Make Gifts with a Spring Theme from Recycled Items

Use old towels to make soft toys for kids in springtime themes. Soft toys are adorable when you make them in the shapes of spring flowers, bunnies, and the sun. You can give them out as gifts or donate them to a thrift shop. Google design patterns for the toy you want to make. There is a wealth of free design information online. To see 50 free soft toy patterns, go here. Stuff the toys with cotton balls or old stockings that have been washed.

Create a Wall Hanging from Shoe Boxes

Kids will enjoy using old shoe boxes to create a wall hanging. The stiff cardboard of a shoebox is perfect for craft projects. Start off by using a hole punch to make two holes at the top of the piece of cardboard. You will place the holes on either side of the cardboard. Later you will string a piece of ribbon through the holes and tie the ribbon together at the top so the wall hanging can be hung.

Decorate the wall hanging with colored construction paper or with wall paper samples. You may want to write a favorite quote or a message of love on the wall hanging. Then decorate it with drawings of spring flowers or trees in bloom.

Another idea is to have everyone in a family work together to create a letter to either write on the wall hanging, or type out and paste onto the cardboard. Then everyone who created the letter will sign it. This wall hanging could be a future family heirloom. Add spring decorations to the wall hanging such as drawings of flowers. You could also draw a border of grass at the bottom of the wall hanging.

Create a Flower from Shoeboxes

Nothing cheers up a room like adding an image or item from nature to it. A fun springtime gift project for kids to make is a flower décor item for the home. Cut out the shapes for petals and the stem from the cardboard from old shoe boxes. Use crayons or markers to color the flower. Pick easy to create flowers like tulips or sunflowers. Kids can create a beautiful gift to brighten a grandparent's home.

Make Crochet Flowers

Use old yarn to crochet a flower, notes MarthaStewart.com. Yarn in pastel shades can be used to make many different kinds of beautiful flowers. This helps you create gifts economically and also use up any leftover yarn from former projects.

Make Gift Bags from Old Pillowcases

Use old floral pillowcases to make gift bags for candy treats or flower seeds. Wash the old pillowcase and then cut it into square or rectangular shapes in the size you wish for the gift bag.

Put the two wrong sides of the fabric facing out. Then sew them together to create a bag. Fill the bag with candy treats or packets of flower seeds. Tie the bag with a ribbon in yellow, pink or purple pastels.

Sources:

Martha Stewart

All Crafts

Personal experience and ideas.