Crafts made from recycled materials are eye catching and easy to make. Read below for a few tips for recycled material crafts.

Recycled Material Crafts

Creating crafts using recycled materials is a very good way to put the brakes on the endless stream of trash that is threatening to suffocate our planet. Indeed, if every household can find a way to minimize common things from landing in the bin, the amount of garbage produced would be considerably reduced. The best way to do this is to find alternative ways to use various materials that end up as waste. One way to do this is to create crafts using these materials. In this way you can make use of these materials and also indulge in some creative work. You can start by collecting all the materials that you are likely to throw and when you have accumulated enough, you can create crafts either as works of art or to use as a replacement of other things. You can also keep your kids engrossed by teaching them how to make simple things using newspapers, plastic bottles, containers and the like. The crafts that you and your kids make can be used as decoration or gifted to friends. Such gifts, it need not be said, are very personal and individualistic. To help you in this, read the article below and find some ideas for recycled material crafts.
 
Ideas For Crafts Using Recycled Materials
 
Dog Leash With Plastic Bags
 
Materials Required
  • 20 to 25 Plastic Bags
  • Scissors
  • Iron
  • 2 sheets Aluminum Foil
Method
  • First cut the plastic bags apart, lengthwise. Roll the plastic lengthwise to form a rope.
  • Then, using an iron, fuse the ends of the plastic rope with other such ropes to form a long plastic rope. To fuse them first put the plastic between two sheets of aluminum foil and press the hot iron over it for two seconds. Put away the iron and remove the aluminum foil.
  • Continue fusing until you have an eight foot long plastic rope. Next, make two more ropes of the same length.  
  • Once you have all the three ropes, start braiding them. The technique employed here is same as that of braiding the hair.
  • Once you have braided the entire rope, fuse both the ends with the iron to stop it from unraveling.
  • Use different colors of plastic so that the braid looks attractive. Attach clasp onto the leash.
Light Bulb Bee
 
Materials Required
  • A Light Bulb
  • Yellow and Black Paint
  • Wiggle Eyes
  • Chenille Stems
  • Glue
  • Paint Brush
  • Scissors
Method
  • First paint the whole light bulb in yellow color. Let the paint dry.
  • After the yellow paint dries, paint a few black stripes horizontally. Paint the small metal end completely black. This will be the head of the bee. Allow it to dry.
  • Now stick the wiggle eyes onto the bee using the glue. You can also use buttons as eyes or simply draw eyes with the paint.
  • Take two chenille stems and fold them to join the ends. This will be the wings of the bee.
  • Stick the wings onto the bee using glue.
  • Using small pieces of chenille stem make antennae and stinger of the bee and glue it on the bulb.
Plastic Bottle Flower
 
Materials Required
  • 2 liter Plastic Bottle (empty)
  • White Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Acrylic Paints
  • Paint Brushes
  • Sandpaper
  • Stickers
  • Skewers
Method
  • Cut one of the plastic bottles, one-third from the top. Use sandpaper and sand the cut edges.
  • Draw five petals with a marker. Using a pair of scissors, cut them.
  • Take the white glue and coat all the petals. Leave it to dry.
  • Now, using the acrylic paints, glitter and stickers decorate the petals.
  • Make a small hole in the bottle cap and insert a skewer through the hole. Glue the petals on the cap. Screw the top back in the other bottle.

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