8 Recycled Crafts That’ll Have Your Kids Saying “Wait, That Was Trash?!”
Okay, let’s be real—our house is overflowing with random stuff just begging to be turned into something cute (or at least useful).
Sometimes it feels like the recycling bin sees more creativity than our craft supply drawer! Recycled crafts give us an awesome way to bond with our children , save a little money, and teach our kids about reusing things in totally fun ways.
We totally get how busy and messy life gets, but these crafty moments? They’re the sweet spots in the chaos where everyone can relax, laugh, and create, letting their creative sides shine.
Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to skip the store and put that random pile of cardboard or those old t-shirts to seriously good use?
1) Woolie & Furry Upcycled Slippers made from old sweaters—so cozy and cute!
Who else has a sweater sitting in the closet just waiting to be turned into something adorable for earth day ?
Let’s grab those forgotten woolies and give them a second life as the cutest slippers ever.
We just cut out the pieces (no fancy skills required), stitch them together, and bam—instant warm toes!
If we want to get extra cozy, we can add a piece of old blanket or some shearling. For step-by-step inspiration, check out these upcycled sweater slippers.
2) DIY Egg Carton Flowers that brighten any room with zero guilt.
Let’s turn those empty plastic bottles and egg cartons into flowers that don’t make us feel even one bit guilty!
We get to be crafty, eco-friendly, and save money all at once. Who even needs store-bought fake flowers?
All we need to do is cut apart the egg cups, snip them into petal shapes, and throw on some paint.
These egg carton flowers are low-pressure, high-cuteness, and perfect for sprucing up any table—plus the mess totally counts as family fun!
3) Water Bottle Fish Mobiles—perfect for the kids to craft and hang.
Okay, this is seriously a no-brainer craft for any bored afternoon.
We just grab empty water bottles, a splash of paint, and some string, and we’re ready to make fish that can hang in any room.
The fun part? No fish looks the same and mistakes totally become “creative choices,” which we love.
Who doesn’t want a school of silly, colorful fish floating from a branch or the ceiling?
We got the idea from this easy water bottle fish craft that kids really do adore!
4) Tin Can Planters painted with bright colors for your windowsill vibes.
Let’s be real—our recycling bin is basically a treasure chest.
We can turn those plain old tin cans and other recycled materials into super cute planters with just some paint and a pinch of creative chaos.
We grab a few empty cans, poke holes in the bottom for drainage (kids love the hammer part), and go wild with color.
Seriously, the brighter, the better for that happy windowsill pop!
Need some inspo? Check out these painted tin can planter ideas that totally transform boring cans into plant party central.
5) Magazine Paper Beads turned into funky, homemade jewelry.
Let’s take all that old junk mail and those materials, including magazines stacking up on our counters, and turn them into beads!
We can make the cutest bracelets and necklaces ever, and it costs basically nothing.
We just cut strips, roll them up, and glue—so easy!
Plus, we get to brag that we recycled during the spring while making something totally unique. You can check out an easy guide to making paper beads from magazines for step-by-step help.
So, let’s get crafty and wear our trash with pride!
6) Cork Bottle Bugs that buzz with creativity and old wine corks.
Let’s be honest—wine corks tend to multiply faster than socks in the laundry.
But guess what? We can turn those little guys into the cutest cork bottle bugs ever.
Paint on wings, add pipe cleaner legs, and stick on googly eyes—easy peasy!
Our kids’ imaginations totally take over, and everyone ends up with a bug buddy that’s all their own.
For more ideas, check out some fun wine cork crafts we found.
7) Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeders—simple but totally sweet for your backyard.
We love that we can grab our empty TP rolls, smear them with peanut butter, and then roll them in birdseed.
Easy win and so satisfying—plus no gluey mess!
Hang them on a tree branch, or if we’re feeling fancy, we add a little string to loop them up.
It’s a fun way to attract birds and sneak in an outdoor scavenger hunt with the kids.
8) Nylon Stocking Pet Toys that keep your furry pals entertained on a budget.
Let’s be honest, our dogs could chew for days and never get bored.
So why not use those old nylon stockings hiding in the back of our drawers?
We just knot them up, braid them, or even tuck in a squeaker if we’re brave.
These DIY toys are cheap, fun, and keep our pups happily occupied.
Using one-time-use nylons as pet toys is a win for both our wallets and the planet.
If you want to see some store-bought ideas for comparison, check what’s out there for nylon chew toys for dogs.
Why Recycled Crafts Matter
Recycled crafts aren’t just about glue sticks and glitter. We’re teaching our little ones big lessons and saving our own sanity in the process.
Benefits For The Planet (And Your Sanity)
Let’s be real, all those snack wrappers and toilet paper rolls pile up fast.
Turning them into crafts means less waste going into the trash.
We get to do our part for the planet and finally use up the stash of random containers hiding in the kitchen.
Crafting with recycled stuff is cheaper than rushing to the store for new supplies.
Plus, we have fewer “Mom, I’m bored!” complaints because there’s always something available to make.
Bonus: organizing a crafting afternoon gives us a reason to gather all the old shirts, magazines, or bottles that might otherwise disappear into the clutter zone.
As a happy side effect, research shows that hands-on activities help kids focus and even self-regulate, perfect for days when the energy is a little extra.
More on that from Famly’s guide to recycled crafts.
Teaching Kids Eco-Friendly Habits
Every time we use something “old” in a project, we’re sneaking in a lesson on sustainability.
Kids start to see their world differently when they learn bottle caps and cereal boxes can turn into treasures.
This helps build a habit of seeing value in things instead of just tossing them out.
Doing recycled crafts often means talking about why we reuse, too.
It gives us easy ways to chat about pollution, taking care of nature, and creative problem-solving.
Kids learn that being eco-friendly isn’t boring—it can actually be fun and creative, especially when they create robots from recycled materials .
Teachers and parents love that recycled crafts also help with fine motor skills and encourage patience.
We’re shaping the next generation of planet protectors and giving our kids a safe space to let their imaginations go wild.
For more about the impact of recycled crafts in early learning, check out Kokotree’s blog.
Getting Started With Recycled Crafting
Before we jump into making cute things out of “junk,” let’s talk about how we actually gather random supplies and keep everyone safe (and our sanity mostly intact).
We can make this work with whatever is already around our homes — there’s no need to hit five stores or break the bank.
Gathering Supplies Without The Stress
Let’s be real. We all have that drawer that’s basically the home for things with no home — random buttons, empty toilet paper rolls, extra twist ties, maybe a rogue googly eye or two.
Now’s the time for those things to shine.
Here’s a quick win list to get our stash going:
- Egg cartons: Clean and ready to go
- Empty jars or cans: No sharp edges!
- Old magazines: For cutting and gluing
- Bottle caps: Plastic or metal, both work
- Cardboard boxes: Any size
- Paper scraps: From misprints or school notes
No need to spend money on stuff that’s headed for the recycling bin anyway. If you toss a small basket or box in your kitchen or laundry room just for odd craft supplies, it keeps the counter (sort of) clear and makes it easy to grab what you need.
Sometimes I check out lists of recycled craft supplies from other parents and sites when I want new ideas. Sharing is caring, right?
Safe Crafting Tips For All Ages
Let’s be real—craft time should be fun, not end with someone in urgent care. First things first: rinse out anything that had food or soap in it.
Double-check cans for sharp edges. If you’re going to fold hot glue, keep that far from tiny hands unless you’re up for some chaos.
For the little ones, grab rounded scissors and use regular school glue instead of super glue. Trust us, nobody needs their fingers glued together—been there.
Glitter is… divisive. If you’re brave enough, at least keep a dustpan handy.
With older kids, lay down some ground rules. For example:
- No running with scissors—ever
- Always ask before using anything sharp
- Keep everything tidy to avoid “stepping on a Lego” moments, but with bottle caps
It’s smart to keep first aid supplies nearby, just in case. Maybe tape a list of emergency contacts on the fridge for a little peace of mind.
If you want more ideas, our friends at Good Housekeeping have super easy recycled craft ideas that you can also google don’t even need special tools.
