great addition to the Green Gift Guide.

They are available up to size 8 in a wide variety of patterns and colors and they close-fitting are completely free of flame retardants. New Jammies sent me their Panda Snuggly pajamas. They are incredibly soft and very well made. I can’t wait to see my daughter in them on Christmas Eve!

I just wish they were available in larger sizes so I could buy a few pairs for my stepsons as well!

Why It’s Green:

• Made of 100% organic cotton

Price: $29-33

BONUS COUPON CODE! Get 15% off your entire order at New Jammies with coupon code GGG9835. Exp. 12/31/11

Want to Win?

One winner will receive a pair of New Jammies kids pajamas in the size and style of your choice. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/17/11.

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You knew they were coming! This year, I have a slew of awesome green gift giveaways for your pleasure, starting with an awesome, handmade iPad case from Zaum.

I love Mod Green Pod fabrics — almost as much as I love my iPad. So when I discovered these beautiful pieces made from Mod Green Pod’s stylish prints and other sustainable materials, I didn’t hesitate to add them to this year’s Green Gift Guide. These fabulous, high quality pieces are handmade by Zaum. In their eco-friendly section, you’ll also find clutches, full-size handbags and totes, coin purses, laptop bags, and iPhone cases — all made of materials like organic cotton and wool felt.

Zaum sent me their Eco Pad iPad case to review, and I love it! The case is lightly padded to offer extra protection. Given the cost of one of these devices, this is the least you could ask. The flap closes securely with velcro, and if you have a light, thin smart cover on your iPad, it should be able to fit in the case even with the cover. However, I usually have a bulkier hard case on mine, and I have to take off the hard case to fit it inside the Zaum case. Not a big deal. Overall, the Eco Pad case is beautiful and incredibly sturdy and well made.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of organic cotton

Price: $45

BONUS SAVINGS! Get 20% your order at the Zaum store with coupon code GYD20. Exp. 12/20/11

Want to Win?

One winner will receive an EcoPad case in the color of your choice. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/15/11.

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© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I love making handmade gifts, and I love supporting good causes. With this project, I am able to do both.

Essentially, Elmer’s has challenged me to be creative and given me the opportunity to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. My challenge? Use an Elmer’s Tri-fold Display Board to make something. Anything. Then submit my project in their Projects For Great Futures contest. Elmer’s will select finalists based on originality and creativity. Then on December 14 (my birthday, yay!), the public will be able to vote for the finalists’ projects. But here’s the sweet part: The Boys & Girls Clubs of America will receive $1 for every single vote, up to $50,000. Moreover, the Club closest to the Walmart store at which the Elmer’s® TriFold Display Board used in the winning entry was purchased will receive a $5,000 Walmart gift card and $1,000 in Elmer’s products. How’s that for a reason to get involved!

Of course, I had to figure out what to do, first. Display boards bring up memories of junior high school science fairs and class projects. I needed something different. Inspiration struck when I was researching Christmas gift ideas. I realized the display board would be the perfect medium for me to make a puppet theater! And even better for me, I could get a handmade gift out of the way. I’m making a lot of gifts this year, and I’m a little behind, so I’m glad I was able to do this one for a good cause. I made this for my niece, who is young enough to still think puppets are awesome

Want to make one too? Here’s the tutorial.

You’ll Need:

• Elmer’s Tri-fold Display Board, large
• Paint (I used navy blue and gold)
• Small roller and tray
• Paintbrushes
• About 1 yard of red fabric
• Scissors
• Box cutter
• Hot glue gun
• 1/4″ wooden dowel

Step 1

You’ll need to cut out a hole where your puppets will show. The top of the rectangle should be about 8″ from the top of the display board and centered in the center panel. Because I’m horrible at measuring straight, I used a large shoe box to trace a rectangle onto my cutting board.  It wound up being 22″ wide and 17″ high. Feel free to use that as your measurements, or use dimensions that work for you. Use a box cutter to cut out the rectangle.

Step 2

With your rectangle cut out, you’ll start to see that it’s looking more like a puppet theater. But it needs some pizazz. Paint the entire board in a solid color. I chose to use a paint sample that I had left over from when we painted our dining room. It was more than enough to cover the board. Because this is cardboard, you’ll want to roll on 2 very light coats. Otherwise, the board can start to warp and bend from the moisture. Let it dry for at least an hour.

Step 3

While this is drying, grab the piece of display board that you cut out from the center. Sketch a star on it. I did mine freehand, and it wasn’t exactly symmetrical, but it did the trick. My star was about 6″ x 6″ at its widest and tallest points. Use the box cutter to cut out the star. Paint the star in whatever color you’d like — preferably a color that contrasts with your background color. I used metallic gold craft paint. Set it aside to dry.

Step 4

While the paint is drying, you can start making your curtains. Cut out 1 piece of fabric that is 30″ x 5″. Cut out two pieces of fabric that are 13″ x 22″. The first piece will become your valance. Hem all four sides of the fabric with a 1/4″ seam allowance.  There is no need to create a rod pocket, because this will be glued to the poster board.  The other two pieces, however, will need a rod pocket.

Pin and hem the 2 long sides of each piece of fabric and one short side with a 1/4″ seam allowance. I actually doubled my fabric because it was very thin, and I wanted to give it a little more weight. Because of this, I used the folded edge as a finished hem, so I didn’t sew it. I only had to sew the 2 longer sides. If you don’t have a folded edge, you’ll need to hem the third side. The fourth, unfinished edge will become the rod pocket. Fold the fabric about 1/4″ and iron the edge. Then fold again, this time allowing 2 inches. Hem all the way across the top, sewing 1 3/4″ from the edge of the fabric. By doing this, you will be creating a pocket for the dowel, which will act as your curtain rod.

Step 5

By now, your display board should be dry. You’ll need to make holes for your dowel to fit through. I couldn’t find my hole puncher, so I used scissors. This part will be a lot easier if you use a punch. Plus, the hole will be cleaner. Make a mark on the right side panel about a half inch from the fold in the cardboard and parallel to the top of your rectangle cutout. Use your punch to make a hole. Do the same on the left side. Take your dowel and slide it through the holes from right to left to make sure it will fit. Remove the dowel, for now.

Step 6

Now it’s time to fancy it up! You can paint any decorations your want. Stripes, hearts, unicorns — whatever you want. I chose to paint a simple scallop at the top and bottom of the hole, framing it. Next, I used a stencil sponge and made random polka dots all over the board, including the two side panels. Very simple, but it has an incredibly fancy effect. Paint to your heart’s content, and let it dry for at least an hour. In my experience, craft paint dries a lot faster than regular wall paint.

Step 7

Hot glue your painted star to the top center of the display board. Next, you will hot glue your valance right above the curtain rod to hide it and give your curtains a fancier, more finished look. Measure a half inch to an inch above the top of the hole. Center the valance on the hole. You should have a little bit of a swag on either side. Simply hot glue the fabric to the poster board all the way across the top of the hole, leaving a little hanging on either side.

Step 8

Finally, you’re ready to assemble the last piece. Stand up the display board. Slide the dowel through the hole on one side of the display board. Then slide it through the rod pockets at the top of your curtains. Finally, slide it through the hole on the other side of the display board. The upside of this setup is that you can easily remove the dowel so you can fold the display board for storage. This also means you can change the curtains whenever you want

Ta Da! You’re done. All you need now is some puppets and a willing participant!

As you can see, my daughter was more than willing to try it out for me. This is for a much smaller child, so it’s less likely she’ll be seen from the front. Still, my daughter thinks it’s awesome. I know she’ll be begging me to make one for her in the near future

If you try this, I’d love to see how yours turns out Plus, if you want to get involved in this initiative, it’s really easy! Simply use an Elmer’s Tri-fold Display Board to create a project for any reason (school, work, Christmas, or any reason at all). Once you are finished, submit it via email to ProjectsForGreatFutures@elmers.com. You could be chosen as a finalist!

Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer’s #gluenglitter #collectivebias #CBias Collective Bias. All opinions, images and instructions are my own.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.