Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Origami Animal Friends: Fold 35 of your favorite dogs, cats, rabbits, and more

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Giveaway- Origami Animal Friends: Fold 35 of your favorite dogs, cats, rabbits, and more

Leave a comment in today’s post by July 6th, 2017 and you are in the running for this adorable origami book and coordinating paper.

Open your dream pet store with these 35 fun paper-based projects.

All animal lovers are going to go wild for the 35 amazing activities in Origami Animal Friends. With just a few pieces of paper you can create all your favorite pets, including cute cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses alongside creepy crawlies, fish, frogs, birds, and lots more. The clear step-by-step instructions are so simple to follow that means anyone can have a go, no matter if you are a first-time folder or origami expert. Best of all, Origami Animal Friends comes with a pack containing 50 specially designed pieces of origami paper, so you can start making your first cute creature right away.

Looking for more Paper folding crafts? Check out these Origami books

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Comments

  4. My grandson and I would love to have this book. He’s been folding since the age of 6. What a fun book! Thanks for offering it as a prize.

  8. I’d love to have this because I have recently turned $20 bills (rent we pay a friend every month) into stars and shirts. I show her my little creation and offer her a regular bill. She always takes the origami. But I’m learning from YouTube videos and there’s a lot of pausing and rewinding going on. Lol.

  9. This would be great to have some one on one time with my foster child. An awesome hands on skill for staying focused and paying attention.

  11. This would be an awesome way to entertain the grand kids if I could learn to do it.

Have you read?

DIY Paper Bag Mushrooms – A Creative Upcycled Craft for Kids and Nature Lovers

There’s something magical about mushrooms — maybe it’s the fairy-tale vibes or their cozy woodland charm. Either way, turning ordinary brown paper bags into mushrooms is a fun, hands-on craft project that kids (and adults) will enjoy. The best part? You’re reusing materials that might otherwise go to waste. Win-win!

This easy tutorial walks you through making your very own forest of recycled mushrooms using simple supplies you likely already have around the house.

What You’ll Need:

  • Brown paper lunch bags (you can even use grocery bags cut to size)

  • Scrap paper or newspaper for stuffing

  • String, yarn, or twine

  • Scissors

  • Paints (acrylic or tempera work best)

  • Paintbrushes or sponges

  • Optional extras: markers, stickers, googly eyes, craft glue

Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Mushrooms

Step 1: Create the Mushroom Top
Start by opening your paper bag and gently crumpling up some newspaper or scrap paper. Stuff it into the bottom of the bag — not too tight, just enough to give it a rounded shape that will form the mushroom cap.

Step 2: Form the Stem
Once the top is nice and puffy, hold the bag just underneath the stuffed section and twist it lightly to shape the stem. Tie a piece of twine or string around this part to hold the form. You’ll now have a mushroom top with a long paper bag hanging down — that’s your stem.

Step 3: Trim to Size
If the stem looks too long or uneven, grab your scissors and snip it down to your preferred height. You can even experiment with making some taller and some short and chubby for a little mushroom variety.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Time for the fun part — painting! Flip the mushroom cap upright and paint it any way you like. Classic red with white spots? Go for it. Bright blue with glitter? Why not! Use brushes or dabbers to add spots, swirls, or patterns. Let kids express their creativity — there’s no wrong way to decorate a magic mushroom!

Step 5: Let It Dry
Place your mushrooms somewhere safe to dry. You can use a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to avoid mess. Once dry, they’ll stiffen a little and hold their shape nicely.

Step 6: Display Your Mushroom Garden
Line them up on a windowsill, add them to a play area, or build a fairy village in the corner of a room. You can even glue them to a cardboard base and add moss, pebbles, and tiny paper critters for a full scene.

Extra Ideas:

  • Add flags or tiny doors to make mushroom homes.

  • Draw faces or names on the stems to turn them into characters.

  • Use cotton balls or pom-poms for fluffy mushroom spots.

Why This Project Rocks:

This is one of those crafts that doesn’t need a trip to the store or fancy tools — just a little time, a few basic supplies, and a bit of imagination. Plus, it encourages kids to see the creative potential in everyday materials — a great step toward more mindful, eco-conscious crafting.

So go ahead, raid the recycling bin and bring a mini mushroom forest to life.

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