100 Recycled Crafts For Kids

With Earth Day coming up I thought I’d put together a post with ideas for ways to reuse materials instead of throwing them away or sending them off to be recycled. All of these can be made by or with children to get them involved in the upcycling fun. I’ve categorized the crafts by material below. If you have any other ideas please leave them in the comments.

Toilet Paper Rolls

• Minion – Crafty Morning
• Bird Feeder – Honey & Lime
• Octopus – Kids Activities Blog
• Rocket – My Teaching Station
• Halloween Mini Pinata – DIY Candy
• Mermaid – MollyMooCrafts
• Fireworks Painting – Danya Banya
• Olaf – Crafts by Amanda

Yogurt Containers

• Bubble Container – La La’s Home Daycare
• Bracelets – Turning The Clock Back
• Pom Pom Color Drop – The Pleasantest Thing
• Bucket – Creative With Kids

Plastic Bottles

• Sensory and I-spy Bottles
• Firefly – Crafts-For-All-Seasons
• Wind Spirals – Happy Hooligans
• Jetpack – Doodlecraft
• Rainbow Musical Shaker – Kids Craft Room
• Plastic Water Bottle Flowers – Crafts By Amanda
• Hamm Piggy Bank – Disney Family

Egg Cartons

• Wreath – Parents Magazine
• Flowers – I Heart Arts N Crafts
• Tree – Glued To My Crafts
• Starting Seeds – Someday I’ll Learn
• Ladybugs – One Little Project
• Train – The Craft Train
• Whale – I Heart Crafty Things
• Owl – Crafty-Crafted
• Bumble Bee – Crafty Morning
• Easter Checkers – Create-Celebrate-Explore

Empty Boxes

• Castle – Inna’s Creations
• Puzzles – Munchkins & Moms
• Dump Truck – Origami Mommy
• Box Tower
• Cereal Box Guitars – The Frakers’ Acres
• Cardboard Robot – The Crafty Crow
• Juice Box Boat – Hands On As We Grow
• Camera – MollyMooCrafts

Cans

• Wind Chime – All You
• Tin Can Robot – Thrifty Fun
• Planter – Live Craft Love
• Bird Feeder – Momtastic
• Tin Can Bowling – Red Ted Art
• Flag Windsock – Random Thoughts Of A Supermom

Milk Jugs

• Watering Can – One Creative Mommy
• Piggy Bank – Clubhouse
• Flowers – Kid Things
• Ball Catcher – Growing Play
• Fairy Houses – Filth Wizardy
• Bird Feeder – Great Stems
• Rainbow Windsock – Kids Craft Room

Newspaper/Magazines

• Magazine Bead Bracelet – Kids Activities Blog
• Newspaper Owls – I Heart Crafty Things
• Recycled Garden – Laugh Paint Create
• Butterflies – Girl Scout SWAPS Ideas
• Bird Nests – Art Bar

Paper Bags

• Nature Journal
• Paper Bag City – Lesson Plans
• Animal Masks – Handmade Charlotte
• Jellyfish – No Time For Flash Cards
• Crowns – Artbar
• Yoda Paper Bag Puppet – Gluesticks & Gumdrops

Wrapping Paper/Greeting Cards

• Wreath – Instructables
• Stick Puzzle – Teach Me Mommy
• Placemats – Junk Mail Gems
• Bookmarks – The Frugal Girls
• Christmas Card – Easy Crafts For Children

Puzzle Pieces

• Flower – The Pinterested Parent
• Love You To Pieces Card
• Monster Magnet – Danielle’s Place
• Picture Frame Ornament – Buggy And Buddy
• Pumpkin – Bargain Briana

Packing Materials

• Packing Peanut Sheep – Crack Of Dawn Crafts
• Bubble Wrap Stomp Painting – Mess For Less
• Packing Peanut Skeleton – Preschool Playbook
• Bubble Wrap Sun Catcher – Sow Sprout Play

Easter Eggs & Grass

• Maracas – Sophie’s World
• Paper Plate Chick – Crafty Morning
• Egg Wreath – Party City
• Preschool Haircut – Jen Spends
• Lightning Bugs – Joann

Tissue Boxes

• Texture Touch Box – PreKinders
• Car Wash – Joy’s Life
• Train – Craftulate
• Thankful Turkey – I Heart Crafty Things
• Dinosaur Feet – Make Do And Friend

Bottle Caps

• Spiders – My Life Of Travels & Adventures
• Bugs – Made From Pinterest
• Finger Cymbals – Kiwi Crate
• Rainbow – Mollie’s Mom
• Sail Boat – Kiddy Charts

Baby Wipe Containers

• Crayon Storage – Modern Mommy
• Alphabet Monster – I Can Teach My Child
• Fun Money Bank – Good Housekeeping
• Doll Washing Machine – American Girl Ideas
• Treasure Chest – I Can Teach My Child

 Other

• Ice Cream Cones made with CDs – Make & Takes
• Tote Bag from a T-Shirt – Scattered Thoughts Of A Crafty Mom
• Wind Chime With Keys – Inner Child Fun
• Gumball Machine With Buttons – My Pinterested Parent
• Glass Jar Aquarium – Hello Wonderful