Fun at a great price while going green!!
Take these fun ideas about crafts to make with recyclable items. Keep your piggy banks full while helping the environment and entertaining your kids. The possibilities are endless.
Packing Peanut Necklaces
Patriotic Packing Peanut Neckaceby Twila Lenoir
Copyright © 2004-2008 AllFreeCrafts.com
Styrofoam packing peanuts are used to protect items that are being stored or transported; when they are no longer needed, they are often thrown away - but you can recycle some of them with this easy craft project.
What you will need is the sort of packing peanuts that have a hole in the side, so you can string them onto a necklace. Craft stores often get supplies shipped to them with this type of packing peanut; if you ask politely, maybe your local craft store will give you a few to reuse for free.
Patriotic Packing Peanut Necklace
What You Need:
styrofoam packing peanuts (the kind with a hole in the side)
red, white and blue craft paint (or the colors of your country's flag)
paint brush
white pony beads
twine, yarn or plastic string like gimp
scissors
Recycled Packing Peanut Necklace
Craft Instructions:
Paint all the sides of your packing peanuts in the colors you have chosen and let dry.
Cut a piece of twine, yarn or string to the length you will want for your necklace. Remember that you will need to fit the necklace over your head when it is finished, so make it long enough for that, plus a little more to make the knot when you are finished.
String on one white pony bead, then a blue peanut, a white bead and a red peanut. Repeat as many times as you like to make your necklace design.
Tie the two ends and try on your necklace. Wear the necklace to celebrate Independence Day, Canada Day, or the special day patriotic day of your country.
Soda Bottle Caps
If you imagine it, you can make it
Bottle Cap Recycling Craft ProjectSupplies:
9 plastic bottle caps
2 tiny goggle eyes or black permanent marker to draw eyes
red permanent marker or red craft to make the smile features
glue
felt
magnet
Bottle Cap Flower Magnet
Instructions:
If you have bottle caps in the right colors, this project will be very simple to put together. However, if you don't have the right colors, you can use craft paint to paint the bottle caps in the colors that you need.
Start with one yellow cap and glue six red caps around it, then take two green caps and glue them to the ends of the flower caps as leaves. Let dry.
On the yellow cap, glue on tiny goggle eyes, or draw on some eyes with black permanent marker. Draw on a smile with red permanent marker.
Get recycled crafts, supplies and books on Ebay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Suncatchers
Another great Craft idea that you can have the kids make as gifts for their teachers, friends, etc.I used to love doing this when I was a kid - and I love the smell of crayons.
Materials:
Wax Paper
Stencils
scissors
yarn
Old Crayon Pieces (wrapper removed)
Towel
Iron (adult supervision required)
How To:
Decide on what shape you want to make your suncatcher and cut out two identical shapes from the wax paper.
On one piece of the wax paper, take your old crayon pieces and shave them (using a sharpener works real well). Mix the colors around.
Place the other piece of wax paper on top.
Cover with a towel (carefully), then hold the warm iron on top of the towel, on top of the suncatcher.
It may take a little while, but the crayon shavings will melt together between the wax paper.
Poke a hole at the top and link a piece of string through the hole to hang up.
Burned out Light Bulb Ornaments
Taken from: http://craftchi.com/blog/?cat=10
Usually you just throw out your light bulbs...this year, why not make the relatives gifts by making them into ornaments.Materials:
- Burned out Bulbs
- Tacky Craft Glue and brush
- Glitter
- Wire and wire cutters or a sturdy thread/yarn/chord
- Empty egg container or box that bulbs came in
First, create an ornament hanger by cutting a 12-inch piece of wire. Wrap the wire around the thread of the bulb and create a loop on the top of with the leftover wire. If using thread tie loop around base of bulb and tie a loop to hang from tree.
Next, dip brush into undiluted craft glue and apply a thick coat directly to the bulb.
Make sure to apply glitter to the base. Use an empty egg container or the package the light bulbs came in to hold the bulb while you apply glue and glitter.
Allow to dry and then hang on tree.
You could use paint, puffy paints, sequins, rick-rack, etc...the list goes on with your creativity.
The many uses for RECYCLABLES!!
scrap metal in train...
scrap metal in train...
scrap metal in train...
The Recycle Sisters~...
The Recycle Sisters~...
The Recycle Sisters~...
recycled couples
Don't forget to recy...
Recycle your faith h...
Shred Photo
Make your own Domino Game
Taken from: http://crafts.kaboose.com/games_toys_to_make.html
This looks like a GREAT rainy day project. Start saving your Tic Tac boxes for a rainy day.What you'll need:
28 Tic Tac boxes
White spray paint or a white "Painters" paint marker
Black "Painters" paint marker
Sheet of newspaper
How to make it:
You may wish to remove the paper sticker just enough to pull off the colored wrapper.
Lay out the sheet of newspaper and put the Tic Tac boxes on it to spray paint them.
Follow the directions on the can of spray paint and spray all of the boxes white. (Optional: Paint them all with the paint markers)
Let the boxes dry completely.
Turn the boxes over and paint the other side.
Let the boxes dry completely.
Use the black paint marker to paint the lines and dots on all of the dominoes.
Visit the Encarta Encyclopedia for the numbering system to paint the dominoes and for directions for game play.
Pencil holders
Taken from: "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U" (Simon & Schuster)
So you have saved the Campbell Soup Labels for school and are about to throw the cans in the recycle bin. Try this craft instead...Materials:
Foam paintbrushes, acrylic craft paints, clean tin cans with labels removed, artist paintbrushes, craft glue, colorful paper trims
How to make:
1.Paint outside of cans using foam brush and craft paint. Let dry.
2.Paint bands of color around the cans using the foam paintbrush and craft paints.
3.Paint stripes, polka dots, pretty flowers, squiggles or anything you like on cans using an artist paintbrush for detailing. Let dry.
4.Apply colorful paper trim with glue along the top and bottom of the can.
- From "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U" (Simon & Schuster)
SMENCILS
You are supplied with all the components you need for this craft project:
- 8 recycled newspaper pencils
- 8 Freshness Tubes
- 8 Smencil stickers
- 4 liquid scent applicators
You can make 8 Smencils - Two of each of the following flavors: Bubble Gum, Pineapple, Toasted Marshmallow and Strawberry.
What is your favorite RECYCLABLE Craft??
a_willow wrote...
I wanted to welcome you to Reuse it all! group! I'm so glad you joined with this great lens and help spread a word about all the ways stuff could be reused! Thank you!
Posted January 11, 2009
totalhealth wrote...
great ideas. it doen't only teach kids to be creative but also lean the value of recycling
Posted December 09, 2008
Susan52 wrote...
I like the Tic-Tac box dominoes. What a great idea! I still use the recycled can pencil holders that we made years ago and still love them, as well as the memories. Nice lens, great ideas!
Posted November 16, 2008
Bottle Basket
Made from the bottom of a plastic 2 liter soda bottle
You can have your children make baskets out of 2 liter plastic soda bottles.Cut the bottom of the bottle off. Save the top part because we can use that later for a "greenhouse".
Allow your child to paint or glue on foam pieces, construction paper, or tissue paper to the "basket".
Add a handle by using pipe cleaners.
These would make wonderful "Party Baskets" decorated in the theme of the child's birthday party and filled with treats. The basket is then recyclable when the kids are done with it.
Stop back every day for a NEW GREEN TIP!!!
Blog Posts from Google
- 12 Creative Crafts that Recycle : Keeping the Castle ...
- Better Homes & Gardens has come up with some neat crafts made with recycled materials. The picture frame shown below really caught my eye. It is made from magazine pages and cardboard. I'm thinking that this would be a colorful and ...
Recyclable Craft Books to give you IDEAS!!
Trash to Treasure: The Year's Best Crative Crafts (Trash to Treasure Volume 6)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) 
Trash Artists Workshop (The Crafts Workshop Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Trim Your Trash (A Craft "How-To" Create Book, B-54)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Crayon Recycling...
Soda Can Crafts
Check out these cool crafts made from soda cans. What can you make from a soda can???
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byRecycle those CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!
Such a nice sentiment, and frugal too....
1. Send holiday cards to St. Jude's Ranch, a nonprofit home for youths that collects old holiday cards for reuse. Either cut off the backs of the cards or leave them intact. Children at St. Jude's earn money by creating new holiday cards from the old.
Mail the cards UPS "ground" or "bound printed matter" to St. Jude's Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude Street, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006.
2. Cut off the backs of old holiday cards that do not have writing behind the front and use them as postcards.
3. Create your own card by cutting and pasting parts of old cards onto a new blank card. You can find packages of blank cards at most arts and crafts stores.
4. Use old holiday cards as gift tags by cutting them into square or rectangular shapes and punching holes in the corners for string or ribbon.
5. Make placemats out of holiday cards instead of buying new ones. Cut out pictures or shapes from the old cards, place them between two pieces of contact paper and press together.
6. Save holiday cards for arts and crafts throughout the year if you have children.
7. Make your Christmas Greeting Cards reusable this year! You are recycling your Christmas Greeting Cards when you place these: "Stick On, Peel Off" labels on them! Each Label is 3.5 inches high x 4 inches wide. All labels are easily applied to and removed from your greeting cards. Visit: Thoughtful card sender to check it out!!!
8. Carefully cut out the shapes and use them for scrapbooking.
9. Cut them into strips and use them for fancy book marks.
10. Cut the front to 4"x 5" or 3" x 5" size and use as index cards for recipes, for craft projects etc.
11. Make them into gift boxes for next year (see instructions below).
How to make boxes from old Christmas Cards
These boxes can be used next year for gifts you give.
What You Need:
An old greeting card -- or two or three.
A ruler or straight edge.
A pencil.
A pair of scissors.
Crayons or markers for decorating.
What You Do:
First, get an old greeting card.
Next, rip it in half at the fold.
Using your ruler, make an "X" on the card by drawing two lines that cross at the center of the card. (see diagram).
Fold the edges of all four sides of the paper over to the middle of the cross. (see diagram)
Cut the red lines as shown in the diagram.
Fold the tabs in to create a box and tape the box together.
To create a lid for the box, do the same as above, only instead of folding the edges to the point of the cross, fold them slightly outward so the lid will be larger than the bottom.
