Recycled cardboard and bottles and natural elements are taking holiday gifts from childlish art class projects to stylish and fun items for homes. When shopping for gifts, these items could appeal to gardeners, design fanatics, pet lovers and others on your list.
Pillows: Recycled plastic bottles are turned into pop culture-y pillows by Atlanta-based designer Mimi Tin of Sushi Style. The eco-pillows range from $36-$48, sushistyle.com.
Pet gear: Recycled corrugated cardboard is used to make cat scratchers in holiday shapes such as Christmas trees and sleights, as well as animal, sport, vehicle and food motifs. Natural adhesives and soy inks are used for the cat scratchers. Imperial Cat products sold locally at stores such as Inman Park Pet Works, The Pet Set and Furever Fit Pets (more retailers at imperialcat.com). Renewable steel drums and natural acacia wood are used for designer dog bowls by Unleashed Life. Its Anderson Collection of wood bowls ranges from $28-$48 at unleashledlife.com
Wine holders and candles: The options are plentiful, including wine holders made from reclaimed wood sold by national retailers such as HomeGoods and local eco-focused boutiques, and candles poured into wine bottles. Chicago Candle Co. produces soy candles that are cocktail themed, such as Barrel Aged Bourbon, and contained in upcycled bottles (starting at $14 for minis, ChicagoCandleCo.com).
Planters: The French patio planter by Atlanta's Farmer D Organics is made of western red cedar that has been Forest Stewardship Council certified. Retails for $99.95, farmerd.com. For windowsills, shelves and tabletops, Modern Sprout's stylish 3-Pot Active Hydroponic Planter has a solar-powered option. The solar panel is packaged in an enclosure that snaps onto the window-facing side of the planter, connected to a rechargeable battery and air pump. $219, modsprout.com.
Jewelry trees: Recycled aluminum is twisted to form one-of-a-kind tree-shaped jewelry holders. The whimsical wire sculptures, which come in black, gold, red, green and red/black and black/gold, are mounted on slate or terra-cotta bases. Starting at $59 (small through large available), MyFavoriteBeads.com.
Seed holder: Patterned Seed Saver tubes made of recycled cardboard can replace envelopes or other ways gardeners save seeds to reuse in 2015. Made by Burgon & Ball (burgonandball.com); set of five tubes sells for $25 through online retailers.
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