Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Embellish tea lights, straws and party banner with rolled paper flowers

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Parties can be a fun reason to craft and making your own party accessories that all coordinate perfectly can be a bit addictive. And if you die cut then you know how easy it is to make lots of something.

That is just what I did with Die’sire flower dies and coordinating paper strips.

Since I knew I was going to make a lot of flowers to embellish tea lights, straws and the banner I cut 4 flower strips at a time several times. I cut each of the shapes out of all the colors of paper.

I had so much fun mixing the colors and shapes of the die cut paper strips around the tea lights, straws and simply making them on their own to embellish the skewers I used on each end of the tiny party banner I put in the cupcakes on the pedestal cake plate.

For the banner I used the largest letter in the Leonie Pujol letter set to die cut the letters PARTY out of pretty cardstock that coordinated with the colors of the paper I made the wrapped flowers with.

I put the letters on the Die’sire Mixed-media pennant shaped die mixing up the colors of the  background and type colors.

I glued the letters onto the pennants and then strung them together with a needle and heavy duty thread.

With a bit of hot glue I attached the thread to the skewers and then covered the spot with another rolled paper die cut flower.

 

 

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How To Make A Milk Carton Village – A Recycled Craft for Kids

Ready to turn your recycling bin into a colorful, miniature village? Grab those empty milk cartons and let’s create a town filled with tiny houses, shops, and even a school or bakery! This craft is perfect for kids of all ages and encourages imagination, storytelling, and eco-friendly creativity.

 What You’ll Need:

  • Empty milk or juice cartons (washed and dried)

  • Paints or markers

  • Paintbrushes

  • Craft glue or glue stick

  • Scissors (adult supervision recommended)

  • Colored paper or old magazines

  • Bottle caps, buttons, or plastic lids (for windows or decorations)

  • Sticks, straws, or skewers (for flag poles or chimneys)

  • Optional: glitter, stickers, washi tape, cotton balls (for snow or clouds!)

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Clean and Prep the Cartons
Make sure your milk or juice cartons are washed and completely dry. Remove any plastic lids or caps and keep them for decorations!

Step 2: Plan Your Village
Decide how many buildings you want to make. Each milk carton becomes a house, shop, or whatever your imagination dreams up. Arrange them side by side or in a circle like a real village square.

Step 3: Cut Out Doors and Windows
With the help of an adult, carefully cut small door and window shapes into your cartons. You can also glue cut-out shapes from colored paper if you’d rather not cut into the carton.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Use paint or markers to bring your buildings to life. Make brick patterns, colorful siding, or roof tiles. Let each child choose their own theme – rainbow bakery, monster house, fairy home, or tiny fire station!

Step 5: Add the Roofs
You can paint the top pointy part of the carton like a roof, or glue on cardboard triangles to create overhangs. Want to add a chimney? Glue a straw or cardboard roll on top!

Step 6: Make Flags and Signs
Cut small flags from recycled plastic or paper and tape them to straws or sticks. Glue your flags to the rooftops. You can even create tiny signs for each building – “Toy Store,” “Library,” or “Super Cat’s House.”

Step 7: Build Your Village
Place all the finished buildings together on a large piece of cardboard, tray, or table. Use bottle caps for stepping stones, cotton balls for bushes or clouds, and draw roads with marker.

Step 8: Play!
Now that your village is built, use little toys, action figures, or LEGO people to live in your new town. Create stories and adventures—your Milk Carton Village is officially open!

 Learning Bonus:

This craft is not just fun—it also teaches recycling, fine motor skills, creative thinking, and storytelling. Plus, it’s a great group activity for playdates, classrooms, or family craft nights.

Let your kids’ imaginations run wild—and remember, no two villages need to look the same. Each one tells its own story!