Crafts Using Recycled Materials
Crafts can be a great way to recycle computer and
household waste while having fun and making something useful. This page
features craft projects
that are made from at least one recycled item.
In some projects, like
Handmade Paper from
Recycled Scraps, the craft is made almost entirely of recycled
materials. Some projects, like the
Trinket Box, use
a recycled item as the basis of a craft.
See the project index for craft projects arranged by
recycling material categories:
Paper recycling—craft paper scraps, old magazines or calendar, used greeting cards, cherished drawings by the kids
Empty paper tube recycling—empty toilet paper tubes and empty paper towel tubes
Box, can, and jar recycling—cereal boxes, milk and juice cartons, cans, jars
Recycling other materials—broken crayons, sweatshirts and sweatpants
The projects range in difficulty from VERY EASY to AVERAGE.
Select a category of projects based on the materials
available or just browse the list. Crafts marked with
Friday Fun are great for
classroom or group craft time. Or jump to the category index for a listing of all crafts.
Description ↓
Discover an
imaginative reuse for paper scraps and leftover cardstock!
These unexpected “serendipity” creations come together quickly and
turn recycling into a rewarding card craft you’ll want to do again
and again.
EASY
Description ↓
Upcycle printer waste into practical notepads that reduce paper
waste and make everyday life a little more organized! Reuse printed
paper and craft scraps to create scratch pads perfect for jotting
down notes, making to-do lists, or even sketching out ideas.
EASY
Description ↓
In this project, learn how to make paper by hand from
recycled scraps of paper. Learn techniques that will give the best
results at home, along with simple and inexpensive alternatives for
children or beginners who just want to experiment.
AVERAGE
These bookmarks are simply made from artwork that you are willing
to cut up and two pieces of clear contact paper. This is a great way
to recycle your less than perfect artwork or preserve your child's
treasured drawings.
VERY EASY
Description ↓
In this
tutorial, learn how to make new greeting cards by recycling old
cards. A variety of techniques are presented that make it easy to
create a card you will be proud to send. Making recycled cards is a
terrific group activity and is fun for crafters of all ages.
EASY
Description ↓
Quilling is the art of rolling narrow strips of paper into various
shapes, and arranging them to form elegant filigree. Cut strips from
recycled scrap paper or magazines and then use a toothpick to roll
coils and scrolls that you pinch, shape, and arrange into decorative patterns.
EASY
Kids of all ages will have fun making these placemats that are sized
for a snack of milk and cookies. Just cut out images from old greeting
cards, calendars or magazines that relate to the theme for the
placemat and cover with clear contact paper. That's it! Simple as eating
a chocolate chip cookie. Yum!
VERY EASY
Description ↓
Make festive coiled paper shapes
from scraps of paper and then use them to decorate boxes, tags, and cards. This project includes Christmas
quilling designs and examples of how to combine quilling with
handcrafted items.
EASY
Give old paper a second life by transforming scraps and
magazine pages into vibrant handmade beads. Add a layer of
varnish for a glossy finish, then reuse your creations in jewelry or
room decor. A hands-on way to explore upcycling through art.
EASY
In this project, you'll see how to take the classic drinking
straw bead necklace and step it up a notch! You'll use decorative
paper strips to cover the soda straws before cutting them into
beads. This is a great way to recycle your leftover paper scraps.
Suitable for all ages!
VERY EASY
Make a garden in the middle of winter by cutting up seed catalogs.
Cutting up the catalogs, making the garden, and playing with it will
keep kids busy for hours.
VERY EASY
Learn how to make paper mosaics to
decorate crafts and give as gifts, while recycling the paper scraps from other projects.
Make one for Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa.
VERY EASY to EASY
Recycle greeting cards and paper scraps into fun
and unique gift tags. The whole family can join in on the cutting
and pasting to make these special additions to your holiday gifts.
The tags can even be grouped into packages for sale at a Christmas
bazaar or for a fundraiser.
VERY EASY
Description ↓
Don’t toss those scraps! Transform them into eye-catching bookmarks by
layering a punched design over bright colors. A clever recycling project
that turns leftovers into keepsakes.
VERY EASY
Give everyday scraps a new life by turning empty cardboard
tubes, a cereal box, and ribbon or paper remnants into a
pretty trinket box. A fun way to upcycle while making something
useful.
AVERAGE
Make a Fourth
of July cracker that goes POP! See how to make this
novelty box that is shaped like a firecracker and makes a pop sound
without any fire. It is made from a toilet paper tube or make it
bigger with an empty paper towel tube.
AVERAGE
Make binoculars from
recycled toilet paper tubes and squares of colored cellophane for lenses. Wrap the tubes in black construction paper
(or paint them black) for an authentic look or let loose the imagination
by decorating the cardboard tubes any way you like!
EASY
Description ↓
Use
empty toilet paper tubes to make finger puppets, then put on a
play that features them. Use the included patterns or make puppets of your own
design. The versatility of this puppet making technique is amazing.
Give it a try!
EASY
Rings cut from empty toilet paper tubes are the basis for these easy
to make napkin rings. You and the kids will have fun while making something special for the Thanksgiving table. Use the same basic idea with simple variations for other holidays.
EASY
Here’s a craft that is fun to do, recycles empty cereal boxes, and
organizes those stacks of magazines, paperback books and
miscellaneous papers around the house or in your child’s bedroom.
AVERAGE
Description ↓
In this project, learn how to recycle milk and juice cartons, or any
size gable top carton, into strong gift boxes. You can either wrap the
boxes in your favorite way or transform the carton into a house or a
cuckoo clock using Aunt Annie's patterns.
EASY to AVERAGE
Description ↓
Turn a recycled milk
carton into a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s mailbox! Decorate it with a
free cuckoo clock pattern or your own creative designs. A fun way to
craft and upcycle for a special holiday.
EASY to AVERAGE
Description ↓
Turn any jar into something special with a jar lid cover you can
quickly make from paper. Make a cover for that special homemade
jelly or a recycled jar you fill with a treat. Anyone will be
delighted to receive a gift with a handsome lid cover.
VERY EASY
Cut up an empty
cereal box to make cards for the game of memory. This is a fun and very easy
project that young kids really love doing! It is great for families or groups, and with a
little preparation by the adult or teen leaders, this project is fast and fun.
VERY EASY
Imagine quiet conversation on a patio or porch in the light of
flickering candles. These simple candle holder luminaries are made
from recycled cans that are left plain or painted. The candle
holders are fun to make as a family or group project.
AVERAGE
Whether you have snow where you live or not, you can have
wintertime fun by making a wintry snow scene in a jar. All it takes
is a few plastic toys, rocks, glue, glitter and water to turn a
small jar into a winter wonderland where a gentle shake makes it
snow.
AVERAGE
It is easy to recycle an
empty jar into a wonderful container for Valentine’s Day candies.
Just add some cutouts from old Valentine’s Day cards or leftover
Valentine's Day napkins to make a decorated jar nice enough to give
as a gift.
EASY
Description ↓
In this project, use old sweatpants to make mittens for kids. This is
a great way to recycle the fabric from all those holey and stained
sweatpants (and sweatshirts) that no one can wear anymore. This is a good
project for new sewers. As an added bonus, the project includes
instructions for making a scarf from sweatpants.
EASY
Get creative and reduce waste with this upcycling project! Turn
unused crayon bits into brand new, vibrant crayons. This easy craft
is perfect for kids and allows them to explore color mixing while
giving old crayons a new lease on life. A set of
recycled crayons also makes a colorful and fun gift!
Turn leftover
pumpkin seeds into vibrant poinsettia brooches or ornaments! Crafted
with seeds and beans, this project is a fun way to repurpose pumpkin
seeds from Halloween or Thanksgiving while creating festive holiday
decorations or thoughtful handmade gifts. Perfect for family or
group crafting sessions!
EASY
Description ↓
Take a plain T-shirt or a tired
old T-shirt and perk it up with
stenciled designs. These super-easy embellishments are a great way to
rescue a T-shirt that has been stained. The same technique can be used
to stencil sweatshirts and sweatpants—just about anything made of
fabric.
AVERAGE
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