Favorites Friday: Recycled Crafts
Posted by Caley on March 13th, 2009 at 05:13am
We are always keen on craft projects that utilize recycled materials. Turning potential waste into something useful or at least pretty is magical. Crafting with recycled materials is a great way to teach kids about the importance of recycling and create a fun activity. In addition to the environmental benefits, using recycled materials allows us to moderate our spending on crafting materials. Regardless of these tough economic times, thriftiness is always an interest. Here are favorite crafts using recycled materials:
My Picks
- You don’t need expensive materials to pick up weaving. All you need is a sturdy piece of cardboard taken from a shipping envelope to create woven mats, coasters and more!
- This tutorial walks you through how to create your own paper from recycled newspapers. You can add a bit of food coloring for colored paper or even leaves for an interesting texture. There is a lot of room for personal creativity in this project. You can also use old newspapers, phone books or junk mail for papier-mache projects like Sustainable Bowling.
- We have our collection of Things to Do with Old Jeans, but we missed this project from Sunshine’s Creations. As her kids wore out and outgrew many pairs of jeans, she used the legs to create braided rugs and pockets to create a quilt. Fantastic!
Mindy’s Picks
- There are tons of great ideas online for how to create lamps from recycled items but I have to say that my favorite is definitely the blender lamp.
- When I was a kid, I thought hanging street signs in your room was the coolest thing. Though I’m not still eager to put up a giant Stop sign, I do love what Boris Bally did with this dining room table.
- Adventure Ecology is taking to the water next month in a boat completely made out of plastic bottles. The plan is to sail from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. Talk about recycled crafts. The vessel isn’t complete, but you can learn more about the voyage from the teaser video.
Kelly’s Picks
- Save money on yarn with unwanted sweaters or go to the thrift store and pick up a few vintage finds. This tutorial shows you how to recycle yarn from a sweater to use over again!
- Re-do your room with this side table idea made from accordion-style file folders. Now that’s resourceful – furniture from office supplies!
- Since the weather is starting to get nicer, and I totally left my mini-weber grill outside in the snow all winter, I think I will be turning it into a planter for herbs thanks to this tutorial!
What recycled materials do you use in your crafting projects? Let us know!
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Green Crafting, recycled materials, upcycling
Under Favorites Friday+ Green Crafting Tags: Green Crafting, recycled materials, upcycling
Related posts to Favorites Friday: Recycled Crafts
They Include:
- The Best Recycled Crafts for Earth Day This Wednesday, April 22nd is Earth Day, a great day to think green. There is no easier way...
- Recycled Crafts: Using Old Bottle Caps I’m not sure what it is about bottle caps that makes people want to save and hoard them....
- Recycled Chopstick Art I always love to look for new and innovative ways that crafters and artists are creating from recycled...
- Home Decor Tuesday: Green Crafting Decorating your home doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think. Not only can you make your decorations...
- Thrifty Crafts Friday: Felted Sweaters Wool sweaters should be dry-cleaned before storing to keep them from developing moth holes. In addition, you can...









1 Comment for Favorites Friday: Recycled Crafts
1. Coco | March 20th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Awesome Ideas. Will be back to see what other great ideas you show.
Leave a Comment for Favorites Friday: Recycled Crafts