Earth Day is a great time to do activities or recycled crafts with your kids to teach them about the importance of preserving this beautiful planet that we live on.
One of the big messages I want everyone to understand is that we have to be responsible for our garbage.
Spend some time reading about the [not so] Great Pacific Garbage Patch if you aren't already familiar with the problem.
When humans don't responsibly take care of their garbage, it often ends up in the ocean -- poisoning the water and sea life -- and because everything is connected, eventually us.
Looking for more information about recycling?
Check out my article: 10 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle
Want to make recycled crafts? Check out the projects below to explore the 100+ different upcycled craft projects from Creative Green Living.
Want to make recycled crafts? Check out the projects below to explore the 100+ different upcycled craft projects from Creative Green Living.
Instead of sending your garbage or even recyclables away to a landfill or a recycling plant, consider reusing what was once trash into something awesome and beautiful!
These crafts use recycled materials that might otherwise be discarded but are given new life in a useful way.
Every water bottle, can, and plastic bag you reuse is one less water bottle, can or plastic bag that has the potential to end up in the ocean!
Earth Day Activities: Best Recycled Crafts to Make
Recycled Tin Can Crafts
Try one of these clever and beautiful projects you can make with empty tin cans.
Each of these clever recycled craft ideas will help you give new life to your can instead of turning it into another piece of waste (YES, it is waste, even if you are "recycling" it).
Each of these clever recycled craft ideas will help you give new life to your can instead of turning it into another piece of waste (YES, it is waste, even if you are "recycling" it).
Galaxy Painted Pen Holder
from Creative Green Living
Learn how to do a galaxy painting technique with this recycled craft that turns an empty metal can into a pretty desk organizer.
Stamped Garden Markers from Can Lids
from Creative Green Living
Using a clean edge can opener lets you reused the can lids to make all kinds of great things - including these plant markers that you can use in your garden!
Rainbow Windchime from Recycled Cans
from Creative Green Living
Turn empty cans in various sizes into this fun rainbow garden craft.
Burlap and Lace Succulent Planters
from Creative Green Living
Turn your humble metal cans into a beautiful rustic-chic succulent planter with the help of burlap and rustic lace.
Punched Tin Can Lanterns
from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Easier than the traditional nail-punch style tin can lanterns, these cast a pretty light both indoors and out.
Make a Mason Bee House from Recycled Can
from Turning the Clock Back
Even if you don't live west of the Rocky Mountains (where mason bees live), you can make a house like this for your local pollinators.
As the daughter of mason bee farmers, though, I feel obligated to tell you that the reeds aren't a great idea for mason bees. Make the house just like this but instead of reeds, use mason bee straws - which you can get on Amazon with this referral link or by contacting Fat Dog Farms.
PRO TIP: Bees are more likely to visit your bee house if you mount it on an east or south facing wall or fence rather than hang it from a tree.
Tin Can Windchime Garden Art
from Happy Mrs. C
I love that this project repurposes all kinds of kitchen odds and ends like silverware and salt and pepper shakers.
Decoupage Tin Can Planters
from The Crafted Sparrow
I love the fresh look that this pretty print lends to the succulent planters here!
Recycled Tin Can Organizer
from Biana Barreto for Goods Home Design
Turn your empty tin cans and some scrap wood into a cute organizer! This is perfect for organizing silverware for a picnic or craft supplies as shown in the picture.
Tin Can Planter
from The Crafted Sparrow
This is another take on the tin-can-turned-into-a-planter idea. I love how there are so many ways to make recycled cans into plant pots!
Swing Out Storage Tower from Tuna Cans
from Instructables
I love this clever tuna can craft makeover. This project is really transformational and gives the cans both a functional purpose and beautiful design!
Recycled Egg Carton Ladybugs
from Creative Green Living
This cute and simple project is fun to do with your kids! If you make a lot of them, you can even use them to play a game
(the linked post has a video of my oldest when he was four years old showing you how to play "the ladybug game" that he invented)
Recycled Egg Carton Monsters
from Creative Green Living
Give your kids a chance to get creative! Cut the cups off an egg cartons and then give them glue, paint and other art supplies to let their imaginations run wild!
Egg Carton Seed Starter Trays
from The Kitchen Garten
Egg cartons make great containers for starting seeds before moving them outdoors!
Love gardening? Check out more gardening posts on Creative Green Living!
DIY Egg Carton Lamp
from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
I am so impressed with this clever lamp made from recycled egg cartons! This is a great way to use up lots of egg cartons and it's super fun!
Egg Carton Rose Mirror
from Bliss Bloom Blog
These beautiful roses are actually made from egg cartons! Surprise!
Be sure to click the link above to learn how to turn your used egg cartons into a really clever craft like this rose framed mirror.
How to Make a Mermaid Doll from Egg Cartons
from Art Camp
I love the idea of turning our trash into clever toys for our children. This blog post on Art Camp LA even gives you the option to download mermaid body templates to make it even easier to make this craft.
Boho Inspired Wall Hanging
from Craftaholics Anonymous
Turn your empty egg cartons into pretty flowers with this boho-inspired craft tutorial
Egg Carton into Mini Cupcake Holder
from Baked by Rachel
I love this clever way to reuse egg cartons - use them to transport mini cupcakes without smooshing the frosting! Click the link to get all the details!
Easy Kids Art Project with Egg Cartons
from Mod Podge Rocks
This is a fun way or kids to upcycle their egg cartons and end up with a pretty wall art piece at the end!
How to Recycle Used Wine Corks into a Rustic Bulletin Board
from Creative Green Living
Do you drink wine and have corks leftover? Why not up your recycle game and make this beautiful wine cork bulletin board!
Wine Cork Sled Ornament
from Creative Green Living
These sparkly upcycled wine cork ornaments are a great small gift or a great addition to your beautiful wrapping job.
Wine Cork Succulent Planter Magnets
from The Decorated Cookie
These cute and colorful wine cork succulent planter magnets make your refrigerator way more charming. Even not-so-green thumbs can easily makes these.
Easy DIY Cork Trivet
from Reuse Grow Enjoy
These super handy trivets are a unique way to reuse all of your corks and beautiful your table.
How to Make a DIY Wine Cork Bath Mat
from Sustain my Craft Habit
This do-it-yourself cork bathmat is a great addition to any farmhouse or beach decor and a great way to recycle wine corks.
Wine Stoppers: an Easy DIY Gift Idea
from Nourish and Nestle
These wine stoppers take 15 minutes to make…start to finish. The hardest part will be having to drink all the wine for the corks…now just be responsible!
Sparkling Star Decor
from Sustain my Craft Habit
This beautiful and easy craft is perfect to sit on your mantle or on a bookcase. It is beautiful all year round.
DIY Cork Butterfly Craft
from The Inspiration Edit
This easy project only uses six items to make and is such a cute way to reuse your old wine bottle corks.
DIY Wedding Centerpieces made from Upcycled Corks
from Upcycle my Stuff
This tutorial is all about how to use upcycled containers and corks to create two types of DIY Wedding Centrepieces on a budget.
Super Easy Plant Markers from Wine Corks
from Shine Our Light
This super simple wine cork craft is easy for anyone to make and will help you make sure you can identify what you have planted!
DIY Kitchen Utensil Holder
from A Magical Mess
This super cute kitchen utensil holder will keep your most used kitchen tools on hand in style. Get the tutorial from A Magical Mess.
Upcycled Ombre Home State Art
from Brit & Co
Turn leftover corks into a unique wall piece featuring leftover wine corks. You can even get free printable state templates to use as your base in the tutorial!
How to Make an Envelope for a Card from an Upcycled Cereal Box
from Creative Green Living
You can learn how to make an envelope that's just the right size for a card with any paper board (or lightweight cardboard) food box.
Ceareal Box Straw Charms
from The Decorated Cookie
These straw charms are great for parties or for any day. These are easy to make and would work great on paper or reusable straws too!
3 Ways to Upcycle Cardboard Boxes for Storage
from Creative Ramblings
This is an easy project that will help you upcycle your cardboard boxes and create great storage options for your home.
DIY Cardboard Kids Play Kitchen
from Vikalpah
This great play kitchen keeps kids engaged and allows for imagination to run free.
Cereal Box Aquarium
from The Best Ideas for Kids
This cereal box aquarium is so much fun to make and a great way to recycle your empty cereal boxes!
How to Upcycle Cardboard into a DIY Photo Display Board
from Upcycle my Stuff
This is a great way to get photos off your phone and display them! Also, a way to upcycle cardboard that would make a great gift or home decor item for your home.
DIY Cardboard Sunflower
from Salvage Sister & Mister
This cute DIY cardboard sunflower has the look of the corrugated metal and is a great reuse project.
from Creative Green Living
Learn how to do a galaxy painting technique with this recycled craft that turns an empty metal can into a pretty desk organizer.
from Creative Green Living
Using a clean edge can opener lets you reused the can lids to make all kinds of great things - including these plant markers that you can use in your garden!
from Creative Green Living
Turn empty cans in various sizes into this fun rainbow garden craft.
from Creative Green Living
Turn your humble metal cans into a beautiful rustic-chic succulent planter with the help of burlap and rustic lace.
from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Easier than the traditional nail-punch style tin can lanterns, these cast a pretty light both indoors and out.
from Turning the Clock Back
Even if you don't live west of the Rocky Mountains (where mason bees live), you can make a house like this for your local pollinators.
As the daughter of mason bee farmers, though, I feel obligated to tell you that the reeds aren't a great idea for mason bees. Make the house just like this but instead of reeds, use mason bee straws - which you can get on Amazon with this referral link or by contacting Fat Dog Farms.
PRO TIP: Bees are more likely to visit your bee house if you mount it on an east or south facing wall or fence rather than hang it from a tree.
from Happy Mrs. C
I love that this project repurposes all kinds of kitchen odds and ends like silverware and salt and pepper shakers.
from The Crafted Sparrow
I love the fresh look that this pretty print lends to the succulent planters here!
from Biana Barreto for Goods Home Design
Turn your empty tin cans and some scrap wood into a cute organizer! This is perfect for organizing silverware for a picnic or craft supplies as shown in the picture.
from The Crafted Sparrow
This is another take on the tin-can-turned-into-a-planter idea. I love how there are so many ways to make recycled cans into plant pots!
from Instructables
I love this clever tuna can craft makeover. This project is really transformational and gives the cans both a functional purpose and beautiful design!
Recycled Egg Carton Crafts
If your family eats a lot of eggs (and you don't have your own chickens at home), it's easy to end up with a lot of egg cartons!
To help reduce egg carton waste, step one is to choose the most sustainable egg cartons possible. This means you should purchase eggs in cardboard or other compostable types of containers.
Next, try to reuse or repurpose your containers are much as possible.
If you have a friend who keeps chickens, they are often happy to take your empty egg cartons from you - just ask!
No friend keeping chickens? Try one of these recycled egg carton crafts instead!
from Creative Green Living
This cute and simple project is fun to do with your kids! If you make a lot of them, you can even use them to play a game
(the linked post has a video of my oldest when he was four years old showing you how to play "the ladybug game" that he invented)
from Creative Green Living
Give your kids a chance to get creative! Cut the cups off an egg cartons and then give them glue, paint and other art supplies to let their imaginations run wild!
Recycled Egg Carton Caterpillar
from Creative Green Living
Turn your empty egg cartons into friendly little caterpillars. This is another fun project for kids - they will love personalizing their caterpillar and making it all their own.
from Creative Green Living
Turn your empty egg cartons into friendly little caterpillars. This is another fun project for kids - they will love personalizing their caterpillar and making it all their own.
from The Kitchen Garten
Egg cartons make great containers for starting seeds before moving them outdoors!
Love gardening? Check out more gardening posts on Creative Green Living!
from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
I am so impressed with this clever lamp made from recycled egg cartons! This is a great way to use up lots of egg cartons and it's super fun!
from Bliss Bloom Blog
These beautiful roses are actually made from egg cartons! Surprise!
Be sure to click the link above to learn how to turn your used egg cartons into a really clever craft like this rose framed mirror.
from Art Camp
I love the idea of turning our trash into clever toys for our children. This blog post on Art Camp LA even gives you the option to download mermaid body templates to make it even easier to make this craft.
from Craftaholics Anonymous
Turn your empty egg cartons into pretty flowers with this boho-inspired craft tutorial
from Baked by Rachel
I love this clever way to reuse egg cartons - use them to transport mini cupcakes without smooshing the frosting! Click the link to get all the details!
from Mod Podge Rocks
This is a fun way or kids to upcycle their egg cartons and end up with a pretty wall art piece at the end!
Recycled Wine Cork Crafts
Cork is generally considered a renewable resource since cork comes from tree bark that can regenerate.
When you have leftover corks from wine bottles, though, instead of just trashing them or even composting them (yes! You can compost cork!), make one of these cool DIY projects or home decor crafts instead!
from Creative Green Living
Do you drink wine and have corks leftover? Why not up your recycle game and make this beautiful wine cork bulletin board!
from Creative Green Living
These sparkly upcycled wine cork ornaments are a great small gift or a great addition to your beautiful wrapping job.
Wine Cork Succulent Planter Magnets
from The Decorated Cookie
These cute and colorful wine cork succulent planter magnets make your refrigerator way more charming. Even not-so-green thumbs can easily makes these.
from Reuse Grow Enjoy
These super handy trivets are a unique way to reuse all of your corks and beautiful your table.
from Sustain my Craft Habit
This do-it-yourself cork bathmat is a great addition to any farmhouse or beach decor and a great way to recycle wine corks.
from Nourish and Nestle
These wine stoppers take 15 minutes to make…start to finish. The hardest part will be having to drink all the wine for the corks…now just be responsible!
from Sustain my Craft Habit
This beautiful and easy craft is perfect to sit on your mantle or on a bookcase. It is beautiful all year round.
from The Inspiration Edit
This easy project only uses six items to make and is such a cute way to reuse your old wine bottle corks.
from Upcycle my Stuff
This tutorial is all about how to use upcycled containers and corks to create two types of DIY Wedding Centrepieces on a budget.
from Shine Our Light
This super simple wine cork craft is easy for anyone to make and will help you make sure you can identify what you have planted!
from A Magical Mess
This super cute kitchen utensil holder will keep your most used kitchen tools on hand in style. Get the tutorial from A Magical Mess.
from Brit & Co
Turn leftover corks into a unique wall piece featuring leftover wine corks. You can even get free printable state templates to use as your base in the tutorial!
Recycled Cardboard Crafts
Cardboard is easily recyclable in most communities. The different structures of cardboard make it ideal for all kinds of cool crafts, though!
Before sending your cardboard recycling away, try one of these fun cardboard project ideas.
from Creative Green Living
You can learn how to make an envelope that's just the right size for a card with any paper board (or lightweight cardboard) food box.
from The Decorated Cookie
These straw charms are great for parties or for any day. These are easy to make and would work great on paper or reusable straws too!
from Creative Ramblings
This is an easy project that will help you upcycle your cardboard boxes and create great storage options for your home.
from Vikalpah
This great play kitchen keeps kids engaged and allows for imagination to run free.
from The Best Ideas for Kids
This cereal box aquarium is so much fun to make and a great way to recycle your empty cereal boxes!
from Upcycle my Stuff
This is a great way to get photos off your phone and display them! Also, a way to upcycle cardboard that would make a great gift or home decor item for your home.
from Salvage Sister & Mister
This cute DIY cardboard sunflower has the look of the corrugated metal and is a great reuse project.
Crafts Made From Old Clothing
including recycled t-shirt crafts and recycled crafts from jeans
Thinking of sending your worn out t-shirts and jeans off to the local thrift store? Think again!
Unless they are a name brand or in impeccable condition, clothes that are donated often don't end up finding a second owner.
If you have worn-out jeans or t-shirts, there are lots of cool ways to give them life again as one of these cool craft projects!
from Creative Green Living
This adorable apron is both functional and cute. What a great way to upcycle those old jeans!
from Creative Green Living
Use your worn out t-shirts to make this upcycled t-shirt pillow craft. This is great for beginner level crafters.
from Creative Green Living
Have a lot of shirts to use up? This easy, no-sew, shopping bags is just for you!
from Creative Green Living
Make a darling DIY unicorn sleep mask to help aid in a good night sleep. This would be a great unicorn party favor or summer craft for tweens and teens
from Creative Green Living
You can grab t-shirts from the back of your closet or hit up a thrift store to find a cute pattern.
from Creative Green Living
Declutter for the new year by finding a fresh use for old jeans and decorate for Valentine's Day at the same time with this clever heart garland!
from Creative Green Living
These colorful patches are perfect for adding embellishments to a tote, backpack or anything else!
from Creative Green Living
This is an easy sewing project for a beginner and the pattern can easily be adapted for anyone with any size head.
No Sew T-shirt Bracelet
from The Decorated Cookie
Upcycle your old T-shirts and make a no-sew T-shirt bracelet. Easy DIY jewelry.
from Swoodson Says
This is a tutorial for how to turn socks with holes into a DIY upcycled coffee cozy!
from Swoodson Says
Upcycle a t-shirt into a stuffed animal is so easy and fun! This is the perfect way to get more life out of a much loved piece of clothing that has been outgrown.
from Pillar Box Blue
This sunglasses case is not only useful, including a pocket for your phone, but it would also make a great gift and is a great way to upcycle your favorite holey pair of jeans!
Make A DIY Lampshade Using An Upcycled Sweater
from Amber Oliver
This is a beautiful and elegant way to upcycle a sweater into a unique lampshade.
Recycled Glass Jar Crafts
Glass jars are another one of those things that are easy to recycle almost anywhere.
Recycling glass takes a lot of energy, though! If you can reuse a glass jar multiple times before it's time to send it away to the recycling plant, all the better!
Try one of these fun glass jar upcycling craft projects to extend the life of your glass jars before you recycle them.
from Creative Green Living
This DIY foaming hand soap pump made from a mason jar is so handy and easy to make.
from Creative Green Living
Inspired by the magical rainbow unicorn, and this unicorn mason jar succulent planter takes the prize for "most coveted" of unicorn crafts.
from Creative Green Living
This adorable snow globe soap pump is the perfect way to add an unexpected dash of Christmas to the kitchen or bathroom sinks in your home.
from Creative Green Living
These whimsical Halloween luminaries are a fun easy craft using leftover glass jars.
from Creative Green Living
This easy recycled ladybug catcher craft is a great way to turn an empty glass jar into something cute that your kids will use and enjoy.
from Craft Invaders
Make your own beautiful glass gem lantern that is perfect to hold a candle or LED lights. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to make.
from Mom Advice
Learn how to make your own DIY candles in your crockpot or slow cooker. This easy tutorial will have you make large batches of candles in no time.
from Glitter Inc.
Give your home a little retro feel with these darling DIY milk glass vases!
from Sustain my Craft Habit
These beautiful centerpieces would be great for a wedding or any other special occasion.
from Our Crafty Mom
An easy tutorial on how to turn glass bottles into beautiful aqua beauties with a stained glass look.
from Natural Beach Living
If you’re looking for a super simple and fun craft that you and your child can create together, you’re going to love the look and ease of this Mason Jar Bird Feeder.
from Fun with Mama
This is a fun and simple activity that makes a fun science demonstration on the concept of oceans using old mason jars!
from 365 Days of Crafts
Use this stash-busting idea to give the gift of creativity in a jar. Plus you are recycling and clearing the way for new things.
from Houseful of Handmade
With a little creativity and some old peanut butter jars, these DIY Wall Vases add a little rustic charm and organization to any space.
Crafts from Recycled Plastic Bottles
These are perhaps one of the worst and most pervasive pieces of garbage because they are often not recycled. Even though many plastic bottles claim they are recyclable, things really only get recycled when there is a market for them.
Any time you can turn an empty plastic bottle into a cool craft is a win!
from Creative Green Living
This fairy house is made from recycled materials AND the solar-powered roof collects sunlight during the day--and then at night, the windows of the fairy house will glow! Sweet!
from CBC Parents
These beautiful spirals are made from water bottles and are a great way to help your kids with their scissor skills!
from Creative Green Living
This project works with anything you can cut out a silhouette of so let your imagination run wild! Fairies, Jedi, a favorite animal, you name it!
from Crafts by Amanda
These adorable little night lights use a tea light inside a recycled plastic bottle that has been refashioned as a fairy house. Adorable!
from Craving Some Creativity
Upgrade an empty plastic soda bottle into one of these adorable planters. Choose from a pig, rabbit or frog planter pot - or make up your own character!
Recycled Wine Bottle Crafts
Wine bottles can be used for so many cool things once the wine is all gone!
Try one of these cool craft ideas for recycling wine bottles instead of sending them off to the glass factory.
from Creative Green Living
You can use an old wine bottle to help assist you with the task of watering your plants. They are so cute you can use them every day!
from The Decorated Cookie
Painted wine bottles polka dot vases, an easy DIY home decor craft, make great gifts or are a great way to brighten a room.
from Sustain my Craft Habit
This is a DIY that is simple as it gets. Decorate your home on a budget and it looks great too!
from Postcards from the Ridge
A super simple and thrifty project is perfect for the holidays or any time of the year.
from Julie Blanner
Learn how to make a wine bottle tiki torch in less than 10 minutes. Keep bugs at bay with one of these beautiful wine bottle crafts!
from Kims DIY Tribe
Step by step “how to” make this quick, easy, inexpensive, gift from the kitchen and craft room!
from 365 Days of Crafts
Make this cute recycled wine bottle chalkboard with a place to write fun messages. Great for gift giving.
Crafts Made From Newspapers or Magazines
There are so many ways to get extra use and more life out of newspapers and magazines!
Try one of these fun recycled newspaper crafts or projects that let you reuse old magazines.
from Creative Green Living
Making envelopes out of paper - like scrapbook paper, junk mail or magazines - is a fun way to recycle and get super cute envelopes at the same time!
from The Best Ideas for Kids
These adorable newspaper zoo animal crafts are a fun way to recycle newspapers! We will show you how to make a lion, frog, giraffe and hippo with just a little bit of paint and glue.
from The Best Ideas for Kids
Making your own newspaper pirate hat is really easy and is a great way to reuse the newspaper in your house.
I hope you found an inspirational Earth Day craft that you are excited to work on! If you make any of the crafts listed here, I would love to see a picture!
Please post a picture on Instagram and tag @creativegreenliving along with #CreativeGreenLiving or join our community group on Facebook to share a picture of your project!
Want more crafts made from recycled plastic bottles?
Check out 25 Garden Projects from Plastic Bottles
About the Author:
Carissa is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and delicious!
The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she is an award winning blogger and most recently won the ShiftCon Media "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award in 2019.
She is also the author of several books including Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020).
Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, or join the Creative Green Living Community Group.
The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she is an award winning blogger and most recently won the ShiftCon Media "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award in 2019.
She is also the author of several books including Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020).
Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, or join the Creative Green Living Community Group.
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