Before you toss the recycling out, take a second look. Straws, juice cartons, takeaway containers, old magazines and plastic flower pots are all brilliant, free materials for kids’ art projects. These reuse and recycle crafts are cheap, easy to set up, and great for open-ended play — no step-by-step instructions needed, just a pile of materials and a bit of imagination.
We’re big believers in open-ended play when it comes to arts and crafts. Give your kids the materials, a few suggestions to get them started, and then let them decide what to make. There’s no “right” way to do these projects, and your children will probably come up with ideas you’d never have thought of yourself.
Here are 5 simple art projects for kids that reuse everyday items from around the house.
1. Straws
Straws are one of those things that pile up in a kitchen drawer without you noticing. Put them to good use alongside a few spare cupcake cases to make cute paper flowers.
Or, if your child loves dressing up, cut the straws into bead-sized pieces and thread them onto wool or string to create colourful necklaces and bracelets. It’s a simple threading activity too, which is great for little hands developing fine motor skills.
2. Milk or Juice Cartons
Empty milk and juice cartons make brilliant miniature houses with a coat of paint and some marker pens to add windows and doors.
Once you’ve made one house, why stop there? Build a whole village complete with shops, a school and a library. Give the kids free rein and you’ll be amazed at what they come up with.
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3. Plastic Containers
Clean takeaway containers are perfect for building a miniature theatre or television set. Your budding set designers can decorate their container, then put on a mini play once it’s finished.
It’s a lovely one to do together — help with the trickier bits of construction and let them take the lead on the design and story.
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4. Magazines
Got a pile of old magazines building up? Time to get the scissors out. Cut or tear pages into pieces and rearrange them into a colourful collage.
Colours, numbers and letters all work well as collage themes if you want a bit of structure, or just let the kids create something entirely their own.
5. Plastic Flower Pots
Those brown or black plastic flower pots that build up in the shed are a fantastic base for creating little creatures. Add a lick of paint, some googly eyes and a few straws for legs, and you’ve got yourself a spider or a crab.
They also make great decorated Easter egg baskets, or can be turned into a simple bird house. Or, if you’d rather keep them as flower pots, a splash of colour turns them into something much prettier than the original.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What household items are best for kids’ art projects?
Straws, milk and juice cartons, clean takeaway containers, old magazines and plastic flower pots are all great starting points. They’re free, easy to find, and open up lots of different creative possibilities.
Are recycled art projects suitable for younger children?
Many of these projects can be adapted for toddlers and preschoolers with some adult help, especially for cutting or gluing. Threading straw beads and painting flower pots are particularly good for developing little ones’ fine motor skills.
Do I need special art supplies for these projects?
Not really. A few basics like paint, glue, scissors, marker pens and googly eyes will cover most of these ideas. The main materials are things you’re likely to have around the house already.
How can I encourage more creativity during art time?
Try offering materials and a couple of starting suggestions rather than strict instructions. Letting kids explore and decide what to make themselves often leads to the most imaginative results.
More Ideas You Might Like
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Save These Ideas for Later
Short on time right now? Bookmark or save this page so you’ve got a handy list of reuse and recycle art projects ready for the next rainy afternoon or school holiday.
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