12 Recycled Crafts Kids Will Actually Want to Make (and Show Off!)

Let’s be real—kids love recycled crafts for kids, and we love a project that keeps them busy without costing a fortune.

That’s why we’re all about turning trash into treasure with fun recycled crafts like tin cans . These activities spark creativity and help our kids learn about taking care of the planet at the same time.

We’ll show you how easy it is to dig into your recycling bin and come out with projects everyone will love.

Let’s get crafty, make a little mess, and feel good about being kind to the Earth together!

1) Wildflower Seed Bombs for planting fun and color

Let’s get messy and make some wildflower seed bombs! We only need old paper bags, water, and a little handful of wildflower seeds and bird seed for this one.

Rip up the paper, soak it, squish it, and mix in the seeds. As soon as our seed bombs dry, we toss them outside and watch magic happen—hello, colorful wildflowers!

Check out this easy how-to for DIY wildflower seed bombs if you need more deets.

2) DIY Bug Hotel using sticks, leaves, and cardboard

Let’s make a cozy spot for our buzzy backyard friends!

We grab an old cardboard box and stuff it with sticks, leaves, and even some pinecones if we’re feeling fancy.

The best part? We get to send the kids hunting for supplies—it’s like a mini adventure outside.

You can check out more ideas for making bug hotels with kids at Red Ted Art’s fun guide.

3) Cardboard Tube Rockets to blast off imagination

We’ve all got those empty toilet paper rolls lying around, right?

Let’s turn those toilet rolls into cool cardboard tube rockets! All you need is a tube, some paint or markers, and a sprinkle of pom poms if you’re feeling extra.

This craft is super easy and gets our kids moving and imagining.

Blast off time means making silly sound effects and maybe a space dance party, too. For step-by-step inspo, check out this DIY cardboard tube rocket guide.

4) Bottle Cap Art for tiny masterpieces

Let’s grab those plastic food containers and bottle caps piling up in the kitchen and get crafty! We can give them new life and create art that’s totally fridge-worthy and super fun.

Tiny hands will love snapping, gluing, and arranging all those colorful caps. We can make silly animals, bright patterns, or even mini portraits—the options are wild!

For a bunch of creative inspo, check out these amazing educational activities using recycled bottle caps.

5) Egg Carton Creatures that come alive with paint

Who else has like a million empty plastic water bottles and egg cartons in the kitchen? We do, and we’re not letting them go to waste!

Grab some scissors and paint, and let’s turn those boring cardboard trays into animals, bugs, and all sorts of wild creatures.

Want to make it even more fun? Try out floating whales, silly turtles, or even a whole egg carton sea life set.

Our craft table is about to be the cutest petting zoo ever.

6) Jar Lid Photo Frames for showing off kiddo pics

We all have that stash of random jar lids, right? Instead of tossing them, let’s turn them into cute photo frames!

All we need is a jar lid, a favorite photo, and a little glue. We can decorate the edges with stickers, washi tape, or whatever bling we’ve got on hand.

These little frames are adorable for gifts and are easy enough for our littlest artists to try.

Check out this easy homemade wind chimes idea for some inspo!

7) Cork Bottle Bugs that crawl and buzz

How cute are these? We just grab some old corks and bottle caps, and boom—instant bug bodies!

Add some googly eyes, pipe cleaner legs, and a sprinkle of imagination. We can make ladybugs, bees, or even wild made-up bugs that don’t exist.

It’s basically science, right?

If you want more ideas, check out these bottle top bug crafts for real-life cuteness overload.

8) Water Bottle Fish mobiles to swim indoors

Let’s be real—we all have way too many empty plastic bottles lying around to create an underwater paradise . So why not turn them into a bunch of adorable water bottle fish mobiles?

We can cut, paint, and decorate those bottles until our living rooms look like an underwater party. These DIY mobiles are perfect for rainy days or ocean themes.

You can hang your bright fish from a recycled CD or create a school of fish to “swim” in any room.

Check out this step-by-step water bottle fish mobile project for ideas!

9) Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeders for feathered friends

Let’s give those empty toilet paper rolls a new life as a toilet roll bird feeder ! All we need is a tube, some peanut butter, and birdseed.

We roll the tube in peanut butter, dip it in birdseed, then just slide it onto a tree branch. Done!

Now we get to watch our feathered friends stop by for a snack. Seriously, who knew making a toilet paper roll bird feeder could be this quick and cute?

10) Nature Bracelets packed with leaves and flowers

Let’s get crafty on our next walk and make some nature bracelets!

All we need is a strip of packing tape or double-sided tape. Just wrap it sticky side out around our wrists and start sticking on those tiny leaves, petals, and even cool little twigs.

It’s so easy, and the best part is everyone’s bracelet looks different.

We come home with unique, nature-packed bling! If you want a full step-by-step, check out this easy DIY Nature Bracelet guide.

11) Upcycled T-Shirt Bean Bags for tossing games

We’ve all got those old t-shirts shoved in a drawer, right? Let’s grab them and turn them into bean bags for some classic tossing games.

Cut up the shirts, sew (or honestly, just glue) most of the edges, and fill them up with rice or beans. Easy peasy!

If you’re feeling fancy, add letters or shapes like these recycled t-shirt alphabet beanbags for extra fun.

12) Paper Roll Binoculars to spot backyard adventures

Okay, team, who else has a pile of empty toilet paper rolls just waiting for a second life? We do!

Let’s turn those babies into pretend binoculars and get outside for a good old-fashioned adventure.

We only need two rolls, tape, some string, and wild decorations—stickers, markers, glitter, whatever feels fun.

When we’re done, let’s go “exploring” like tiny detectives. Try spotting birds, bugs, or maybe even the neighbor’s sneaky cat!

It’s super easy and budget-friendly. You can find more inspiration for paper roll binoculars at KidsKubby.

Why Recycled Crafts Are the Ultimate Win

Recycled crafts are a total game-changer for families. Not only do we save cash with our favorite recycled crafts , but we help the planet and make memories.

No one’s judging you for those leftover toilet paper rolls, promise.

Best Perks of Getting Crafty with Recyclables

Here’s the thing—crafting with recyclables just makes sense. We use what we already have, which saves us from random last-minute store runs and definitely helps the budget.

Most of the supplies are basically free—egg cartons, cans, cereal boxes—so there’s zero guilt if the project goes sideways.

Let’s be real. Kids can go through a crazy amount of art stuff, using different items in an afternoon.

Using recycled materials means we worry less about waste and more about fun. Plus, it’s secretly a great way to teach creative thinking.

Give a kid a pile of old magazines and just watch what they make. It also teaches patience, since sometimes they have to figure out how to work with weird shapes or sizes—hello, growth mindset in action.

And bonus: A lot of crafts made with recyclables are pretty cute—or at least hilarious to look at when we’re done. We’re all about celebrating the weird, the wonderful, and every sparkly milk jug robot in between!

Want more fun ideas? Check out a huge list of recycled crafts that spark creativity.

How Upcycling Helps Our Planet

When we use recycled materials for crafts, we actually make a difference. Every time we grab a plastic bottle or a paper roll from the recycling bin, that’s one less thing heading straight to the landfill.

It’s small, but it really adds up over time! We also get to model good habits for our kids.

They see us reusing things and learn that not everything has to be tossed out. It’s a real-life Earth Day moment every time we craft—and it sticks with them way longer than any worksheet.

For lots of families, making crafts with stuff we already have at home is a fun way to show love for the environment while still letting kids get messy.

Let’s not forget: Upcycling helps us fight waste and save resources, but it also helps older kids understand big ideas like conservation in a hands-on way.

If you’re looking for more Earth Day inspiration (besides our peanut butter jar projects), check out these Earth Day crafts and activities using upcycled materials.

Tips for Stress-Free Crafting with Kids

Let’s be real—crafting with kids is an easy craft, wild, chaotic fun, and kind of a mess. But with a couple smart tricks, we can actually enjoy the process without losing our cool or finding glitter for months.

Gathering Supplies Without Losing Your Mind

Let’s skip the fancy shopping trip. Most of our best craft supplies are hiding right in our own kitchens, recycling bins, and junk drawers.

Think empty toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, bottle caps, or old magazines. Here’s a quick supplies scavenger hunt list:

• Toilet paper or paper towel rolls
• Plastic bottles (washed, please!)
• Newspaper or scrap paper
• Cardboard boxes
• Old buttons or fabric scraps

We like to keep these goodies in a big box or basket labeled “Craft Stuff.” It makes grabbing what we need quick and easy.

Letting the kids help collect bits and bobs turns it into a game. Don’t stress if you’re missing something “perfect.”

Swapping in a different material often leads to the most creative (and hilarious) results. Moms on Moms and Crafters agree: it’s all about using what you have.

Keeping It Fun (and Not a Giant Mess)

Let’s talk about The Mess. Spoiler: it’s gonna happen.

With a little setup, we won’t need a hazmat team after. We toss down an old shower curtain, towel, or even newspaper before we even open that glue stick.

Clean-up goes so much faster that way with masking tape . Aprons or oversized tees save shirts (and, honestly, our sanity).

We stash a roll of paper towels and a trash bag within grabbing distance. When crafting time ends, a quick clean-up competition (who can pick up the most pieces in 60 seconds?) actually works.

Sure, they’ll probably argue over who won—but hey, the mess gets cleaned. Some crafts, like egg carton flowers or toilet paper roll bird feeders, are best at the table.

If things get wild, we just move outside. Sometimes, messy crafting is the best memory, isn’t it?