Top 10 Ideas for Recycling Everyday Items to Use for Craft Projects

Instead of throwing out everyday items like glass jars, egg cartons and pantyhose, recycle and design these items to make them functional storage containers for craft supplies, or recycle them to make fun craft items for the home. Many of the craft ideas would also make great gifts.

Bread Tags

Make earrings or a charm bracelet from recycled bread tags. Wrap the open end of the tag with floral tape. Paint the tags, then add beads or glitter to the front of the tags. Attach the finished project to earring wires, or add a jump ring through the hole and attach several tags together to make a charm bracelet.

Glass Jars

Completely remove labels from glass jars. Purchase a small wallpaper border with a picture or theme. Cut a piece from the border that would fit into the inside of the jar. Put the wallpaper border inside the jar. Place a couple of dots of clear glue to hold the border in place. This makes a beautiful and functional decorative accent piece that can also be used to store odds and ends.

Egg Cartons

Empty egg cartons can be used to organize craft beads, and other jewelry findings. Recycled egg cartons can also be used to organize and store buttons, needles, and other sewing notions.

Pantyhose

Instead of throwing out old pantyhose, recycle them by cutting off the bottom, about one inch above the foot. Fill the foot part of the pantyhose with potpourri, then tie the end closed. Place these sachets in drawers or closets to give clothes a fresh scent.

Gallon-Sized Plastic Milk Carton

Cut off about a 1/4 of the top of the milk carton. Punch a hole on one side of the carton using a paper punch. Put a skein of yarn inside the carton. Pull the beginning string of yarn through the hole. This recycled milk carton will help keep yarn from getting tangled, and will smoothly keep yarn coming out as you knit or crochet.

Light Bulb

Make Christmas ornaments form recycled light bulbs. Paint the light bulb gold, white, green or red. Before the paint dries, sprinkle with glitter. Tie a bow at the top of the bulb. Glue florals and pine cones on the center of the bow. Slip and ornament hanger under the ribbon, then hang.

Small Glass Jars w/Lids

Puncture a few holes through the lid of the jar with a craft knife. Fill the jar with glitter. This a great way to sprinkle glitter evenly on a craft project without making a big mess. Make a jar sprinkler for each color of glitter. This also works great for small beads.

Small Boxes or Shoe Boxes

Use recycled small boxes to organize scrapbook pieces, craft ribbon or other craft supplies you may use. Tape a label that displays what context is in the box on the front or top of the box.

Old Clothes

Cut old clothes into same-size squares. Sew squares together to make a patchwork quilt or pillow. Depending on the material of the clothes, you could also make pretty potholders or coasters from recycled clothes.

Plastic TV dinner dishes

Plastic TV dinner dishes are great to use for small painting projects. Depending on how many compartments the TV dinner tray has, you can put a different color in each section, and not have to worry about the paint colors running together.