Recycled & Cardboard Easter Crafts for Kids: Eco-Friendly Fun

Did you know you can turn cardboard boxes and empty egg cartons into adorable Easter crafts? You hardly need to spend any money, and at the same time, you’re recycling those materials. Below, you’ll find 12 cute and easy cardboard Easter crafts for kids they’ll love.

1. Egg Carton Chicks

These fluffy little cuties are probably the easiest Easter crafts for toddlers you’ll ever make! There’s no complicated cutting involved.

Chicks made from egg carton are cute Easter crafts for kids preschool.

Materials:

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Yellow paint (or orange works too!)
  • Orange construction paper or foam
  • Googly eyes
  • Yellow feathers (optional)
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker

Instructions:

  1. Cut individual cups from your egg carton, keeping a small carton base piece for each chick.
  2. Let your little one paint each cup yellow and set aside to dry completely.
  3. While waiting, cut tiny triangles from orange paper for beaks.
  4. Once dry, glue on googly eyes and the orange beak.
  5. Add feathers on top for extra fluffiness, or draw wings with marker.
  6. Draw little feet at the bottom with black marker, or cut feet from orange paper.
  7. Display your adorable chick family on the windowsill.

2. Toilet Paper Roll Easter Bunnies

This is hands-down one of my favorite Easter bunny crafts because it’s mess-free and SO cute! These crafts take about 15 minutes from start to finish.

A toilet paper roll Easter bunny.

Materials:

  • Empty toilet paper rolls
  • White paint or white construction paper
  • Pink construction paper
  • Cotton balls
  • Googly eyes
  • White pipe cleaners
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Pink marker

Instructions:

  1. Paint the toilet paper roll white or wrap it with white construction paper and glue it down
  2. Cut two bunny ear shapes from white paper and smaller pink inner ear shapes
  3. Glue the pink pieces onto the white ears
  4. Attach the ears to the inside top of the roll
  5. Glue on googly eyes and draw a pink nose with your marker
  6. Cut pipe cleaners into small pieces for whiskers and glue them on
  7. Glue a cotton ball on the back for the fluffy tail
  8. Let everything dry and your bunny is ready to hop around!

3. Cardboard Easter Baskets

Forget buying expensive baskets! These easy cardboard Easter crafts for kids double as Easter egg hunt carriers AND adorable decorations.

A cardboard Easter craft for kids.

Materials:

  • Cereal box or similar cardboard box
  • Colored paper or paint
  • Stapler or tape
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon, stickers, or markers for decorating
  • Construction paper scraps
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Cut your cereal box in half horizontally to create a shallow basket shape.
  2. Cut a long strip from the leftover cardboard for a handle (about 1-2 inches wide).
  3. Staple or tape the handle securely to opposite sides of your basket.
  4. Now comes the fun part! Let kids paint or cover the basket with colored paper.
  5. Decorate with Easter-themed cutouts like bunnies, chicks, eggs, or flowers.
  6. Add stickers, draw patterns with markers, or glue on ribbon around the edges.
  7. Fill with Easter grass (or shredded paper) and you’re ready for egg hunting!

4. Milk Carton Easter Baskets

Got milk cartons? This is one of those cardboard Easter crafts preschool teachers love because it’s sturdy enough to last through multiple egg hunts!

An Easter craft for kids made with a recycled milk carton.

Materials:

  • Clean, empty milk carton (any size)
  • Scissors or craft knife (adult use only)
  • Paint or colored paper
  • Pipe cleaners or ribbon for handle
  • Decorating supplies (stickers, markers, glitter glue, etc.)
  • Hole punch

Instructions:

  1. Rinse and dry your milk carton thoroughly.
  2. Cut the carton in half horizontally to create your basket base.
  3. Use a hole punch to make holes on opposite sides for the handle.
  4. Thread a pipe cleaner or ribbon through the holes and secure.
  5. Cover the outside with paint or glue on colorful paper (hides the carton design).
  6. Let your kiddo go wild decorating with Easter designs!
  7. Add bunny ears cut from the leftover carton top if you want to make it extra special.
  8. Fill with goodies!

5. Recycled Box Bunny Houses

This is the ultimate DIY cardboard Easter craft project! Kids can play with these long after Easter is over. Perfect for toy bunnies or stuffed animals.

A bunny house made from a recycled shoe box.

Materials:

  • Shoebox or any medium-sized box
  • Scissors or box cutter (for adults)
  • Paint or colored paper
  • Glue
  • Markers
  • Construction paper
  • Cotton balls
  • Tissue paper scraps for “grass”

Instructions:

  1. Choose which way to position your box (on its side works great for a house).
  2. Cut out a door and windows (adults should do the cutting).
  3. Paint the outside or cover with colored paper in Easter colors.
  4. Decorate the roof with “shingles” cut from construction paper.
  5. Add window boxes with paper flowers.
  6. Glue cotton balls around the door for a fluffy bunny entrance.
  7. Inside, add crumpled tissue paper or shredded paper for grass bedding.
  8. Draw or glue on details like a mailbox, path, or garden.
  9. Set up your bunny’s new home and let imaginative play begin!

6. Cardboard Tube Carrot Treats

While we’re focusing on Easter bunny crafts, every bunny needs carrots! These are adorable party favors or treat holders.

Cardboard Easter crafts using toilet paper rolls.

Materials:

  • Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls cut in half
  • Orange paint or paper
  • Green tissue paper or crepe paper
  • Treats or small toys to fill
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Orange marker (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Paint your cardboard tube orange or cover with orange paper.
  2. Once dry, draw little lines with an orange marker to make it look more carrot-like.
  3. Fill the tube with wrapped candies, small toys, or Easter grass.
  4. Cut strips of green tissue paper or crepe paper (about 6-8 strips).
  5. Gather all strips together and stuff them into one end of the tube.
  6. Tape or tie them to secure the “carrot top.”
  7. Hand them out to friends or use as Easter basket additions!

7. Egg Carton Easter Wreath

This Easter arts and crafts project is beautiful enough to hang on your front door!

An Easter wreath made with an egg carton.

Materials:

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Scissors
  • Paint in spring colors
  • Paper plate or cardboard circle
  • Glue gun (adult supervised)
  • Ribbon
  • Green tissue paper (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Cut individual cups from your egg carton.
  2. Trim the edges to create flower petal shapes.
  3. Paint each “flower” in pastel Easter colors and let dry.
  4. Cut the center from a paper plate to create a wreath ring.
  5. Paint the ring green or cover with tissue paper.
  6. Glue the egg carton flowers all around the ring.
  7. Add a ribbon for hanging.
  8. Attach paper leaves or Easter cutouts between flowers.

8. Cardboard Easter Egg Garland

Need a quick decoration? These cardboard Easter crafts are perfect for little ones who are still developing scissor skills.

A cardboard Easter egg garland.

Materials:

  • Cardboard from boxes
  • Pencil
  • Scissors (adults may need to help)
  • Paint, markers, or crayons
  • String or yarn
  • Hole punch
  • Stickers (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Draw large egg shapes on cardboard and cut them out (adults can pre-cut for toddlers).
  2. Let kids decorate each egg however they want! Paint, color, add stickers, or go wild with patterns.
  3. Once dry, punch a hole at the top of each egg.
  4. Thread string through each hole, spacing eggs evenly.
  5. Tie knots on either side of each egg to keep them in place.
  6. Hang your festive garland across a doorway or mantel!

9. Cereal Box Easter Puzzle

Talk about a two-in-one craft! You make it AND play with it. Such a clever twist on traditional Easter crafts preschool activities!

An Easter puzzlen made with a recycled cereal box.

Materials:

  • Empty cereal box
  • Scissors
  • Easter coloring page or drawings
  • Glue stick
  • Markers or crayons
  • Ziplock bag for storage

Instructions:

  1. Cut the front panel from your cereal box to create a sturdy cardboard piece.
  2. Print an Easter coloring page or let your child draw their own Easter scene.
  3. Color the picture with bright, festive colors.
  4. Glue the finished picture onto the cardboard.
  5. Once dry, cut the cardboard into puzzle pieces (larger pieces for younger kids, smaller for older ones).
  6. Store in a ziplock bag.
  7. Mix up the pieces and put the puzzle together again and again!

10. Toilet Paper Roll Easter Egg Stamps

This is one of my go-to Easter crafts because it’s virtually mess-proof and toddlers LOVE stamping!

Toilet paper roll Easter egg stamps.

Materials:

  • Toilet paper rolls
  • Paint in Easter colors
  • Paper plates for paint
  • White or colored paper
  • Tape (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Gently squeeze a toilet paper roll into an egg shape (oval).
  2. Hold it in that shape or secure with a small piece of tape.
  3. Pour different paint colors onto paper plates.
  4. Dip the end of the roll into paint.
  5. Stamp onto paper to create Easter egg prints!
  6. Make patterns by stamping different colors overlapping.
  7. Let dry and use as wrapping paper, placemats, or wall art.

11. Cardboard Box Easter Bunny Photo Booth

If you have a large box, this is THE most fun DIY Easter bunny crafts project for the whole family!

A cardboard box Easter bunny photo booth.

Materials:

  • Large cardboard box
  • Box cutter (adult use only)
  • Paint or large paper sheets
  • Markers
  • Construction paper
  • Tape or glue
  • Decorations

Instructions:

  1. Cut out a large oval or rectangle from one side of the box for the face opening.
  2. Paint the box white or pink for a bunny theme.
  3. Create large bunny ears from cardboard and attach to the top.
  4. Add details like eyes, nose, whiskers, and bow tie around the face opening.
  5. Decorate with Easter eggs, flowers, or spring designs.
  6. Leave the back of the box open so children can stand behind it and place their face through the opening.
  7. Snap photos for lasting memories!

12. Egg Carton Bunny Family

These three-dimensional bunnies are absolutely precious. Line them up for the cutest Easter bunny crafts display ever!

Materials:

  • Egg carton
  • White paint or paper
  • Pink and white construction paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Pink pom poms
  • Cotton balls
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers

Instructions:

  1. Cut individual cups from egg carton for bunny bodies.
  2. Paint white or cover with white paper.
  3. Cut long ear shapes from white paper with pink inner ears.
  4. Glue ears to the back inside of the cup.
  5. Add googly eyes and a pink pom pom nose.
  6. Draw whiskers and a smile with marker.
  7. Glue a cotton ball inside for a fluffy tail.
  8. Make a whole bunny family in different sizes!

See? You don’t need fancy supplies to create amazing Easter crafts for kids! These recycled and cardboard crafts prove that the best easy Easter crafts come from things you already have at home.

Check out these other easy Easter crafts for kids that are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and busy moms:

You might also like these Easy Easter Egg Painting Ideas for Kids and this guide on How to Plan an Easter Egg Hunt for Kids.

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