Recycling crafts are a fantastic way to teach kids about sustainability while having loads of fun. In my sunny Austin studio, I’ve seen firsthand how these projects can transform simple materials into magical creations.
1. Toilet Roll Bird Feeder
This project is for the birds—literally! Cover toilet rolls in peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and hang them outside. Your backyard will soon become the go-to spot for feathered friends, just like mine did.
A few choices to try:
- Smooth Peanut Butter: A creamy peanut butter that is perfect for spreading on toilet rolls to attract birds. Ensure it is non-salty or unsweetened for bird safety.
- Mixed Birdseed: A variety of seeds to cater to different bird species visiting your feeder. Offers versatility in attracting a range of birds.
- Colorful Hanging Ribbons: Brightly colored ribbons for hanging your bird feeders, adding a cheerful touch to your garden.
2. Recycled CD Spring Birds
Give those old CDs a second life by turning them into spring birds. With some paint, feathers, and googly eyes, your kids can create a variety of adorable bird friends. I still have a few perched on my windowsill.
A few things you might like:
- Acrylic Paint Set: A vibrant set of acrylic paints perfect for adding color to your CD spring birds. These paints are easy to use and have great coverage.
- Craft Feathers: Colorful craft feathers that can be used to give your birds a realistic and lively look. They come in a variety of colors and sizes.
- Googly Eyes Pack: A pack of assorted googly eyes to add fun and character to your bird creations. These are self-adhesive for easy application.
3. Egg Carton Dragonfly
Dragonflies made from egg cartons are a delightful project for kids. Paint the cartons in bright colors and add pipe cleaner antennas. These buzzing beauties have been a hit in my workshops.
Items that may come in handy:
- Acrylic Craft Paint Set: A vibrant set of acrylic paints perfect for adding bright colors to your egg carton dragonflies.
- Pipe Cleaners Assortment Pack: Colorful pipe cleaners ideal for creating dragonfly antennas and other fun details.
- Googly Eyes Pack: A pack of assorted googly eyes to bring your dragonfly creations to life with fun and playful expressions.
4. Tin Can Creatures
Give tin cans a new lease on life by transforming them into garden creatures. Paint them with bright colors and add features like googly eyes. These cheerful critters have brightened up my garden.
Check these products out:
- Acrylic Paint Set: A versatile set of acrylic paints suitable for adding bright and cheerful colors to your tin can creatures. These paints are long-lasting and ideal for outdoor use.
- Googly Eyes Craft Pack: A pack of assorted googly eyes to give your tin can creatures a fun and animated look. Perfect for a variety of craft projects.
- Paintbrush Set: A set of paintbrushes of various sizes, perfect for detailed painting and adding features to your garden creatures. Ideal for precision and ease of use.
5. Homemade Wind Chimes
Create beautiful sounds with homemade wind chimes. Use tin cans and hang various objects inside to experiment with sounds. Every time the wind blows, it’s like music to my ears.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Decorative Tin Cans: Set of colorful tin cans perfect for creating custom wind chimes. Durable and easy to paint or decorate.
- Assorted Beads: Collection of vibrant beads to add visual appeal and unique sounds to your wind chimes.
- Craft String or Twine: Strong and weather-resistant string for assembling and hanging the wind chimes easily.
6. Papier-Mâché Plant Pots
Turn large beverage bottles into papier-mâché plant pots. Decorate with bright paper scraps for a pop of color. These pots have added a splash of personality to my indoor plant shelf.
Some handy options:
- Papier-Mâché Paste: An easy-to-use papier-mâché paste that helps create sturdy plant pots. Ideal for crafting with kids.
- Acrylic Paint Set: A set of vibrant acrylic paints perfect for adding color and personality to your plant pots.
- Colorful Paper Scraps: Bright and assorted paper scraps that add a fun, colorful touch to your papier-mâché projects.
7. Hanging Planters
Plastic bottles can be transformed into lovely hanging planters. Fill them with soil and watch your kids’ plant creations thrive. These planters have brought life to my balcony.
Maybe worth checking out:
- Potting Soil Mix: A nutrient-rich potting soil mix is perfect for supporting healthy plant growth in your DIY planters.
- Cotton Twine: Durable cotton twine is ideal for securely hanging your plastic bottle planters on the balcony.
- Starter Plant Seeds: Various starter seeds that are easy for kids to plant and care for in hanging planters.
8. Juice Jug Rocket
Blast off into space with a juice jug rocket! Use empty juice bottles and let your kids’ imaginations take flight. These rockets have taken countless adventures across my living room floor.
Explore these options:
- Empty Juice Bottle Collection: A set of reusable juice bottles perfect for transforming into creative rocket ships.
- Craft Supplies Kit: Includes colored paper, glue, and other essentials for decorating your juice jug rocket.
- Paint Set for Kids: A safe, non-toxic paint set for adding vibrant colors to your DIY rocket project.
9. Earth-Shaped Crayons
Recycle broken crayons into beautiful Earth-shaped crayons. Melt them in a muffin tin for a colorful surprise. These have been a hit at my Earth Day crafts table.
Useful items to consider:
- Silicone Muffin Tin: A flexible and durable silicone muffin tin perfect for melting crayons into fun shapes. Easy to clean and can be used for various baking projects as well.
- Crayon Melting Kit: This kit includes all necessary tools for melting and molding crayons safely. Ideal for creating customized shapes and designs.
- Crayon Refill Pack: A variety pack of non-toxic crayons for endless creative possibilities. Perfect for replenishing after melting projects.
10. Mini Lid Banjos
Craft a mini banjo from jar lids and rubber bands. It’s a simple project that produces a delightful sound. I’ve seen kids strumming away with pure joy at my workshops.
Some ideas to consider:
- Jar Lids: Versatile jar lids ideal for crafting mini banjos. Suitable for various DIY projects.
- Rubber Bands: Durable rubber bands perfect for crafting musical instruments. Easy to stretch and use.
- Wooden Sticks: Wooden sticks useful for handles or adding structure to craft projects. Ideal for music projects.
11. Tin Can Planter
Transform a simple tin can into a charming planter. Add some soil and your favorite plants for an instant mini garden. These planters have become a staple in my sunny window.
Possibly helpful picks:
- Organic Potting Soil: High-quality organic potting soil perfect for growing a variety of plants in your tin can planter.
- Drainage Pebbles: Small drainage pebbles to layer at the bottom of your tin can planters, helping to prevent overwatering.
- Herb Seeds Variety Pack: A variety pack of herb seeds ideal for planting in small pots and indoor gardens.
12. Yogurt Cup Animals
Turn yogurt cups into adorable animal figures. With a bit of paint and creativity, these can become the stars of your kids’ playtime. My niece loves creating her own little zoo.
Possibly handy products:
- Acrylic Paint Set: A wide range of colors perfect for painting yogurt cup animals. These paints are easy to use and safe for kids.
- Paint Brushes for Kids: A variety of brush sizes for detailed work on your yogurt cup creatures.
- Googly Eyes Craft Pack: Fun googly eyes to add character to your animal figures, making them more playful and lively.
13. Recycled Robot
Build a futuristic robot using recycled materials like cardboard and tissue rolls. Let your kids’ imaginations take the lead in creating a mechanical friend. These robots have sparked many a creative story in my studio.
These products might help:
- Cardboard Sheets: Versatile and easy to cut, cardboard sheets are perfect for building the structure of your robot. Kids can shape and decorate them to bring their robot to life.
- Craft Glue: Reliable craft glue is essential for assembling the recycled parts securely, ensuring your robot stands strong.
- Craft Decorative Eyes: Add personality to your robot with decorative eyes that stick easily to any surface, giving it a fun and animated look.
14. Wine Cork Giraffes
If your little ones love animals, they’ll adore making giraffes from wine corks. Assemble them with glue and let them paint their own wild patterns. These have become a fun zoo addition in my workshop.
A few relevant products:
- Wine Corks: Natural wine corks for all your crafting needs. Perfect for making giraffes and other fun projects.
- Non-Toxic Craft Paint Set: A variety of vibrant, non-toxic paints suitable for kids. Ideal for adding colorful patterns to your cork giraffes.
- Craft Glue: Strong adhesive glue that works well with cork and other craft materials. Essential for assembling your projects securely.
15. Cork Love Bugs
Create adorable love bugs from corks. Add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennas for extra cuteness. These little creatures have captured hearts in my craft classes.
You might like:
- Bulk Wine Corks: A set of wine corks perfect for creating multiple love bugs. Ideal for group crafting activities.
- Googly Eyes Assortment: A variety pack of googly eyes in different sizes to add personality to your love bugs.
- Colorful Pipe Cleaners: Pipe cleaners in a range of vibrant colors to craft antennas for your cork creatures.
16. Banana Leaf Wreath
Use old T-shirts to craft a unique banana leaf wreath. Braid them into a circle and attach natural items like leaves and berries. This wreath has added a rustic touch to my front door.
Consider these options:
- Fabric Scissors: Sharp fabric scissors for cutting old T-shirts into strips for braiding, ensuring clean and precise cuts.
- Natural Dried Leaves and Berries: A collection of dried leaves and berries to add a natural and rustic touch to your wreath.
- Wreath Frame: A sturdy wreath frame to provide structure and support for your braided T-shirt wreath design.
17. Water Bottle Fish
Teach kids about ocean life with water bottle fish. Decorate bottles with paint and transform them into colorful sea creatures. These fish have made a splash during my ocean-themed workshops.
These products might be useful:
- Acrylic Craft Paint Set: A set of vibrant acrylic paints perfect for decorating water bottles with colorful ocean themes. Easy to apply and dries quickly.
- Paintbrush Set: A variety of paintbrushes suitable for detail work and broad strokes, making it easier to create intricate designs on bottles.
- Googly Eyes Craft Supplies: Self-adhesive googly eyes to add a fun and whimsical touch to the painted bottle fish projects.
18. Tissue Box Succulent Planter
Convert an empty tissue box into a charming succulent planter. Decorate the box and plant succulents for a touch of greenery anywhere in your home. Mine sits proudly on my kitchen windowsill.
You might give these a try:
- Decorative Craft Paper: Use decorative craft paper to personalize and beautify your tissue box planter, giving it a unique and charming touch.
- Succulent Soil Mix: A specially formulated soil mix for succulents ensures proper drainage and healthy growth for your plants.
- Assorted Succulent Plants: Get a variety of succulent plants to fill your tissue box planter with vibrant greenery.
19. Mini Lid Banjos
Transform jar lids into musical mini banjos. Add rubber bands and let your kids strum away to their heart’s content. These little instruments have been a hit in our music-themed crafts.
Might be a good match:
- Metal Jar Lids: Perfect for crafting mini banjos; provides a sturdy base for your musical creation.
- Assorted Rubber Bands: Use these versatile rubber bands to create strings for your mini banjos.
- Wooden Craft Sticks: Ideal for making handles for your mini banjos; easy to glue onto jar lids.
20. DIY Terrarium
Create a mini terrarium using an old glass container. Fill it with soil, stones, and small plants for a little green world. It’s a hands-on way to teach kids about ecosystems; I have one thriving in my studio.
Try these:
- Glass Container with Lid: An ideal glass container with a lid for creating a mini terrarium. It helps maintain humidity and provides a clear view of your ecosystem.
- Terrarium Soil Mix: A specialized soil mix that provides essential nutrients and drainage for healthy plant growth in terrariums.
- Assorted Small Rocks and Pebbles: Decorative rocks and pebbles to create a natural-looking base layer and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your terrarium.
21. Tin Can Wind Chimes
Create melodic sounds with tin can wind chimes. Paint the cans and hang various items inside to produce different notes. They’re a delightful addition to my porch.
Products that could assist:
- Acrylic Paint Set: A set of vibrant acrylic paints to add color and personality to your tin cans.
- Metal Drill Bit Set: A drill bit set suitable for making holes in metal cans for hanging purposes.
- Assorted Beads and Chimes: A collection of beads and chimes to create unique sounds and aesthetics.
22. Pebble Art
Get creative with pebble art. Collect small rocks and arrange them into unique patterns or designs. It’s a wonderful way to add a personal touch to any space; my living room wall boasts a lovely pebble piece.
Give these a look:
- Decorative Pebbles: Natural pebbles in various shapes and sizes perfect for crafting unique art pieces.
- Wooden Shadow Box Frame: A sturdy wooden frame to display your pebble art beautifully on any wall.
- Strong Craft Glue: Reliable adhesive for securing pebbles in your designs, ensuring durability.
