19 Recycled Crafts for Kids

When looking to inspire your kids’ creativity, search no further than your recycling bin. Glass, plastic, and cardboard are all incredibly versatile crafting supplies with an infinite number of uses. While you could just let your little ones loose with a stack of old magazines, a little direction could prove helpful (at least to get started). Continue reading for a set of crafting ideas that are both kid-friendly and make great use of otherwise tossed materials.

01 of 19

Recycled CD Crab

The Spruce

That stack of 50 blank CDs gathering dust on your desk? Toss them into the craft bin for an easy circular (not to mention shiny) art supply. Kids can cover CDs in tissue paper, then add wiggle eyes and construction paper limbs for an unlimited array of critters. Try a friendly crab to get started!

Recycled CD Crab from The Spruce
02 of 19

Water Bottle Flowers

Kid Friendly Things To Do

Snip the bottoms off plastic water bottles, then set them out to paint. The curved plastic wells act as flower petals, and the smooth painting surface lends to a textured, semi-transparent finish. Mix some glitter into your washable paint, and add fuzzy pom pom centers to complete a bouquet of recycled blooms.

Water Bottle Flowers from Kid Friendly Things To Do
03 of 19

Tin Can Planters

Darice

Adults will need to assist making drainage holes in the bottom of clean tin cans, but kids will have a great time decorating these fun planters. Provide paint, pipe cleaners, and wiggle eyes and create a whole family of friendly plants.

Tin Can Planters from Darice
04 of 19

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

The Spruce

Prep for an outdoor adventure with a completely homemade pair of binoculars. String two empty toilet paper rolls together, then camouflage with tissue paper leaves (or faux greenery for a three dimensional effect).

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars from The Spruce

Continue to 5 of 19 below.
05 of 19

Mini Lid Banjos

The Craft Train

This clever tutorial utilizes a few recycled goods: small screw top lids, popsicle sticks, and rubber bands. Use a strong tape to adhere the rubber bands to the lid, then attach the popsicle stick as a handle. Encourage kids to experiment with different twangy tones by using various rubber band sizes.

Mini Lid Banjos from The Craft Train
06 of 19

Egg Carton Flowers

Easy Peasy and Fun

Those empty egg cartons can be used in a variety of childrens’ crafts, including constructing a lovely little indoor garden. Clip the egg cups away from each other, then snip into petals and stack for 3D flower art.

Egg Carton Flowers from Easy Peasy and Fun
07 of 19

Cereal Box Monsters

ArtXplorez

Save those empty breakfast cereal boxes in order to craft a group of fierce monsters. Add a bamboo handle, and your monsters turn into puppets ready for a performance. Decorate your creatures with construction paper, faux fur, and ribbon—the options are endless with these rectangular box bases.

Cereal Box Monsters from ArtXplorez
08 of 19

Milk Carton Bus

Uno Zwei Tutu

Thoroughly rinse a spent milk or juice carton, then either paint it or cover it in colorful construction paper. Placed on their sides, these cartons resemble busses (or submarines or wagons or trains), so create plenty of passengers to paste on as well. Add a quartet of screw-top wheels, and your vehicles are ready to zoom across the kitchen counter.

Milk Carton Bus from Uno Zwei Tutu

Continue to 9 of 19 below.
09 of 19

Toilet Paper Roll Town

Today’s Parent

Build rows of towering skyscrapers from empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. These cardboard tubes provide a perfect base for an urban cityscape that kids will love to roll matchbox cards through or hide action figures in.

Toilet Paper Roll Town from Today’s Parent
10 of 19

No-Sew Zipper Pouches

Make It Love It

Another great use for spent plastic water bottles: make a set of handy clear pouches to organize the craft table or playroom. Pair a couple of same diameter bottoms together to create two halves for a case, then use your glue gun to attach colorful zippers as closure. Kids can help decorate with puffy paint, and will (hopefully) take ownership over clean-up by organizing their items in a fun way.

No-Sew Zipper Pouches from Make It Love It
11 of 19

Mason Jar Lego Head

Beau-coup

Transform glass jars into a clever organization hack with this adorable tutorial. Adults—spray paint a base color, then let children apply Lego man faces with marker. Don’t have a Lego fan at home? Try emoji faces instead. Either way, these decorative jars keep bits and baubles tucked neatly away.

Mason Jar Lego Head from Beau-coup
12 of 19

Popsicle Stick Troll

Craft Create Cook

Rinse and save those leftover wooden popsicle sticks for craft time! Glue a few together for an easy base for a troll face. Add a tuft of faux fur hair and some googly eyes to finish the decoration. Hang a group of different colored trolls in the kids’ room for an easy, swappable, piece of art.

Popsicle Stick Troll from Craft Create Cook

Continue to 13 of 19 below.
13 of 19

Paper Plate Clock

The Spruce

Practice telling time with this handy craft. Grab a paper plate, use a brad to attach hour and minute hands, then decorate! Each learner can customize his or her own clock, encouraging ownership over their time-telling progress.

Paper Plate Clock from The Spruce
14 of 19

Tin Can Bird Feeder

Momtastic

Add a pop of color to the yard with this lovely little project. Grab a clean tin can and cover it in colorful duct tape, fill with birdseed, then add a length of yarn to string it to a sturdy branch. A halved plastic lid keeps the seed well contained. Little ones can be in charge of decorating and filling these.

Tin Can Bird Feeder from Momtastic
15 of 19

Crayon Gems

@nadydelarosaphotography

Scoop those crayon scraps out from the bottom of the bin, peel off their labels, and pop them into a fun silicon mold. Melt in the oven for a few minutes, then allow to set on their own or freeze for faster results. Those old wax bits get absolutely rejuvenated via this process, and kids will love to create with their new art supply.

Repurposed Crayons from The Spruce
16 of 19

Cardboard Dinosaurs

The Imagination Tree

We love a good creative use for all those leftover shipping boxes, and this one does not disappoint. Snip out a few dinosaur torsos and legs, then slide them together using a simple cut-and-slot method. Bonus: Creating these 3D sculptures will help your little ones practice their design and planning skills.

Cardboard Dinosaurs from The Imagination Tree

Continue to 17 of 19 below.
17 of 19

Bubble Wrap Crocodile

Positively Splendid

While bubble wrap could keep your kids totally occupied on its own, this clever craft takes the versatile material up a notch. Tape a length of bubble wrap into a tube, then paint it green and add a pair of bulging eyes to mimic a sneaky crocodile.

Bubble Wrap Crocodile from Positively Splendid
18 of 19

Takeout Container UFO

Idle Peeps

A great way to organize your cabinet full of reusable food containers is to get rid of a few! Pass them off to the kids for a quick coat of paint (or glitter or paper or ribbon), then they can glue a bunch together to create an alien spacecraft. Build a toilet roll extra terrestrial to pilot your UFO, and you’ll be ready for hours of imaginative play.

Takeout Container UFO from Idle Peeps
19 of 19

Wine Bottle Vase

Yummy Mummy Club

Is there anything better than a near-zero cost, handmade gift? Coat a clean wine bottle in craft glue, then wrap in colorful yarn. Try rustic hemp for a more country feel, or create a monochromatic set of three. Pair with a bouquet of fresh flowers and these’ll make great presents for the grandparents!

Wine Bottle Vase from Yummy Mummy Club

19 Recycled Crafts for Kids

More from The Spruce Crafts