Art group helps to cut Xmas costs

Christmas can be an expensive time of year with presents and decorations increasing the cost of the festive season.

But the Rangiwahia Environmental Arts Centre has ideas that can help, and on Saturday the group held a Recycled Xmas Workshop at the Te Patikitiki library in Highbury to teach children how to make gifts and decorations from ordinary household items.

Participants were shown how to make Christmas crackers with tin cans and scraps of fabric, and photo frames out of cardboard.

REACT creative director Bridgette Murphy said they had held the workshops for the past five years as people seemed to enjoy coming to them.

‘‘People are getting more switched on to the idea of recycling. We’re trying to show what people can do with things around the house.’’

REACT treasurer Jim Richards said they enjoyed holding the workshops as Christmas was a really expensive time of the year.

‘‘It’s a good starting point for children to learn these skills.’’

Richards said they recycled things like wrapping paper and A4 folders to show people it could be done.

‘‘Cutting bits out of Christmas cards to reuse on a card.’’

Melissa Downey said it was a great idea to hold the event.

‘‘Families are able to come along and have time together in the weekend and also do something that’s low cost and good for the environment.’’

She said she believed all of the children involved had enjoyed it. ‘‘Just looking at the kids’ faces and they are all engaged and they are all doing their own thing.’’

Warrick Taylor brought along his two children to the event and said it was good for them to take part. ‘‘It’s just good fun they love doing all kinds of crafts.’’

Taylor said he was always trying to encourage his children to reuse and recycle, and it was good to be able to take them somewhere with all the materials available to use.