Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway: Playing With Surface Design book and set of 24 recycled colored pencils from Tombow

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surface design book recycled color pencils tombow I had no idea there were colored pencils made out of recycled material. How cool is that? Another thing that is really cool, the new book:

Playing With Surface Design: Modern Techniques for Painting, Stamping and More by Courtney Cerruti.

You can enter to win a copy of Playing With Surface Design and set of  24 Tombow colored pencils by leaving a comment in today’s post by May 8th, 2015.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

Want another chance to win a copy of Playing With Surface Design and a set of Tombow Dual Brush markers along with a tutorial on a scribble art word decoration pop on over to Craftside.

And to see a whole bunch of great projects pop on over to Tombow’s Tips and projects site.

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Comments

  1. PLEASE include me in your GENEROUS and CREATIVE giveaway!! I would use it to create decorative “backgrounds” for products…………Thanks for this opportunity! 🙂

  3. Please count me in! I’d like to expand my knowledge of surface design.

  4. I love the look of colored pencils, but I don’t know how to use them on anything besides paper. I would love for this book to widen my artsy ideas.

  5. I received a sample pack (red, blue, and silver) recently at NAEA. I am in love with how smooth and vibrant they are. It would make my life to win a whole set!

  9. I love colored pencils and these sound great to try plus they are made of recycled wood big plus.

  10. These would be lovely- just in time for warm weather and drawing outside! thank you for opportunity and a push to have some creative play.

  13. Love the idea of recycled pencils! This looks like it would be so much fun to play with 🙂

  15. My father has been in the hospital for over a month. I would use the materials and design book for personalized cards to thank the many people who have given him amazing care. Support staff is way too under recognized!

  16. I am an art teacher, and would love to bring this set into my classroom for my advanced artists to experiment with.

  17. I have been trying to blend my sketching/drawing novice skills with scrapbooking. I think this set would help to nicely blend the two a little better.

  18. I am rediscovering colored pencils and would love to see what these can do once in my hands!

  20. Colored pencils from recycled material? How fun! Thank you for hosting such an awesome giveaway. I love Courtney’s books, and I am excited for a chance to win her latest one!

  22. Oh, yes, please include me in the running for these wonderful prizes! Thank you so much for the chance to win!

  24. Our Zentangle teacher is using those pencils with amazing results! I would love to win them ..hope, hope.

  25. What a great birthday gift, for ME! Since I won’t spend any $$ on myself! But a great give away of something I’d buy… what a great thought! Thank you for including me 🙂

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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How to make recycled Easter egg mushrooms

How to make recycled toilet paper tube mushrooms

How to make a rainbow forest of adorable recycled mushrooms