Three Eco-Friendly Art Projects

Teaching children about the advantages of living green at an early age can really make an impact on our environment. Below are three eco-friendly art projects that will jump-start your children into helping our environment while still having fun.

Eco-Friendly Art Project #1: Magazine Holder

Need: empty cereal box, scissors, sandpaper, paint, and paintbrushes

How to do it: Begin by cutting off the top of the cereal box. When you reach the halfway point, start to cut down the box in a slant. Then, continue back up the other side of the box the same way that you began. Lightly sandpaper the outside of the cereal box so the paint will adhere to the box better. Finally, decorate the magazine holder in any way that you wish. You may also paper maché the outside of the box or use cut out magazine clippings to create a unique, eco friendly magazine holder.

Eco-Friendly Art Project #2: Ladybug Rocks

Need: smooth and round oval rocks, acrylic craft paint, two wiggle eyes, white craft glue

How to do it: Completely wash and dry your rock to start. Paint your rock to look like a ladybug, including a black head, black centerline, and black spots on top of a colored body. An eraser on a pencil can be used to create perfect black ladybug spots. Once the paint is dry, use the craft glue to adhere the wiggle eyes to your ladybug. Then, you will have a ladybug rock that can serve as a paperweight as a perfect father's day gift. For another father's day idea, the rocks can also be decorated as a sports ball.

Eco-Friendly Art Project #3: Recycled Flower Pot

Need: plastic milk jug, fabric or paper scraps, felt, scissors, white craft glue, soil, water, paintbrush, potted flower, bowl

How to do it: Cut off the top of the milk jug right below the handle. Turn the jug upside down and poke (or have an adult poke) four drain holes. Cut fabric or paper into small squares. In the bowl, mix two parts glue and one part water to form an adhesive to adhere your scraps of fabric or paper to the jug. Cut a strip of felt to cover the top edge of the jug as a rim on the pot opening. Add some small rocks and soil to the bottom of the pot. Place your potted flower in the soil and add more soil to fill the pot. Water the flower and place near a window. This can be a great art project to give to mothers for mother's day.

Enjoy these fun Eco-Friendly art projects as a way to teach your children about important ways to help save our environment.

Sources:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/earth-day/earth_day_crafts.html