Make Recycled Crafts

If you’re looking for a fun crafting exercise that is also kind to the environment, consider making crafts out of recycled household items. Making crafts using recyclables is cost efficient, and many of the materials can easily be found around your house or in your recycling bin. All you need to get started is some creativity, and you'll have a cool recycled craft in no time.

Steps

Making a Vase Out of Plastic Spoons

1. Gather your supplies. You're going to be painting the scoops of plastic spoons and attaching them to a large can to create a lovely vase with a scalloped exterior. The size of your can will determine the number of plastic spoons you need. A smaller can will require less spoons than a larger one. For this project, you'll need:
   • A large can (like a soup or stew can)
   • Scissors
   • A paper plate
   • Measuring spoons (½ teaspoon, teaspoon, ½ tablespoon, etc.)
   • A paintbrush
   • Hot glue gun (and glue)
   • White primer spray paint
   • Paintbrush
   • Plastic spoons
   • Blue acrylic paint (or another color)
   • White acrylic paint.
2. Determine the number of spoons you'll need. Take one plastic spoon and use your scissors to cut the scoop free of the handle. You're going to want your spoon scoops to encircle your can in rows. To determine how many spoons you'll need, use your single scoop to estimate this number by measuring the can's perimeter with it.
   • The number of spoons you'll need will depend on the size of the can, but you can generally expect to use approximately four rows of spoons with seven spoons in each row.
3. Prepare your can. Remove any remaining glue or label from your can. In some cases, the label might pull free easily. Other cans, however, might require you to soak them in warm, soapy water to break up the glue or completely remove the label. Allow your can to dry completely afterwards.
   • Glue can cause your scoops to have a less uniform appearance in the finished product, making your vase look less appealing.
   • Bits of label may cause your glue to adhere less efficiently..
4. Paint the can. Use your white primer spray paint to coat your can. This will give your can a regular appearance. If there are any gaps in the scoops that circle your can, the primer will hide the metal of the can, making it look more polished.
   • Allow sufficient time for your primer to dry. Drying time can vary, so you should check the directions on your spray paint for best results.
   • Regular spray paint primer may be sufficient, but you may have better results with a spray primer intended for metal.
5. Cut off the handles of your spoons. You may want to do this while your primer is drying to be most efficient with your time. Now that you know how many spoons you'll need, take your spoons and use your scissors to cut off their handles.
   • You can throw away your spoon handles, but you may want to keep one to stir your paint.
6. Mix your paint. For each row, measure out a one tablespoon of blue paint onto a paper plate, keeping each row's paint separate. If you're using a large can and have many rows, you may need a second plate. Now you're going to add white to some of your paint to create a softening effect in the color of your rows so each row's color gets lighter ascendingly.
   • Your first (bottom) row's paint receives no white paint.
   • Your second row's paint should receive a ½ teaspoon of white paint.
   • Your third row's paint should receive 1 teaspoon of white paint.
   • Your fourth row's paint should receive 1½ teaspoons of white paint.
   • Mix the blue and white paint using a leftover plastic spoon handle.
7. Paint your scoops. You may want to lay out some newspaper or parchment paper to prevent paint from getting onto the surface where you are working. Then, use a paintbrush to apply paint the part of the scoop that arches outwards.
   • Use the pure blue paint for the first row's scoops, the ½ teaspoon white mixed blue for your second row's scoops, and so on. Allow sufficient time for your paint to dry.
   • Generally, acrylic paint dries relatively quickly. In most cases, your spoons should be ready in 10 - 15 minutes.
8. Glue your scoops to the can. Now that your scoops have dried, apply hot glue to the rim of the scoop at the front and back of its arched in side. Starting from the bottom, press each spoon into place around the can's perimeter in rows with the scoop arching outwards. Each row should be uniform in color, and the colors ascend darkest to lightest.
   • The top row of spoons should extend above the lip of the can.
   • The spoons should overlap slightly. Continue gluing the spoons until the entire can is covered to complete your vase.

Creating a Wreath Out of Yogurt Cups

1. Gather your supplies. This craft uses a straw wreath and painted yogurt cups to make a modern looking wreath for your home. Straw wreaths can be purchased at craft stores or in the home and garden section of general retailers, like Walmart and Target. In all, you'll need:
   • 36 yogurt cups (larger wreaths may take more cups, smaller wreaths fewer)
   • Spray paint (for plastic)
   • A straw wreath
   • A hot glue gun (and glue)
2. Clean your yogurt cups. Leftover bits of food in your yogurt cups could turn your lovely wreath into a smelly, bug attracting mess. Rinse each cup thoroughly with warm, soapy water, and remove any remaining bits of foil as you do so. After cleaning, lay your cups out to air dry.
3. Attach the first row of cups. Once your cups are dry, use hot glue to attach the lip of the cups to the wreath’s outer rim so the cups are sticking off to the sides. Repeat this process until there are 12 yogurt cups evenly positioned around the perimeter of the straw wreath.
   • Hold each cup in place for 30 seconds to allow the glue to fully set.
   • You can alternate the angle of your cups on the outer edge to create interesting designs. For example, you might switch back and forth between cups sticking straight out to the sides and cups angled slightly forward.
   • When you're finished, the outer edge of the wreath should be entirely covered in cups, but the front of the wreath should still be bare.
4. Attach the second row of cups. Apply hot glue to the lip of a cup, then hold it against the front of the wreath to attach it. Continue doing this until you create a second ring of yogurt cups.
   • You can stagger this ring of cups in a slight zigzag to create variation in your design.
5. Attach the third row of cups, if applicable. Smaller wreaths may only be able to accommodate two rows of cups. If you have space for a third, use your hot glue in the same fashion you did previously to attach the mouth of the cup to the wreath.
   • To give your wreath a 3-D effect, you should orient this row of cups to face directly forwards.
   • Allow the wreath to dry for an hour so the glue completely sets before painting.
6. Paint the wreath. Take your spray paint and spray your wreath to give it color and uniformity. Be sure you spray thoroughly, as missed spots may make your wreath look less professional.
   • After allowing the paint to dry, you may notice that your wreath needs a second coat. In this case, spray your wreath once more.

Making a School Supplies Container From a Milk Jug

1. Gather your supplies. This is a fairly simple craft that your kids can use to carry their school supplies. You'll be using washi tape, which often comes in interesting patterns, to blunt the edges of the milk jug. To make this you'll need:
   • Spray paint (for plastic)
   • A 1 gallon milk jug
   • A utility knife
   • Washi tape (available at most craft stores)
   • A ruler
   • Foam board
   • A pencil
   • A chalkboard label.
2. Clean your milk jug. You'll want to clean out your milk jug with soapy water first and allow it enough time to dry. In some cases, your milk jug might still have a lingering odor. To eliminate this smell, you may want to soak the jug in soapy water.
   • You can also try to remove odors by leaving some baking soda in the dry milk jug overnight.
3. Paint and cut the jug. Apply your spray paint to completely coat your jug. After it dries, you'll likely want another layer or two to ensure a thick coating and rich color. After the jug is dry, use your utility knife to remove the face of the jug (the top half of the front), leaving the handle of the jug attached.
   • You can adjust the cut in your jug as you see fit, but a 5" (12.7 cm) long opening may make it easier to retrieve items from the jug.
   • The cut out portion of your jug can be thrown out or recycled
4. Line the cut edges with washi tape. Raw cut edges of plastic can be sharp or pointy, so you'll want to cover the edges you've cut with washi tape. This will create a decorative barrier to the sharp, cut edges.
   • If washi tape is not available and appearance isn't a priority, you can use duct tape or electrical tape as a substitute.
   • Some kinds of duct tape come in interesting patterns. These can be used with roughly the same effect as washi tape.
5. Insert a divider. A divider will help keep pens, pencils, and markers separate in the jug. Use your utility knife to cut a 5 ½" (17 cm) square out of the foam board. Then cut a ¼" wide, 1 ¾" deep notch at the midpoint of the top of your square. After that:
   • Place the foam board notch side up into the jug.
   • Cut another piece of foam board the same size as the first with notch that is ¼" wide and 1¾" deep notch in the bottom edge of the square.
   • Align the notches so the rectangles lock together.
   • Depending on the size and shape of your milk jug, you may need to adjust these measurements.

Making Storage Containers Out of Tin Cans

1. Gather your supplies. This is a simple way to turn used cans into rustic looking storage containers. You'll do this by gluing sisal rope, which can be purchased at most hardware stores, around your cans and their lids. For this project, you're going to need:
   • An empty soup or bean can
   • A hot glue gun (and glue)
   • Sisal rope
   • Scissors
   • A lid (at least ½” larger than the mouth of your can)
   • Wooden knobs
2. Clean out your can. You'll want to be sure your can is clean and no odor remains from its previous contents. In most cases, soapy water should be good enough, but for stubborn odors, try leaving baking soda in the dry can overnight.
   • Leftover odors can transfer to the new contents of your cans.
3. Attach the rope to your can. A little bit at a time, apply your hot glue to the perimeter of the can in a circular pattern from the bottom up, sticking your rope to the can with the glue as you do so. This will give your can the appearance of being wound in rope. You'll likely need to hold your rope in place for a few moments so the glue can set.
   • Once the hot glue is applied, you'll have to work quickly. Hot glue hardens fast.
   • Continue to glue and wind the rope around the perimeter of the can until the can is completely covered by rope.
   • When you reach the top of the can, cut the rope and glue the loose end to the can.
4. Make the top of the can. Apply hot glue around the edge of your lid to attach the rope to it. After you've lined the edge in rope, cut free any excess and glue the loose end to the lid. Then use your hot glue to adhere your rope to the top of the lid in a coil pattern.
   • Glue a wooden knob to the center of the lid. Allow the lid to dry completely.

Warnings

• Hot glue gets how very quickly, and if you're not careful, you may get burned with its applicator tip. Always exercise caution when using hot glue.

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• Make Mistake Proof Crafts
• Recycle

Sources and Citations

See also

• Reuse a Lone Earring
• Reuse Old Wine Corks
• Reuse an Empty Altoids Tin
• Recycle Items Into Home Decor
• Convert an Old TV Into a Fish Tank
• Reuse Broken Crayons
• Reuse Silica Gel
• Get Free Building Materials
• Reuse Styrofoam
• Reuse Tea Bags

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