70 Recycled Crafts for Kids

Published:
June 7, 2020

Annette Breedlove

Contributor:
Annette Breedlove

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My girls love crafting. They love creating little homes for their animals and toys from boxes or other things we have around. Their most recent obsession is creating no-sew outfits for their dolls/action figures. A few years ago, they saw a video on how to make them out of socks and now they are obsessed.

In fact, most of our old, unmatched socks have been repurposed into clothes – shirts, dresses, and even a few hats. They have also figured out how to create some other fun items with gloves by cutting off the fingertips. It has encouraged them to use their imaginations and even begin sewing on their own too!

So that got me thinking about recycling or upcycling for other craft projects. What else could we use around the house that would allow them to be creative and use their imaginations? So of course I got on Pinterest and started searching.

craft supplies spread out on table with overlay - 70 Recycled Crafts for Kids

I was able to find so many fun and creative upcycled/recycled projects that kids (and adults) could do together. Many of them use items you likely have at home with only a few additional purchases. So not only are you saving money by using items from home, but you’re also reducing waste!

Crafts are a great way to pass the summer days. Gather some old items from around the house and clear off the table so you can work on these fun Upcycled and Recycled Crafts with your kids!

Upcycled Crafts from Plastic Bottles 

Upcycled Adelie Penguin Craft | Fantastic Fun and Learning

DIY Wind Chimes Recycled Craft | Happy Hooligans

Plastic Bottle Fairy House Night Lights | Crafts by Amanda

Recycled Craft: Jet Pack | Kids Activities Blog

Water Bottle Suncatcher | Our Family Code

Airplane Piggy Bank DIY | Crafting-News.com

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder | Natural Beach Living

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

Plastic Bottle Planters | Super Simple 

Bulbasaur Planter (Pokemon) | Ruffles and Rain Boots

Glow-in-the-Dark Firefly Pop Bottle Craft | Crafts for All Seasons

Empty Plastic Bottle Games | Krokotak

DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Hairstyling Doll | Handmade Charlotte

Recycled Bottle Koinobori | Childhood 101

Recycled Plastic Bottle Wind Spinner | Crafts by Amanda

 

Upcycled Egg Carton Crafts

Egg Carton Bird Feeder | Natural Beach Living

Recycled Craft: Rainbow Garden Mobile | Lemon Lime Adventures

Egg Carton Turtles | Emma Owl

Egg Carton Flower Wreath | Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Egg Carton Butterfly Garland | I Heart Arts N Crafts

Egg Carton Ocean Craft | The Imagination Tree

Egg Carton Mushroom Craft for Kids | Artsy Craftsy Mom

Egg Carton Sea Life | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Egg Carton Sea Life

Egg carton sugar glider craft | The Craft Train

Egg Carton Fairy Houses | Creative Family Fun

Egg Carton Building Blocks | The Pinterested Parent

Egg Carton Jellyfish Puppets | The Art Kit

Egg carton helicopter craft | The Craft Train

Recycled Egg Carton Flower Craft | Artsy Craftsy Mom

Find more Egg Carton Crafts here

colored egg cartons on wood background with overlay "42 Upcycled Egg Carton Crafts for Kids"

 

Recycled Mason Jar Crafts

Mason Jar Oil Candle Lamp | Hearth & Vine

Upcycled Mason Jar Lid Magnets | Unoriginal Mom

Mason Jar Lanterns | The Happy Housewife

Galaxy Glitter Jars | Fireflies and Mudpies

DIY Solar Light Mason Jars | U Create

Mason Jar Bird Feeder | Natural Beach Living

Easy DIY Bird Feeder

Funfetti Mason Jar Candles | Candle Making

Summer Succulent Mason Jar Planters | Mason Jar Crafts

Mason Jar Lid Coasters | Crafts by Amanda

Painted Mason Jars with Sea Glass Paint | The Country Chic Cottage

Stained Glass with Sharpie Markers and a Jar | Happy Hooligans

Stained Mason Jar Tutorial | U Create

DIY Kids’ Mason Jar Aquariums | eVite

How to Paint and Distress Mason Jars | It All Started with Paint

 

Cereal Box & Cardboard Crafts

Recycled Cereal Box Robot | Kids Activities Blog

Cereal Box Aquarium | The Best Ideas for Kids

Shoebox Foosball/Football Game | Mum in the Madhouse

Recycled Construction Site and Vehicles Set | Hello, Wonderful

Cardboard Tube Grasshopper Craft | The Craft Train

Fun DIY Kaleidoscope Kids Craft | Darcy and Brian

Junk Model Astronaut Helmet | Rainy Day Mum

Cardboard Dolls House | Red Ted Art

 

Find more ideas on these YouTube Arts & Crafts Channels

young girl sitting on cushion holding tablet with YouTube showing

 

Tin Can Recycled Crafts

Upcycled Tin Can Planters | Five Little Bears

Stick Covered Tin Can for Storage | Instrupix

Make Your Own Can Planters | American Lifestyle

Tin Can Lantern | Kids Craft Room

Rustic Tin Can Tea Lights | DecoArt

Tin Can Flower Bird Feeder | Birds and Blooms

Tin Can Flower Garden | I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Colorful Tin Can Owl Craft | i Heart Crafty Things

Mason Bee Habitat | Natural Beach Living

How to Make Bee Habitat

Tin Can Honey Bee | Think Crafts!

Tin Can Butterfly Planters | Crafty Morning

Tin Can Bunny Planters | We Know Stuff

Tin Can Bird Feeder | Crafts for Teachers

Tin Can Robots | Easy Peasy and Fun

 

More Recycled Crafts

Upcycled Necklace Craft for Kids | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Upcycled Necklace Craft for Kids

DIY Mosaic Backsplash with Old CDs | Instructables

Upcycled Succulent Planters | Live from Julie’s House

Recycled Craft Town from Milk Cartons | Box of Ideas

Spiral Snail Newspaper Kids Craft | A Little Pinch of Perfect

K-Cup Tiger Craft | Artsy Momma

 

Find more homeschool resources on my Pinterest boards!

craft supplies spread out on table with overlay - 70 Recycled Crafts for Kids