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Recycling doesn’t just help the environment, it can also be fun! So, get your kids excited about sustainability with one of these easy creative recycled art projects that turn garbage from your recycling bin into art materials and masterpieces.
Recycled Art Projects Your Kids Will Love!
From sculptures made out of toilet paper rolls to colorful collages made with paper scraps, there’s an idea here for everyone and every recyclable material.
48 Easy & Creative Recycled Art Projects for Kids
Recycled Paper & Newspaper Art Projects
1. Recycled Paper Clay
Use shredded paper or torn newspaper tomake your own recycled paper clay.
2. Cool Cat Newspaper Art Project
Use newspaper and magazine pages to make this coolcat-themed recycled collage art.
3. Watercolor Flowers with Recycled Newspaper
Not only isthis recycled newspaper craftfun for kids, but the liquid watercolor droppers also make it great for building fine motor skills, too.
4. Magazine Page Butterfly
Some simple folding and a pipe cleaner turn an old magazine page intoa beautiful recycled butterfly.
5. Boats at Sea Recycled Collage
This boat-themed recycled collage projectuses recycled cardboard and newspaper while incorporating basic shape learning, too.
Recycled Art Projects with Cardboard
6. Printmaking with Recycled Cardboard
Trythis printed art projectthat uses recycled cardboard box as a printmaking tool.
7. Recycled Cardboard Owl Craft
Every owl ends up different withthis cute recycled owl craft project using recycled cardboard and other recyclables, too.
8. Recycled Dinosaur Art Project
Recycled cardboard, loose parts, and a little creativity go into making this creativedinosaur recycling art project.
9. Kids Process Art with Recycled Cardboard
Provide your kids with a variety of art supplies and cardboard from the recycling bin to inspire someopen-ended recycled process art.
Paper Roll Art Projects
10. Cardboard Tube Sculptures
Cut cardboard tubes into rings forthis neat open-ended recycled sculpture project.
11. Toilet Paper Roll Prints
Use cardboard tubes and paint to create some simple recycled printmaking art.
12. Recycled Paper Roll Fish
Some cutting, a little paint, and some googly eyes turn recycled cardboard toiletpaper rolls into adorable little fish.
13. Paper Roll Zebra Craft
Turn cardboard toilet paper rolls into somecute little standing zebras.
14. Paper Roll Giraffe Craft
Then, use recycled paper towel rolls to make some tall-standing giraffes, too.
15. TP Roll Doodle Owls
Inspire your child to do some doodling with this creativeowl art project using toilet paper rolls.
Recyclable Art Projects with Egg Cartons
16. Egg Carton Sculpture Project
Show your child how to use styrofoam egg cartons to make some creative open-ended recycled sculptures.
17. Cardboard Egg Carton Flowers
Save that cardboard egg carton from the garbage bin by turning it into a bouquet ofpretty recycled craft flowers.
18. Recycled Egg Carton Turtle Craft
Or, use your cardboard egg carton to makethese cute little recycled craft turtles.
19. Egg Carton Flower Art
This flower-themed recycled artuses egg cartons plus colorful cupcake liners, too.
20. Cute Egg Carton Mushroom Craft
How about using your egg carton to make some cute recycled craft mushrooms, too.
Recycled Plastic Art Projects
21. DIY Plastic Shrink Art
Find out which recycled plastics you can use tomake Shrinky Dink-inspired shrink art.
22. Upcycled Plastic Earth Day Suncatchers
Or, use clear recycled plastic for this planet Earth suncatcher art projectthat’s perfect for Earth Day.
23. Jeweled Heart Suncatcher Craft
Recycled plastic from milk jugs makes the perfect base forthese jeweled heart suncatchers.
24. Recycled Plastic Squid Craft
This creative squid craftutilizes recycled plastic bags, plastic bottle caps, and straws for its long, flowing arms and tentacles.
25. Plastic Bottle Art Butterflies
Use plain old plastic water bottles and a free printable template tomake beautiful recycled art butterflies.
26. Upcycled Plastic Bottle Flower Vase
Turn a recyclableplastic bottle into a colorful flower vasethat makes the perfect homemade gift.
27. Recycled Milk Jug Dragonfly
Or, use the plastic from a recycled milk jug for this creative dragonfly recycled craft project.
28. Plastic Water Bottle Fish Craft
Grab a plastic water bottle out of the recycle bin for this cute recycled craft fish.
Open-Ended Creative Recycled Art Ideas
29. Recycled Building Block Sculptures
Upcycle cardboard food boxes and toilet paper tubes into building blocks for recycled sculptures.
30. DIY Chalkboard Toys using Recyclables
Paint recycled materials with chalkboard paint to make some open-ended toys your child can transform with chalk.
31. Plastic Bottle Print Painting
Get your child to explore the prints and marks they can make with paint and plastic bottles.
32. Printmaking with Recycled Materials
Or, provide your child with a variety ofrecycled materials to explore printmaking.
33. Recyclable Art Mystery Box Challenge
Fill a box with random items from your recycling bin, thenchallenge your child to create recycled artusing all of the materials.
34. Bubble Wrap Painting
Use a cardboard paper roll to make a bubble wrap paint roller forthis fun recycled art painting project.
Upcycled Art Projects Using Recycled Materials
35. Recycled Styrofoam Spring Art
Use toothpicks and string to turn recycled styrofoam into beautiful recycled string art.
36. Upcycled Plastic Bottle Cap Necklace Craft
Save those plastic bottle caps from the recycling bin and make someartsy recycle bottle cap necklaces.
37. Colorful CD Scratch Art
Have some old CDs hanging around? Give them to upcycle intocolorful CD scratch art.
38. Loose Parts Rabbits Art Project
This adorablerabbit-themed recycled craft project brings new life to old bottle caps, jar lids, and other random loose parts, too.
39. Recycled Materials Robot
Tin cans and foil-covered recyclable materials makethis recycled craft robotsuper cute.
40. Upcycled Wind Chime Art Project
Raid the recycle bin for tin cans toupcycle into a colorful wind chime.
Recyclable Art Projects for Every Holiday
41. Recycled Craft Love Bugs for Valentine’s Day
Use materials from the recycling bin to makethese cute love bugsfor your Valentine.
42. Recycled Art Easter Eggs
Have your kids explore their creativity and practice making patterns on some recycled cardboard Easter eggs.
43. Recycled Jar Lanterns for Earth Day
Turn plain old mason jars intobeautiful glowing lanterns that celebrate Earth Day, too.
44. Candy Wrapper Easter Egg Collage
Save those pretty foil wrappers from your child’s Easter candy for them to use inthis creative Easter egg collage project.
45. Paper Tube Painted Fireworks
Use paper towel rolls to paint fireworks for an easy and creativerecycling art project for Independence Day or New Years Eve.
46. Cereal Box Mummy Craft
Makecute Halloween mummy decorationsusing some cereal boxes and an old white t-shirt.
47. Halloween Ghosts Recycled Craft
Recycled egg cartons and white plastic bags turn intoadorable hanging ghoststhat are perfect for Halloween.
48. Plastic Lid Christmas Ornaments
Let the kids get creative drawing patterns with permanent markers on these recycled plastic lid Christmas ornaments.
Kids Art Supplies on Amazon:
Now, the above recycled art ideas use recycled materials, but most also use some basic supplies, too. So, here are some of our favorite art materials you can get right on Amazon…
Melissa & Doug Wooden Tabletop Paper Roll Dispenser With White Bond Paper
Crayola Twistables Colored Pencil Set
Gorilla Kids School Glue
OOLY Giftable Chunkies
Kids Art Smock, Long Sleeve
Crayola Kids Washable Paint Set
Arteza Kids Watercolor Pencils
Kids Paint Set with Washable Paint and No-Spill Paint Cups
Kids Paint Brushes Value Pack
Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks
Crayola Mini Twistables Crayons Coloring Kit
Huhuhero Kids Scissors Set
Crayola Washable Markers with Retractable Tips
NEX&CO Kids Mini Hot Glue Gun with 60 Pack Colored Glue Sticks
Crayola Washable Watercolors Paint Set
Then, find more creative kits, games, and art supplies for kids in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Fun Finds for Creative Kids
Find these Recycled Art Ideas Helpful? Then, Save ‘Em & Share ‘Em!
Now, don’t forget to save these recycling art ideas to come back to later. And, share them with friends! Simply click on the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here: Share on Facebook | Tweet It | Pin It | Email to a Friend
Finally, Find More Kids Art Project Ideas on B-Inspired Mama:
- 3 Kids Art Projects Inspired by Art History
- Creative Sculpture Art Projects for Kids
- 7 Fun STEAM Art Activities Kids Love!
