Art Projects
CraftsAll AgesPreschoolers8 Comments
Here are 10 recycled art projects for kids to create! A great way to encourage them to reuse what they already have and give them a taste of being green.
Try out even more upcycled green activities!
I am so excited to bring you free simple ideas and don’t take up any extra time to be green.
Even more specifically, I want to provide ways to encourage our kids to be green by getting multiple uses out of recyclables (cereal boxes, paper scraps, empty water bottles, etc) before sending them to the recycling bin.
These creative ways to make upcycled art and craft projects help encourage resourcefulness in a fun way and may help them think outside the box creating with these various materials.
What better way than to upcycle what you’re already recycling and get creative with it?
What materials can be used to create recycled art projects with kids or preschoolers?
Toilet paper rolls: Recycled toilet paper tubes are great for art projects! An easy one for toddlers is to stamp hearts using toilet paper tubes.
Bubble Wrap: Recycle any and all packaging you receive! Bubble wrap is lots of fun and can be used to make bubble wrap prints. We’ve used it for a leaf collage as well as shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day! But the possibilities are endless! A bubble wrap printed rainbow seems like it would be awesome!
Wrapping Paper: Again, recycled packaging works great for art projects! Turn the brown paper that you get in some packages into wrapping paper. It also makes a great canvas for kids to create on as well!
Cans: Save those tin cans! Paint them, make them pretty, and turn them into homemade wind chimes!
Toothbrushes: Reuse old toothbrushes. Not just for cleaning gunk out of hard-to-reach places, but save them for art projects for the kids! They make great splatter paintings! A not-as-messy-as-Jackson-Pollock-style art!
Plastic Bottles: Dig out recycled bottles to make prints using the bottom of them. They work great to make flowers or even snowflakes. I bet some fun dot-to-dots could be made too.
Bottle Caps: Save bottle caps or jar lids too! They work great in recycled art projects for kids! Use them to add embellishments like these flowers in pots from Crafty Morning.
Broken Crayons: Recycle broken crayons into new crayons. Or find other ways to reuse broken crayons instead of throwing them out.
Egg Cartons: Recycled egg cartons also work great for many hands-on projects! Like this egg carton flowers by Toddler Approved!
But don’t stop there! Think twice before sending craft or art supplies to the garbage (leftover beads and buttons, scraps of ribbon, random pipe cleaners, or old crayons)!
Pair any of these with a cardboard box or cardboard tubes, use a hot glue gun, and VOILA! You can create beautiful sculptures with amazing textures without a whole lot of direction.
Recycling is crazy-fun process art!
Recycled art projects for kids can be so fun and easy!
A great way to get one extra use out of the items you already have ready to recycle!
What recycled materials should you save for activities, crafts and art projects for kids? Check out our list of 34 recycled materials to save, plus what to do with them.
Click here for tips to keep messy play clean.
Tell us your ideas for reusing art supplies!
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Emily Adams says
Wow ! These ideas are very useful and encouraging. The kids will learn about the importance of nature and being green. There are some more interesting kids accessories at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W1MY5T4?ref=myi_title_dp. which can be used by teachers and parents for rewarding the kids for their efforts.
karen says
awesome sites, great ideas to do with kids and involve parents
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks Karen!