Recycled Crafts

Most of the time when we see old jars laying around our cupboards taking up space we want to throw them out or recycle them. Here's a much more fun and educational way to recycle those old jars! Have kids? Great! Get them involved, after all, this is for them to learn and have fun!

You Will Need:

• Glass Jars (used, normally recycled)
• Construction Paper (preferably scraps from previous projects)
• Stick Glue
• Googly Eyes(optional)
• Pipe Cleaners
• Any Old Colorful Junk/Buttons/Bottle Caps You Can Find!

STEP 1:

Take your jars and set them in front of you. This is the foundation of your recycled friend. Have all of your materials within reach and get ready to have some fun!

STEP 2:

Now that you have all of your supplies and your child next to you. Plan what you want your friend to look like. This is where you can begin bending the pipe cleaners, cutting the paper, and getting a good idea of his design. Help your child with this, and all the while, explain to him/her about the importance of recycling. Tell him that without recycling, our new little friend would not exist! Also, this is the time that you talk to your child about why it is important to use or recycle stuff that is normally thrown away.

STEP 3:

Now that you have probably already finished creating any limbs or cut out any shapes that you are going to attach to your recycled friend, you may now begin applying them to the jar. Remember, stick glue should be applied generously, but thinly. If the stick glue is applied to heavily, it will take much longer to dry and could squeeze out of the sides of what you are gluing. This is why we use stick glue! So that there are no drips or messes! As you apply the materials such as scrap paper, old buttons, bottle caps, or other materials, try to mention where they came from, why they should be recycled, and where the stuff would end up if they had not recycled it!

STEP 4:

You have now probably applied most of your materials. Did you make a face? Did you make a picture? Well, whatever it is you made it into I am sure it is beautiful. However the most beautiful thing that you have created together today is new knowledge. Your child is now more informed about recycling. He/She has now seen what those old crummy paper scraps, once dirty old jars, and obsessive collection of old buttons can really be used for! Keep it up! It is best to do activities like this with your child regularly. They think it's for fun, but you are filling their heads with bountiful knowledge and, in a distant way, helping to save the planet's future through your child.

Now that you have your new recycled jar buddy(or picture), display it proudly! Enjoy!