Upcycle Your Old Cereal Boxes Into The Coziest Christmas Tree Collar

Twinkle lights illuminated at winter's early dusk are the perfect way to make your home feel more warm and cozy throughout the holiday season. While most people add a skirt around their Christmas tree, a DIY collar that adds some sparkling lights might be a better option. Thrifty and crafty Instagrammer @sibster saved a stack of cereal boxes from the recycling bin by morphing them into a string of houses and pine trees. Backed with mini string lights and looped around the skirt of the tree, this craft is one clever Christmas decorating tip on a budget.

So, to begin, save those empty boxes of cereal, granola, mac and cheese, and more for a holiday project with potential beyond the tree. You could also use some sturdier cardboard, like from a box, if desired. If a floor-based setup won't work for your final product, this string of houses and trees will look equally charming on a mantel or shelf, a windowsill, or staggered down steps.

What you'll need for this adorable upcycle is a decent collection of boxes with brown interiors, white paint, a pencil, ruler, white marker, craft glue, scissors, utility knife, and a string of battery-operated mini LED lights. Cookie cutters in gingerbread house shapes could also come in handy to trace. If you're hoping to get more than one season out of this project, swap the craft glue for Velcro dots to connect each boxboard piece; this will allow you to separate each section for storage. If you go with this option, also use an easily-removable adhesive like poster putty to hold the lights to the back of the cardboard.

Before you start, gauge how many boxes you'll need by measuring the circumference of the floor around your tree. Then, cut open all of your boxes, measure them, and add up their lengths to make sure you have enough. Paint the printed side a solid color, and once the paint is dry, sketch your house shapes with your ruler and pencil on the blank brown side. Make sure that your drawings on each piece of cardboard are similar in size so they look cohesive once you've connected them. Also add detailing, like doors, windows, and trim. Make several boxes' worth of pine trees as well. 

Once you're content with the look, go over your pencil with the white marker; use the ruler as you trace your pencil markings. Cut the edges of the roofs, trees, and windows. Connect the houses and trees with either glue or Velcro tabs, and attach the lights to the back of the cutouts. Link the two ends around the skirt of your tree, turn on the lights, and bask in the glow.

The white marker pops in a satisfying way on our Instagrammer's project, but metallic or glitter trim will add a touch of holiday magic to your paper neighborhood. The color of the boxboard is also reminiscent of gingerbread; instead of the minimal white marker on paper, you can draw on colorful candy-like designs or even glue on the real deal — that is, if you don't have small creatures at home who will try to eat them. Find unique ways to add more interest like with small bows or other embellishments.