2 of 21

Write now Article Tools

So you don't have a huge crafting budget? Call me frugal, stingy or just plain cheap; I can't resist the challenge of adding recycling to my craft projects! There's also a certain pride you get when you successfully covert trash to treasure. Not only is it economical, it is also very hip to recycle these days. So, you haven't got the recycling fever yet? I can not think of any craft project that cannot be enhanced by the use of recycled materials! So here's a bunch of ideas to help you start integrating recycling in to your crafting:

Coffee containers make great storage for holding hardware and craft supplies. Drill a hole in the bottom and convert them in to planters. If you don't like the outer design of the container, cover it with a cut off blue jean leg or wrap some used yarn around it! Plastic jugs can be cut in various ways to provide all types of useful items. Cut off the narrow tops to make great funnels. Cut a slit in the side or top and turn one into a piggy bank. Just reuse them; crafty folks always need more containers!

Tins can become more than just containers when you decorate them and turn them in to works of art. Or cut them in to pieces with metal snips and shears and use the resulting parts for jewelry, assemblage and even book covers!

Turn worn out jeans into quilts, organizers, handbags and project totes. Use old jeans to make knee and elbow patches for skating and skateboarding. Tear them in to strips and braid them in to coasters, place mats, rugs or chair pads.

Game boards and pieces can be used as components for altered art, assemblage and jewelry. Game markers and dice make great grips, knobs and legs for craft boxes. You can also use them as unique faces and appendages for doll making. Letters and tiles can be incorporated into many types of projects. Drill holes in dice and tiles to convert them in to beads and embellishments for fun jewelry and other art projects.

Rip out old holey sweaters socks and such. Rework the yarn by weaving, sewing, crocheting or knitting it; or use as funky doll hair. Yarn also makes great embellishments for scrap books and altered art. If needed, combine with other yarn and fabric to give it strength. If the yarn is really frayed; cut it in several pieces, mix with paint, gesso, gel medium or even glue to give your painting and/or collage a different texture.

Magazines are perfect for scrap booking, altered arts, mixed media, collage, decoupage, making pinatas and paper mache projects. Cut out letters, words, pictures, strips; even poems and stories. Use die cutting machines on colorful magazine pages to shape them into tags, envelopes and small gift boxes. Magazines can also cut into strips which can be woven into sturdy baskets and bowls.

Stamps and stickers can be used them for collage, scrap booking, altered arts and mixed media assemblage. Cut away or steam off background paper, or glue them to a new background just as they are.

Broken china, ceramics and mirrors can easily be used in assemblage pieces. You can also use them to resurface a sink or portions of your kitchen and bathroom. More uses are found in the garden, when the broken pieces are incorporated into wind chimes, bird feeders, and mosaic stepping stones.

Cardboard boxes (from cereal, cake mixes, box meals, and more) can be cut with punches and die cutting machines in to great shapes, letters, or whatever else you can think of!

For even more great ideas, check out more Helium craft project and recycling articles!

Learn more about this author, Cindy Hartzell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Recycling craft ideas?
We want to hear your view. Write now!