Ideas for Making Crafts from Recycled Materials

Recycled materials are very useful for making craft projects. They're easy to use and are usually free. If you've got extra recyclables collecting in your recycling bins, using some of them to make crafts is a great way to save money and pass the time. Read these tips on organizing your recyclables before you get started.

Recycled Cardboard

One of the best types of recycled cardboard for making crafts is chipboard. Unlike corrugated cardboard, chipboard is flat and thin and cuts easily into a variety of shapes. Chipboard is commonly used to packages foods such as cereal and frozen pizza. Recycled chipboard is an excellent material for making ornaments for holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. You can use recycled chipboard scraps to make this easy angel ornament.

Recycled Paper

There are many ways to use recycled paper in craft projects. Use recycled wrapping paper to make origami projects and holiday ornaments. You can use recycled newspaper to make paper mache. Make a paper mache form from recycled cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tubes, corrugated cardboard, rolled-up newspaper, egg cartons, milk jugs, soda bottles, juice boxes or any other recycled materials you have. Tear the newspaper into strips and dip it into paper mache paste. Remove any excess paste and drape the paper mache strip over the recycled paper mache form. Recycled paper is also a good material for making greeting cards. You can try making this homemade birthday card from recycled paper.

Recycled Plastic

Recycled plastic is one of the best materials for making crafts. It's also the recyclable item that tends to pile up the most. You can make an easy recycled bird feeder out of a 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon plastic milk jug. Wash the jug out thoroughly with dish soap and water. Using a pair of scissors, cut a hole 2 to 4 inches wide in the each side of the milk jug except the one with the handle. Make smaller holes just below the large holes to fit a wooden dowel. Insert two wooden dowels inside these holes to create a perch for the birds to sit on. Make two holes in the neck of the recycled plastic milk jug. Insert a piece of string through these holes to hang the bird feeder.

Plastic bags can also be used like cloth in some craft projects by making "plarn" (plastic yarn) out of them. Spread the plastic bag flat with the sides folded in. Cut off the handles and the bottom of the plastic bag. Fold the bag up lengthwise into an accordion pleat, then cut the plastic into long strips that are about 1 inch wide. Expand the plastic loops and and tie them together at the ends to make long strands of plarn.

Recycled Cans

One of the simplest crafts to make from a tin can is a pen or pencil holder. Cut the top off the can, remove the label, wash it out with soap and water, then allow it to dry completely. Then glue on some scraps from old recycled clothing or pictures cut from magazines or glossy newspaper inserts. You can make a larger can for storage of items like scissors, brushes and tools out of a recycled coffee can. You can also make decorative crafts with cans. Try making this tin can Santa Claus craft to decorate your home this Christmas.

For more information on this topic, read Creative Ways to Recycle Old Clothes and Recycling Made Easy: Organize Your Recyclables, Save Money and Have Some Fun.
Sources:

"How to Make Plarn" About.com