Here are some awesome Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas you can make by upcycling or recycling items you already have lying around the house!
Have you ever weighed your trash? Do you know how much trash you generate every day, every week, every month?
Well, globally, it is estimated that every person on the planet generates approximately three-quarters of a kilogram of trash per day. Now multiply this for the earth’s population and imagine how much trash is being thrown out every single day!
Thankfully, many people are waking up to this problem and are focusing on the four Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Today, we’ll show you some easy ways you can cut down on your trash by turning ordinary items into something useful for your home. Here are 25 eco-friendly craft ideas for you to try with things lying around your house right now!
25 Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas With Items at Home
Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas with Cardboard Boxes
1. Shoe Box Jewelry Organizer
Here’s one of the easiest ways to recycle an old shoe box – cut notches in the sides, rest sticks on them and voila! You have a simple bangle organizer that looks neat and does the job! Check out Alternate Creations for all the instructions.
2. Ribbon and Yarn Storage Box
If you love working with yarn and are constantly looking for ways to store and organize your ribbons and things, check out this idea from Honestly WTF. Using a box with a lid ensures all your ribbons and yarn stay dust-free.
3. Box Lid Chalkboard Signs
You don’t need an expensive chalkboard set to write your signs – the lids of cardboard boxes will do! Stow and Tell U shows us how to use chalkboard paint to transform plain cardboard lids into something you can reuse.
4. Shoe Box Desk Organizer
Ascent Footwear has an interesting idea to organize your desk with just a box! You can decorate the box with patterned paper to make it prettier, and add sections as required.
5. Light Up Shoebox Puppet Theater
All our eco-friendly craft ideas aren’t strictly utilitarian; some are fun too! Like this puppet theatre from Handmade Charlotte, which also lights up to create a unique ambience for your shows!
6. DIY Decoupage Cartoon Lampshade
We love Dennis the Menace, which is why we chose him to create this decoupage box lantern! You can choose any comic or paper you like and create a fun, custom decor idea that’s perfect for a child’s room.
Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas with Mason jars
7. Decoupage Glass Jar Pen Holder
Glass jars are among the most versatile things you can use for eco-friendly craft ideas. We love this one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, that uses decoupage to decorate a plain jar and turn it into something beautiful!
8. Mason Jar Utensil Holders
We love how chic this utensil holder set from Mason Jar Crafts Love looks, with it’s Rae Dunn-style lettering and colors. These holders are really easy to make, and you need little more than paint!
9. DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden
Since we’re talking about recycling and going green, why not add some greenery to your kitchen by growing your own herbs? DIY Inspired shows us how mason jars make perfect herb planters that look cute too!
10. Mason Jar Money Bank
If you know a child or someone else who is saving money for a specific purpose, they’ll love having a money bank dedicated to it. Instead of buying a new one, try gifting them this handmade version from Pillar Box Blue.
11. Glass Jar Snow Globe
Mason jars are ideal for making snow globes, particularly holiday-themed ones! This one from Welcome to Nanas features a winter theme, with Olaf the snowman looking quite happy in his mason jar snow globe!
12. DIY Decoupage Happiness Jar
Decoupage can be done on glass jars too, and we’ve given our jars a Christmas touch with a snowman pattern. Add a little tea light inside and you have a Christmas-themed luminary for the holiday season.
Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas with Cans
13. Upcycled Tin Can Jewelry Box
Mason jars often get reused and upcycled, but unlike them, tin cans are often tossed out. However, that changes from now on, as you realize the many eco-friendly craft ideas you can make with them, like this one from Artsy Craftsy Mom!
14. Tin Can Flower Bird Feeder
As it gets hot and birds start looking for a place to rest and drink water, it’s a good idea to set out some bird feeders for them to use. Birds & Blooms makes a cute flower-shaped feeder using tin cans, and we love it!
15. Upcycled Tin Can Lantern
Who knew a simple tin can could turn into something so beautiful? Bren Did punches holes into cans in the shape of messages and then lights them up so that the letters become visible – gorgeous!
16. Tin Can Rainbow Vertical Garden
A vertical garden is an excellent idea to add some greenery to your home when you’re short on space. If you’re looking for custom planters for your vertical garden, make your own out of tin cans, as Creatively Beth has done.
17. Upcycled Tin Can Pencil Holders
If you’re sick and tired of picking up a pencil in a hurry only to find that it’s not been sharpened, you need this hack from Mom Always Finds Out! Have two holders – one for sharpened pencils and one for those that need sharpening.
18. Decoupage Can Vases
How gorgeous as these tin can vases from First Day of Home? Decoupage really is magic when it comes to eco-friendly craft ideas, as the most mundane things get transformed into something amazing!
19. Recycled Tin Can Wind Chime
Handmade by Kelly has a fun tin can project that kids will love to make, and you need only your regular craft supplies to go about it. Hang it outdoors so you can hear the gentle clanging when the breeze comes in.
Eco-Friendly Craft Ideas with Toilet Paper Rolls
20. Toilet Paper Roll Phone Stand
Why go for boring, neutral-colored phone stands when you can make your own colorful versions? Easy Peasy Creative breathes new life into old toilet paper rolls with patterns and colors in this project.
21. Paper Roll Collectible Display
If you like collecting little figures and trinkets but are wondering how to display them, Red Ted Art has an idea! Gather a bunch of toilet paper rolls, cut them and arrange them in a box and your display is ready!
22. Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes
Here’s proof that our eco-friendly craft ideas can instantly elevate potential trash into something worth gifting someone! Destination Decoration shows us how to make pillow boxes out of paper rolls, which can hold small gifts.
23. Paper Roll Cord Organizers
Most cord organizers in the market cater to slimmer cords and cables, like phone charges. But if you want a solution for the thicker, bulkier cables, try out this hack from The Kitchn that uses toilet paper rolls with washi tape and labels.
24. Toilet Paper Roll Cat Organizer
Perk up your child’s study table with this adorable cat organizer from Hello Wonderful! Cover the rolls with craft paper and make a cat head out of the same paper so that your organizer looks neat and polished.
25. Toilet Paper Roll Snowflake Ornament
Artsy Craftsy Mom gives us detailed instructions on how to turn a simple paper roll into a gorgeous Christmas ornament that’s worthy to hang up on that big green tree of yours!
If you liked these, you’ll also like our post on creative ways to recycle newspaper. These eco-friendly craft ideas prove that pretty much anything lying around your house can find a new lease of life – all you need is some creativity and imagination! As you try out ideas like these, you’ll be inclined to think more creatively and come up with some amazing new ideas for mundane household items!
Prerna is the founder, editor and owner of ‘Maa of All Blogs’, one of India’s Top Parenting Blogs. Besides being a certified Ashtanga Yoga instructor, she is also a fashion designer and economics graduate.
When she’s not busy running her home and business, she ensures she stays active – whether it’s running the half marathon, completing the Oxfam walk or climbing to the Everest base camp. Prerna enjoys wearing all her hats, and she does so in style!
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