I love making holiday displays, and as you can probably tell by the Instructables I post, I love to upcycle junk! Here, I've made trees from old string (a spool I've had since the 80s), dried pasta, an old magazine, and old plastic spoons. I hope you give one, or all of them, a try! :)

Step 1: String Tree: Materials Needed

This spool of green string had been in our family cupboard since I was 4 years old. It needed some use. Since the tree is so small, I used sugar sprinkles as ornaments. Awwww! ;)

piece of paper
tape
scissors
plastic wrap
petroleum jelly
white glue
water
string
sugar sprinkles
craft adhesive (like E6000)

Step 2: String Tree: Making the Base

Roll the paper into a cone.

Tape up the sides so it won't unravel, then cut the base of the cone so it will stand up straight.

Wrap the cone with a layer of plastic wrap, tucking the excess up into the base of the cone.

Cover plastic wrapped cone with a light layer of petroleum jelly.

Step 3: String Tree: How to String It

In a bowl, dilute some glue with a bit of water and mix well.

Begin soaking the string in the glue mixture several inches at a time.

Starting at the top of the cone, wrap the string around several times, keeping the end of the string tucked under.

Continue soaking more string and wrapping it up and down around the cone randomly.

When you're happy with how much you've wrapped it, cut the string and tuck it under another piece. Leave it to dry overnight somewhere rather warm.

Step 4: String Tree: Finishing Touches

Untuck the plastic wrap from under the cone, then carefully remove the paper.

Gently remove the plastic wrap.

To add the ornaments, dab some dots of craft glue onto the tree, then add sugar sprinkles on top.

When dry, carefully remove any strings of glue from the tree.

Step 5: Pasta Tree: Materials Needed

I'm not a food waster, believe me! Oh, do I love my food! However, I had decided to try going gluten-free to see if it solved some health issues, and this open bag of pasta was staring at me, wanting a home outside of my tummy. I went with gold spray paint on the outside and red acrylic paint on the inside. Kind of reminds me of leaky arteries. I'm special that way. :D Anyway, you can use whatever colours you like.

1 foam cone, 8" in height or taller
1 cup dry penne pasta
gold spray paint
red acrylic paint
paintbrush
1 piece of farfalle pasta
craft adhesive

Step 6: Pasta Tree: Making the Base

Start by firmly poking the penne into the bottom of the cone at a very slight slight downward angle.

Keep making rows above them, staggering the pasta.

Build your way to the top, but don't crowd the top section because there is less foam to work with. You don't want the cone to break into bits.

Step 7: Pasta Tree: Painting It

Spray paint the tree in two coats. Let dry.

Paint all the front sections of the pasta openings with a bit of red.

Paint the farfalle pasta red. Let dry. Use craft adhesive to attach to the top of the tree.

Step 8: Magazine Tree: Materials Needed

This is one of the easier trees, but packs a great visual punch. You only need a few materials. :)

1 magazine
spray paint
stickers

Step 9: Magazine Tree: Folding the Tree

Starting from the back of the magazine, grab the last two pages.

Fold the two pages downward, making sure the top is a perfect, crisp point.

Fold the bottom right angle upwards.

Continue with the rest of the magazine, two pages for each folded section, until you do the entire magazine.

Go back to the first fold and bring the right edge into the spine of the magazine, but do not fold. Keep in a cylindrical shape.

Continue with the rest of the pages.

When you get to the end, fluff up each page cylinder from the bottom with your fingers. You might need to glue the magazine cover page to the back cover, but with a hard press of the pages, it should stay in place.

Step 10: Magazine Tree: Painting and Decorating

Spray paint the tree with one coat and let dry.

Paint on a second coat, let dry.

Place stickers around the tree to decorate.

Step 11: Plastic Spoon Tree: Materials Needed

This is the tallest tree of them all, and would look elegant with any colour plastic spoons you use. My parents used to cater food to donate to the community back when they were a bit younger. I found a massive box of those leftover plastic spoons in their storage. When I made this tree using them, it made my parents have fond memories of those days! :)

plastic spoons
wire cutters
large and sturdy piece of paper
tape
hot glue gun with glue
spray paint (optional)

*Keep the handles of the spoons after you cut them off. Use them for stirring, or in future crafts. :)

Step 12: Plastic Spoon Tree: Making the Base

I used a large thick piece of paper that came with the packaging to some floor mats I bought. Make a large cone by rolling your piece of paper into itself diagonally.

Tape the seams of the paper cone shut.

Fold the base of the cone inwards into itself to keep it even when it's standing up.