Beat the cold with adorable DIY draft snakes

(Photo: sambossarellos / Flickr)

This winter, many families are feeling the double pinch of financial worries and high heating costs, and some are being forced to choose between warming their home or filling the gas tank. Luckily, there's an easy way to rediscover what our parents and grandparents did to save money, while reducing our carbon footprint at the same time: draft snakes.

Elegantly simple and inexpensive, a door draft stopper or draft snake can be as simple as a rolled bath towel or blanket, placed along the bottom crack of doors and windows. This will help take a bite out of drafts, making rooms more comfortable and slowing heat loss.

In fact, drafts sap home energy use 5% to 30%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, while 11% of a home's heat loss is through doors and windows.

For a tidier look, you can buy ready-made draft snakes (here's a clever Wizard of Oz one). Or better yet, get crafty and make your own from scraps, old neckties, or worn denim, or other materials you can recycle from around the house. Fill it with dried beans or sand. Get the kids involved and decorate it with googly eyes, felt tongues, and so on. The whole family can learn about saving energy.

The draft stoppers in this gallery were mostly made at home by folks who did just that. We hope you get inspired to make your own!

The first draft snake pictured above was made by Samara, who named him Colin. She wrote, "On a wild and woolly weekend our front door whistled and shook. It was so noisy and annoying that I whipped up our friendly door snake to take care of the draft." Cute!

(Photo: Sandy Macdonald/Flickr)

The green snake in the photo at right, named Cyril by owner Sandy Macdonald, helps keep his York, United Kingdom, place cozy all through the cold months.

(Photo: Ellene McClay / Flickr)

Not all draft snakes have to look like snakes, which is good news for those who have an aversion to scaly reptiles. Crafter and blogger Seri Quarton made a draft bunny. Mother, blogger, and art teacher Ellene McClay makes attractive, original draft dodgers for sale on her Etsy store ($19.99).

Ellene's creations come in a variety of colors, including in blues, reds, and neutrals, although she also offers custom jobs. When you receive yours in the mail, just fill with dried beans or rice and Velcro it shut. And you're off to savings!

(Photo: Benjamin Brown / Flickr)

UK-based designer Benjamin Brown bought his fiance (pictured) this draft excluder for Christmas. He calls it "the greatest present of all time."

We're not sure about that, but we are sure that it will save his honey money. Yeah, that is pretty awesome.

(Photo: April Farnum / Flickr)

April Farnum also makes draft snakes that she sells on Etsy ($22). The eyes are vintage buttons, and the fabric is extra durable. Standard size is 36" long with different options upon request.

(Photo: Allison Gryski / Flickr)

Featured on the fun-but-useful IKEA Hack blog, artist Allison Gryski points out that this whimsical toy stuffed animal from the Swedish retailer actually makes a great draft snake. It's a reminder that many different things can be used to dodge drafts.

See some of Gryski's photography, fine stationery, and other creations at her Etsy shop.

(Photo: Vashti Braha / designingvashti.blogspot.com)

This colorful draft dodger is made of yarn scraps, and according to maker Vashti Braha, "has kid appeal and doubles as a body pillow." Keep an eye on Braha's site, DesigningVashti, for a downloadable pattern so you can make your own draft snake.

Braha serves on the Board of Directors for the Crochet Guild of America and has been designing crochet fashions and home decor professionally since 2004.

So get out your needle and thread, and start blocking those drafts!

More from The Daily Green

• 20 DIY Draft Snakes That Fight Chills
• How to Winterize Your Home and Save Energy
• 12 Natural Remedies for Winter Aches and Ills
• Tis the Season for Ugly Christmas Sweaters!
• Cheap (and Free!) Green Gift Ideas

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc