Make PAPER Part of the Celebration

Throughout the year, the editors of Ahead of the Curve strive to bring you articles about paper technologies, trends, scientific developments, new markets and products—a variety of interesting news to help you succeed in your career.

Yet the utility and potential of paper and packaging go far beyond our careers. The products we make are also an important part of our everyday lives. At a time of year when, for many of us, the focus turns toward celebrating with family and friends, we're pleased to offer these tips for how to make sure paper and paper products are part of the celebration.

The craft website guidepatterns.com has collected 24+ Ways to Make a Paper Christmas Tree. What can more successfully illustrate the "circular economy" than making trees out of paper? Click on the link to learn how to make holiday décor from tissue, crepe paper, recycled toilet paper rolls (really!) and more. Bring the forest inside!

Are there bare spots on your Christmas tree—or are you just looking for beautiful ornaments that the cat can't shatter? Check out Sheknows.com for instructions on making beautiful DIY Paper Mache ornaments. This is also a great way to recycle newspaper, old wrapping paper or tissue, and magazines.

If your family observes Kwanzaa, Crayola.com offers a fun way to craft a Folded Paper Kinara to celebrate the Kwanzaa principles of Unity, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Paper provides a tactile way for children to learn, share, and celebrate.

Both Hanukkah and Diwali are called "a festival of lights." And while both of these important celebrations may be over for this year, it's never to early to start crafting next year's decorations! Architecturendesign.net has collected 20 Amazing DIY Paper Lanterns and Lights that would also be perfect for lighting up your home for Winter Solstice, Chinese New Year, or Christmas.

For a paper-centric way to start the New Year, try any of these 14 New Year's Decorations and Paper Crafts collected at ThePaperMillStore.com. From banners to blowers to party hats, paper really can do anything.

Did you know that real Christmas trees can be recycled? The National Christmas Tree association offers these guidelines on how to put your Christmas Tree to use once the string lights and tinsel are gone. Reusing or recycling your tree may also offer an opportunity for starting a dialogue with children, family, and friends about the importance of tree planting to the pulp, paper, and packaging industry.

Finally, no matter what holiday you celebrate, paper can be there in the form of cards, letters, and gift-giving. When giving to others, choose books, journals, calendars, magazine or newspaper subscriptions, art prints or posters—there are so many excellent and welcome gifts that support the paper and print industry.

May we also recommend sharing and forwarding this article?
Help everyone you know make paper an important part of their end-of-the-year celebrations!

The editors will be taking next week off to read, write long letters to friends, wrap gifts, and make paper crafts. Look for us to return on January 2, 2019 with a "sneak peek" at the Industry Outlook for 2019. As always, thank you to all of our readers for choosing to stay Ahead of the Curve.

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