November 15th is National Recycling Day in the United States. Recycling Day is held to help remind everyone about the importance of helping out the planet. Here at ‘You’re So Creative’ we work hard to make craft projects with items you would find around the house, including those in your recycling bin.

One way we keep art accessible to all is by taking ones man’s trash and turning it into the treasure of art supplies. In today’s newsletter we are going to share just a few of our recycled craft projects. Although we have over thirty projects with toilet paper and paper towel tubes, today we’re focusing on other items you might put into your recycling bin.

In our first craft we are using a plastic water bottle to make a lobster. Since our household switched to reusable bottles last year, as many others have done, these are now harder to find.

Lobster Craft Project

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Supplies:

1. Copy of lobster parts
2. Red card stock
3. Scissors
4. Glue
5. Empty 16-ounce water bottle with cap
6. Google eyes
7. Red paint
8. Optional tape (It helps to hold everything in place while glues dries. Very helpful in making a lot quickly.)

Directions:

1. Remove the label from the water bottle.
2. Pour a small amount of red paint into the bottle, replace the cap, and shake.
3. Cut out lobster parts.
4. Glue the tail parts together. (Petals and the trapezoid shape)
5. Fold the top part of the tail.
6. Glue long strips to the back of the water bottle along with claws.
7. Attach the antenna with glue onto the cap of the bottle.
8. Glue tail to the bottom of the bottle. Glue on eyes.

To download the pattern, please visit HERE.

In our next project, we are staying with our Ocean theme. With most of us getting items delivered, you might have a few packing peanuts lying around the house. With some companies being more eco-conscious, you might even receive the dissolvable packing supplies. (This makes for a great mini science lesson.) For our craft, we used dissolvable/biodegradable peanuts.

This project is wonderful for small motor skill refinement and creativity. Your little artists can make a small or huge coral reef; they are only limited by their imaginations. Let’s grab our supplies and get started!

Coral Craft Project

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Supplies:

1. Biodegradable packing peanuts
2. Paper bowl
3. Glue
4. Skewers
5. Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Glue packing peanuts onto the bottom of the bowl.
2. Stick peanuts onto toothpicks and skewers.
3. Stick loaded toothpicks and skewers into the bowl.
4. Add more peanuts as needed.

It is always fun to grab the recycling bin and see what your little artist can make. I hope you enjoyed these recycled craft projects today. However you use your recyclables, we know you’ll tell your little artists, “You’re so creative!”