Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Ali Edwards’ Weekend Creative Goes Recycled!

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In my dreams I am as prolific a scrap-booker as Ali Edwards. In reality, I struggle to get through a stack of photos, and instead turn to her blog to oogle at the pictures in envy and admiration.

So when I popped onto her blog today to see what she had in store for her Weekend Creative post, I was pleasantly surprised to see she was taking the recycling trend to heart in decorating her tree.

(disclaimer: I don’t know if she was really recycling, but I know that I’ve got enough felt lying around that I would be recycling if I took this project on!)

Anyhow, that garland above? It’s made using simple and non-uniform felt squares strung on some pretty silver wire! She used all red, but you could use any color combination you want. Seems like a great craft for kids – give them some safety scissors, give them an example for about how big you want the squares, and you string while they cut!

For more pictures and full instructions, see Ali’s post!

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Recycled Paper Cylinder Face Art – A Colorful Win for All Ages

I recently stumbled across this super creative project on Instructables – “Face With Recycled Paper Cylinders” – and I had to share it with you all because it’s just the kind of craft that checks all my favorite boxes: recycled materials, hands-on creativity, and fun for literally any age.

The idea is simple but genius—roll strips of recycled paper (think junk mail, old magazines, leftover printer paper) into cylinders, then arrange and glue them to form a unique abstract face. You can make it funky, realistic, Picasso-inspired—whatever your mood or style dictates!

What I really love is the blend of eco-conscious crafting with true artistic expression. This isn’t just another kids’ project—it’s something you could easily do with a group of little ones, a classroom full of teens, or even as an adult art therapy or weekend wind-down activity. It’s super relaxing and surprisingly satisfying seeing all those paper rolls come together to form something new and expressive.

The tutorial itself is easy to follow, with plenty of visuals to guide you along the way. You don’t need any fancy materials—just glue, paper, scissors, and a board or piece of cardboard to serve as your canvas.

I also appreciate how this project leaves so much room for personalization. Want to make it into a full face? Go for it. Prefer to focus on a single eye or mouth? Totally works. You can even play with color schemes by choosing papers with a certain palette, or painting over them once they’re rolled.

In short: this is a total keeper for anyone who loves crafting with purpose. It’s the kind of project that sparks creativity while gently reinforcing the idea that beautiful things can come from what we usually throw away.

Highly recommend giving it a go—solo or with a group. And if you try it, tag me or drop a pic—I’d love to see your recycled masterpiece!