Some of the best quality time I’ve spent with my boys is when we were creating crafts from items we found around the house.  Keeping with our Earth Day celebration, I asked Kim, owner of the blog Crafty Mama of 4, to share a few of her favorite craft projects that used recycled items from around the house.  -Shannan

Looking for some great crafts to do this month to celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few of my favorites.  The best thing about these ideas is that you should have most of the supplies you need laying around your house and in your recycling bin.  Each one only takes about 15 or 20 minutes to complete and the kids will have a blast.

Bird Feeder
Supplies

• Gallon milk container
• Sharpie Markers
• Scissors
• Twine
• Bird seed

Directions

1. Cut 2 holes in the jug opposite each other about 3 inches by 5 inches.  Make sure you don’t cut too close to the bottom edge or the bird seed will fall out.
2. Decorate the jug with permanent makers like Sharpies.
3. Poke a hole in the lid, feed twine through lid, and secure the twine with a large knot on the inside of the lid, replace lid on jug.
4. Fill the bottom with seed, hang and wait for the birds!

Candle Holder
(Hey, Dads-- this makes a great Mother’s Day gift!)
Supplies

• 1 glass jar
• Tissue paper
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• White glue mixed with water to make it a bit thinner
• Tea light candle

Directions

1. Smaller, short jars work best for this project; I used a pizza sauce jar I think was about  10 oz. 
2. Remove label and all glue from jar before beginning
3. Cut or tear the tissue paper into pieces that are about 1 in by 1 in.
4. Cover the jar with the glue mixture and begin sticking the tissue paper on the jar.  When the jar is covered place a generous layer of glue over top of all the paper and smooth any wrinkles or bubbles with your fingers.
5. Cut a length of ribbon to wrap around the neck of the jar and glue in place.
6. Let dry overnight then place a tea light candle in the jar.

Maracas
Supplies

• 1 Crystal Light or similar container
• Colored paper
• Old magazines
• Markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Tape
• White rice

Directions

1. Remove the label from the container
2. Cut a piece a paper the right size to wrap around the container
3. Cut out pictures of your favorite things from old magazines and glue them on the paper or use markers to draw a design on the paper.
4. Wrap the decorated paper around the container and tape it in place
5. Pour uncooked white rice into the container, put the lid on and tape the lid shut.
6. Shake it up and make some noise!

Storage Container
Supplies

• 32 ounce yogurt container with lid or a formula can
• Old magazines
• White glue mixed with water to thin it out a little bit
• Scissors

Directions
If you are using a formula can remove the label before you begin

1. Cut pictures out of old magazines of things that you like
2. Cover container in glue mixture and start placing photos on the container.  Place a generous amount of glue over all of the pictures as well.
3. Smooth down the photos as you go, the best way to do this is with your fingers.
4. Choose a photo for the lid, trace the lid then attach photo to lid.
5. Let dry overnight then fill with your baseball cards, Bakugans, Legos, or other small treasured items.

From creating picture frames from popsicle sticks for grandma, to making unique caterpillar & lightening bug jars, my boys love just about any craft that allows them to use their imaginations (as well as glue & scissors!). I love watching their minds at work and seeing what they come up with. What sort of craft projects do your children love?

 

 

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