Trash to Treasure Crafts

Creative and fun ideas for recycling trash into crafts!

Make sure any items you recycle into crafts are clean and dry - most can be washed in hot soapy water. You should also make sure there are no sharp edges or small parts which may pose a choking hazard for younger kids. Simply make sure you use common sense before you use your imagination!

Please enjoy this ever-growing list of great ideas for recycling items you might normally throw away to create great craft projects, games, and more. Click on the desired item below to find a collection of great recycling ideas.

Bags
There are some wonderful crafts you can make using old paper or plastic bags.

All shapes and sizes of bags can be used.

• Paper Bag Crafts
• Plastic Bag Crafts

• Beans and Seeds
  Crafts are a great way to use up old and/or expired beans and seeds. Not only can you use up old beans, but also stale sunflower seeds and clean watermelon seeds.
  
  • Bean and Seed Crafts

   

• Cans
  Cans are not only available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but also in a variety of materials. You can craft using sturdy tin cans, flexible aluminum cans, and also round cardboard cans like those that hold juice, oatmeal, and even potato chips.
  
  • Aluminum Can Crafts
  • Cardboard Juice Can Crafts
  • Coffee Can Crafts
  • Oatmeal Container Crafts
  • Potato Chip and Nut Container Crafts
  • Tin Can Crafts

   

• Cardboard and Boxes
  I think boxes have been a craft staple since they were invented - the creative possibilities for re-using shoe boxes and large, corrugated boxes are almost endless. Cardboard pieces can also be very useful in your crafts.
  
  • Cardboard Piece Crafts
  • Corrugated Cardboard Box Crafts
  • Household Box Crafts
  • Shoe Box Crafts

   

• Cardboard Tubes
  While you might think this listing should be included in the cardboard listing because, well, they are cardboard, the popularity of crafting with empty toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls is so popular I thought it deserved it's own listing!
  
  • Cardboard Tube Crafts

   

• Compact Disks
  Some of us have large collections of these crafting gems, although they don't seem to send as many in the mail as they used to - at least to some of us! Don't throw them away, same the CDs and the cases they come in and you can make some beautiful crafts.
  
  • CD Crafts
  • CD Case Crafts

   

• Film Containers and Pill Bottles
  As the popularity of digital cameras is growing, most people's stick-pile of empty film containers is shrinking; however, you can usually substitute prescription pill bottles for use in crafts in place of film containers.
  
  • Film Container and Pill Bottle Crafts

   

• Greeting Cards
  Who can stand to toss out beautiful greeting cards after an occasion has passed? Not me! Instead, you can transform them using craft techniques and your imagination.
  
  • Greeting Card Crafts

   

• Jars and Bottles
  While you will want to be careful while working with glass jars, you will enjoy the variety of projects you can make. You can also recycle plastic bottles and jars using creative techniques.
  
  • Baby Food Jar Crafts (approx. size)
  • Plastic and Glass Drink Bottle Crafts
  • Quart-Sized Jar Crafts (approx. size)

   

• Kitchen and Tableware
  There are many ways you can recycle old paper, plastic, styrofoam, and other tableware. Check out all the ideas below!.
  
  • Bowl Crafts
  • Cup Crafts
  • Drinking Straw Crafts
  • Eating Utensil Crafts
  • Egg Carton Crafts
  • Milk Carton Crafts
  • Paper Plate Crafts
  • Plastic Jug Crafts
  • Strawberry Basket Crafts
  • Styrofoam Tray Crafts

   

• Laundry Scoops
  Here are some inspiring ideas for using the little plastic scoops that come along with powdered laundry soap.
  
  • Laundry Scoop Crafts

   

• Lids and Caps
  Bottle caps, jar lids, frozen-juice can covers, and plastic tub lids can all be used to make crafts. You can make everything from simple matching games to fancy jewelry and useful refrigerator magnets.
  
  • Bottle Cap Crafts
  • Frozen Juice Can Lid Crafts
  • Jar Lid Crafts
  • Plastic Tub Lid Crafts

   

• Light Bulbs
  A trash can is not a good place for burned out light bulbs so why not incorporate them into your crafts?
  
  • Light Bulb Crafts

   

• Packing Peanuts
  I don't know about you, but I do not like the thought of simply throwing away those little, styrofoam peanuts that are sometimes used to fill the gaps in packed boxes. Besides reusing them when mailing a package, you can try to make fun crafts out of them.
  
  • Packing Peanut Crafts

   

• Puzzle and Game Pieces
  Whenever you come across an orphaned puzzle or game piece, set it aside because they can make fun embellishment items or even the base of some unique craft projects.
  
  • Puzzle and Game Piece Crafts

   

• Reading Material
  Whether you purchase the reading material, such as newspaper and magazines, or you receive them unsolicited in the mail, such as catalogs and flyers, you should start saving them for use in a variety of projects.
  
  • Magazine - Catalog Crafts
  • Newspaper Crafts

   

• Blue Jean Crafts
• Glove Crafts
• Hanger Crafts
• Sock Crafts

Ideas for Decorating Pens and Pencils

Perfume Making

Make fun pins for yourself and others to wear while you wait for the latest, and last, Harry Potter book to be available. Check out these free beaded safety pin designs! For every free pattern I provide, you will find a list that explains how many safety pins to use and what sizes to use. There is also a colored graph of the project illustrating how many beads of each color to use; and, of course, there are step-by-step directions to get you starting on this easy craft.
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