Get easy ideas for recycled crafts that adults will want to make! The best part about this project is that they are simple enough for kids too.
I did a thing this past March that I really enjoyed, and you might think it’s silly. Because while I’m happy with the results, and glad that I did it – I’m kind of embarrassed that I had to impose this on myself in the first place.
I did a “no buy March.”
It’s nothing sanctioned by an official body. I just decided to try reducing my overall spending by purchasing nothing extra in the month of March.
So I bought groceries, gas, and necessities (I’m not going without toilet paper) but no additional shopping.
Did it work out well? YES! I feel like I saved money. Which I really didn’t (I just didn’t spend it on crap), but it felt good anyway.
I felt that by buying less things, I became more choosy when the month was up. There was a ripple effect.
And there was another cool side effect as well.
When I wanted to make something, I got creative. Because I couldn’t buy anything new, I often resorted to going through my craft stash to see what I had.
I also decided to go through the recycle bins and find surfaces and materials.
It might not be a big deal to some, but for me it felt really good to not only save money but to also use up stuff from my stash AND keep things going into the trash!
And I’m about to make you feel the same kind of positive vibes with these recycled crafts.
I get all the “good feels” from reducing consumption, and if you do too – I think you’re going to love these ideas! I’ve made a list of over 50 DIYs below.
Do you like easy crafts with recycled materials? I hope you’ll check out these projects and let me know what you think of them. If you have a favorite idea reusing materials, I’d also love to hear that in the comments!
1
Christmas Cookie Tins Into Storage
Use spray paint to revive and upcycle old Christmas cookie tins! Add cork tags and adhesive letters to use them for gift containers or storage. So easy!
Saving your wine corks? You should! Learn how to make a wine cork wreath the easiest way possible! This simple DIY wreath takes about 100 wine corks to make and is so pretty.
One of the many untapped surfaces in the recycling bin is the almighty tuna can! It's a perfect size for storage, especially when you stack the cans. This catchall does just that, and you can access each tin by swinging it out. It's really not hard to make!
There are a lot of ideas out there for how to upcycle used Altoid tins, but this is the easiest. Perfect for storing small items or keeping in your purse.
You probably have everything you need to make this simple bird feeder sitting in your craft stash right now! All you'll need is a tin can or coffee can.
Here's another denim idea that could be used for any fabric scraps you'd like to recycle. It's easy to turn them into a DIY bunting! Perfect for a party or for little girls' room decor.
What can you do with those Lysol wipe containers? They're perfect for plastic bag dispensers! Amongst other things. Learn how to make them pretty so you can use them as storage.
Repurposing is all about creativity! A fun and easy way to reuse and recycle those toilet paper rolls, this DIY cell phone holder is both cute and practical.
If you are looking for a fun project to do while sitting on the sofa, this yarn art is it. Make yarn wall art out of any word using leftover cardboard and simple wrapping!
Learn how to make a tie dye headband out of old, ripped tees three different ways! This is such a cute fashion statement for summer. You can also recycle t-shirts with this infinity scarf.
Lindsay has come up with a super inexpensive yet versatile cereal box mailbox to keep your paperwork in one place until it’s ready to be sorted. Set it on an entryway table, a desk or hang on a wall to avoid that dreaded clutter.
Drinking straws don't need to go into the garbage. You can turn them into some pretty interesting looking coasters! Once you've tried this project, you can make a basket and larger items out of the straws too.
It's so easy to make these leftover paint chip bookmarks that look like spring tulips. Kids will love this craft, and . . . it's budget friendly!PS – You should check out our cat bookmarks because those are recycled too.
I keep potholders around until they are threadbare! But there's really no reason to. If your collection looks worn, grab a $2 loom and learn how to make them from reused t-shirt yarn.
Cereal boxes are great for turning into notepads and albums! You can learn how to make them here and then put whatever pages in the middle (including pictures) that you like.
Make a DIY comic book picture frame with recycled comic book pages! It’s a fun, budget friendly project that any comic book lover will enjoy. You can use this same idea with any recycled pages or papers.
Ready to get rid of your old banged up silverware? Wait until you see this. Change it up this holiday season with some cool, spray paint silverware in your favorite colors. It’s so cheap and takes minutes to do!
Thank you for sharing these fantastic ideas. It's so important to find ways to reuse materials and reduce waste, and these crafts are not only environmentally friendly, but they're also a fun and creative way to spend time.
Mindful Market
Tuesday 14th of March 2023
Thank you for sharing these fantastic ideas. It's so important to find ways to reuse materials and reduce waste, and these crafts are not only environmentally friendly, but they're also a fun and creative way to spend time.