If you’re like me, you’ve got a pile of toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and old magazines just sitting there — and a kid who’s bored and ready to create! So here are 15 recycled crafts, a wonderful way to teach little ones that trash can become treasure.
Let’s get crafty and go green!
1. Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars (Ages 3+)
Materials needed:
Grab two toilet paper rolls, tape or glue, paint or markers whichever you have, and some string or yarn.
Instructions:
- Tape or glue the two toilet paper rolls side by side.
- Decorate them with paint, stickers, or markers.
- Punch a hole on each outer side and thread yarn through to make a strap.
- Take your little explorer on a backyard nature walk!
Recycle and have more fun with toilet paper roll animal crafts: explore these fun animal projects and farm animal crafts for kids
2. Egg Carton Caterpillar (Ages 3+)
Materials needed:
You need one egg carton, pipe clearners, googlyeyes, paint and glue.
Instructions:
- Cut the egg carton into a long strip of connected cups.
- Paint each section a different color and let it dry.
- Poke pipe cleaners through the first cup to make antennae.
- Glue on googly eyes and draw a smile.
Looking for more ideas? Check out these 10 creative ways to upcycle egg cartons.
3. Magazine Collage Art (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
Collect all those old magazines you may have at home, and cardboard or cardstock. You´ll also need scissors and glue stick.
Instructions:
- Pick a theme: animals, rainbows, food, outer space!
- Cut out shapes, colors, or pictures from old magazines.
- Arrange and glue them onto cardboard to make a collage.
- Let your kid display it on the fridge.
4. Tin Can Pencil Holder (Ages 5+)
Materials needed:
Get a tin can and clean it. You will need paint, yarn or twine, glue and some stickers or washi tape.
Instructions:
- Make sure the can is clean and edges aren’t sharp (check this yourself first!).
- Paint the outside and let it dry completely.
- Wrap with yarn, add stickers, or decorate with washi tape.
- Fill with pencils, crayons, or scissors for the cutest desk organizer.
5. Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder (Ages 5+)
Materials needed:
Get a plastic bottlen and 2 wooden spoons. You will also need birdseed, string, and scissors or awl.
Instructions:
- Poke two holes opposite each other near the bottom — push a wooden spoon through as a perch.
- Poke small holes just above each spoon for seed to fall through.
- Repeat with a second spoon, rotated 90 degrees up the bottle.
- Fill with birdseed, cap the bottle, and hang outside with string.
6. Cardboard Box Playhouse (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
You will need a large cardboard box, paint or markers and tape. Besides, scissors or a box cutter to be used by an adult.
Instructions:
- The windows and a door into the box must be cut by an adult.
- Your kids are free to paint as they prefer, whether a castle, a cottage, or even a rocket.
- Add curtains from fabric scraps, a mailbox from a smaller box, or a flower garden drawn on the sides.
7. Newspaper Seed Starter Pots (Ages 5+)
Materials needed:
For these recycled crafts for kids, all you need are some newspaper sheets, a small jar (as mold), potting soil and seeds.
Instructions:
- Cut newspaper into strips and wrap them tightly around the bottom of a small jar.
- Fold the excess inward to form a base, then slide the jar out.
- Fill the little pot with soil and plant a seed inside.
- Water gently and watch it sprout — the whole pot is compostable!
8. Milk Carton Fairy House (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
A clean milk or juice carton, paint, glue and some twigs, dried flowers or leaves.
Instructions:
- Paint the carton white or any color your kid prefers.
- Cut out windows and a door shape once dry.
- Decorate with natural materials: twig fences, petal shingles, leaf curtains.
- Set in the garden or on a windowsill for instant magic.
9. Bottle Cap Magnets (Ages 5+)
Materials needed:
Bottle caps and small magnets. Photos or drawings. Mod podge or clear glue, and strong glue.
Instructions:
- Cut a tiny circle from a photo, drawing, or magazine image to fit inside the cap.
- Glue the image inside the cap and seal with a layer of mod podge.
- Let dry, then glue a small magnet to the back.
- These make adorable fridge decorations — or sweet handmade gifts!
10. Yogurt Cup Stamps (Ages 3+)
Materials needed:
Clean yogurt cups, foam stickers or craft foam, paint, and paper.
Instructions:
- Stick foam shapes onto the bottom of a yogurt cup.
- Dip in paint and press onto paper.
- Repeat with different cups, colors, and shapes.
- Use as gift wrap, cards, or just pure artistic expression!
11. Cereal Box Puzzle (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
Take a cereal box front panel, scissors, and a ziplock bag for storage.
Instructions:
- Cut out the front panel of a cereal box into a sturdy rectangle.
- Cut it into puzzle pieces — simpler shapes for younger kids, more complex for older ones.
- Mix them up and let kids put it back together!
- Store in a ziplock bag to reuse again and again.
12. Plastic Spoon Puppets (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
Gather old plastic spoons and let your kids create fun recycled crafts like these spoon puppets. You’ll also need markers, yarn for hair, fabric scraps, and glue.
Instructions:
- Draw a face on the rounded part of the spoon with permanent markers.
- Glue yarn on top for hair.
- Tie a small piece of fabric around the handle for a body.
- Put on a puppet show! (A shoebox stage works perfectly.)
13. Paper Roll Rainstick (Ages 4+)
Materials needed:
You will need a paper towel roll and an aluminium foil. Also, get rice or dried beans, tape, cardstock, and paint or stickers.
Instructions:
- Seal one end of the roll with cardstock and tape.
- Crinkle a long piece of foil into a loose spiral and slide it inside.
- Pour in a small handful of rice or dried beans.
- Seal the other end, decorate the outside, and tilt slowly to hear the rain!
14. Egg Carton Flower Garden (Ages 3+)
Materials needed:
Egg carton cups are one of the most popular materials for recycled crafts for kids.You’ll also need green pipe cleaners for the stems, paint, tissue paper, and glue.
Instructions:
- Cut individual cups from the egg carton and trim the edges into petal shapes.
- Paint each cup a bright flower color and let dry.
- Poke a pipe cleaner through the bottom for a stem and bend it to hold.
- Add a tissue paper center and plant your bouquet in a cup of playdough.
15. T-Shirt Tote Bag (No Sew!) (Ages 6+)
Materials needed:
An old t-shirt, scissors and fabric markers (optional).
Instructions:
- Lay the t-shirt flat and cut off the sleeves to create handles.
- Cut a wider neckline to form the bag opening.
- Turn it inside out and cut fringe along the bottom edge (about 3 inches deep, 1 inch wide).
- Tie each pair of fringe strips together in knots to seal the bottom.
- Turn right-side out and decorate with fabric markers!
Let’s Keep Creating (and Recycling!)
There you have it — 15 recycled crafts for kids that prove you don’t need fancy supplies or a big budget to make something wonderful with your kids.
Every toilet paper roll saved from the bin, every cereal box repurposed into a puzzle — it all adds up, and our kids are watching and learning every single time.
The real magic isn’t just the finished craft (although yes, that caterpillar IS adorable). It’s the conversation you have while making it. It’s the moment they realize that something ‘garbage’ became something beautiful. That’s the seed of a lifelong respect for our planet, and friend, you’re the one planting it.
So go ahead — raid the recycling bin, spread some newspaper on the table, and get messy together. You’ve got this!
For more recycled craft ideas for kids, check out these posts:
- 15 Tin Can Crafts for Kids: Easy, Fun & Creative Upcycled Ideas
- 15 Recycled Crafts for Kids Using Plastic Bottles
Save this Pin!
