Recycled Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids
Trying to instill a love of art in a child, but finding yourself on a tight budget? Fancy paper, markers and kids’ craft goodies can be expensive. And forget about stocking up on “traditional” art staples like brushes, sketchbooks, and pastels at your local art store. Luckily, there are a number of recycled crafts projects you can do with kids, that teach them how to enjoy art and the importance of being resourceful.
Cookie Cutter Crayons
Does your child have a whole bin full of broken crayons or tiny crayon stubs? There’s no need to toss these out; they can be quickly recycled into new and unique drawing implements. This project is quick and easy to do, although you should oversee the project, as it requires use of the stove.
Necessary Supplies:
- Old crayons (remove the paper)
- Cookie cutters
- Aluminum foil
- Tin cans
- An old sauce pan
- Toothpicks
Directions:
Separate crayons by color into tin cans. You can mix some colors if you want; just remember that mixing too many colors will result in the color brown. Place the tin cans in an old saucepan that is filled with water, over low heat. Meanwhile, cover a cookie sheet in aluminum foil, and prepare your chosen cookie cutter shapes on it. When the crayons are melted, pour the wax from the cans into the cookie cutter shapes. You can pour more than one color into a single cookie cutter, in order to create a neat “swirl effect;” move a toothpick between the colors to make the swirl. Allow the wax to set. Pop out your new crayons, and begin coloring!
Mitten Puppets
If your child has an array of mismatched gloves, or perhaps has a few sets of gloves or mittens they’ve outgrown, they can easily be transformed into cute puppets. Whether your child decides to make animals or imaginary creatures, they’re only limited by their creativity and the scraps you happen to have in your art bin.
Supplies
- Gloves
- Felt/fabric remnants
- Pipe cleaners
- Beads
- Construction paper
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Fabric glue/super glue
Directions:
Have your child decide whether they’d like to follow a pre-made pattern or design their animals on the fly. Pipe cleaners can become whiskers, felt can be ears, beads the nose or eyes. Help them glue on their chosen creative elements, and let the glue set overnight for best results.
Tool Wind Chime
You can use the old odds-and-ends tools in your garage to make a cheap and surprisingly attractive wind chime. You’ll use a wrench as the base of the chime, and string various nuts, bolts, and other small tool-bits from plastic cording.
Supplies:
- Plastic cording
- 30 nuts, bolts, and washers of various sizes
- 4-5 small metal tools
- Lightweight wrench
Directions:
Cut 10 pieces of plastic cord into two-foot pieces. Separate your nuts, bolts, and tools into nine equal piles. Tie your nut and bolt piles onto each cord at equally spaced intervals. Make sure that each cord has a bolt, nut, washer, or tool at about the same length, so that they will clash together to make noise. Then, knot each plastic cord onto the lightweight wrench, one-quarter to one-half inch apart. Use the last piece of plastic cord to make a hanger by tying each end to the ends of the wrench.
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