For those of you who don’t know, today is Earth Day! Generally we would say the best way to pay homage to our great earth would be to spend the day outdoors, but that may not be feasible for a lot of us right now. Instead, Tucker House is encouraging you to celebrate by sharing some of our favourite Upcycled craft ideas for you and your families to complete while at home.
Recycled CD Coaster
Not sure what to do with your old CD’s? This craft from Sraboni Paul of the Hopscotch Blog is the perfect way to introduce your family to upcycling!
What you’ll need:
- Old CDs
- Thin Cardboard
- Scissors
- Hot Glue
- Markers
- Old fabric scraps
How it works:
Trace 2 outlines of the CD onto cardboard. Using glue, stick both cutouts on either side of the CD, so the hole is not exposed. Next, trace its outline on the fabric scrap and cut a piece out OR decorate with markers. Glue the cardboard’s top and stick the fabric scraps onto it. Your recycled coasters are ready to use!
Fairy Houses
This is one of those crafts that doesn’t have a designated outcome – it is open to interpretation where everyone’s will look a little different.
Here are some basic supplies that you can use:
- Hot Glue
- Popsicle sticks
- Leaves
- Bark
- Shells
- Acorns
- Twigs
- Moss
- Toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Buttons
- Fabric
- Biodegradable Glitter
How it works:
Use your imagination! Is your fairy house going to be three stories tall? Or a small cottage? Are the walls going to be made from popsicle sticks, bark or leaves? Will you add shells, acorns, or fabric? The magic of this craft is that there is no right way to do it!
Egg Carton Sailboats
Inspired by a post from the blog Life at the Zoo, these sailboats are the perfect way to reuse your old egg cartons.
Materials needed:
- Egg carton
- Skewers
- Scrap Paper
- Scissors
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Glass of water
- Glue/Blue tack
- Markers
How it works:
Spend some time painting your scrap paper to use as a mast. Once dry, cut out your mast and glue it onto the skewer. Poke a hole into the middle of your carton and blue tack/glue your mast to the carton which will act as the boat. Decorate your boat however you like using markers/paint and adding any passengers who need to hitch a ride!
Rock Friends
These are a classic, but creative way to decorate your front yard. You can even take these on a walk with you and place them around a park to bring a little joy to others.
Materials:
- Acrylic Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Water
- Smooth rocks
How it works:
Decide what you want your rock to resemble, and paint it accordingly!
Seashell Wind-chime
Finally, this seashell wind chime from Red Ted Art is a great way to use imperfect seashells and stones collected from a day at the beach.
Materials:
- Broken Seashells
- Holey rocks
- Beads
- Twine
- Large stick
How it works:
Cut off a piece of twine and thread your shells, stones and beads through, tying a knot through each piece to keep them from falling through. Repeat this three times to have three different strands. Tie the strands onto a large stick and voila! Perfect for hanging in your bedroom or in the garden.