Recycling Fun With Rubbish and Pallets – Outdoor Play with Purpose

Looking for a creative way to reuse what you already have, while giving your kids a sensory-rich outdoor play space? This wonderful project from The Empowered Educator is a must-see.

In her post, she shows how you can turn cast-off materials—think pallets, pipes, old containers, bits and bobs from around the yard—into a DIY play setup that encourages tinkering, experimentation, and loads of imagination.

This isn’t your average craft. It’s full-body, full-brain play.

Using nothing but “rubbish” and some pallet frames, the play space becomes a mini construction site, a water lab, a pulley station, or a messy sensory kitchen. It’s a low-cost, high-value setup that invites kids to explore texture, weight, cause-and-effect, and creative problem solving—all through play.

What I love most about this idea is how approachable it is. You don’t need to head to the hardware store or spend a lot on fancy materials. You just need to look around your garage or shed with new eyes. Plastic bottles, lengths of hose, buckets, cardboard tubes, and rope—all of it can find new life in a child’s hands.

This kind of outdoor recycled play space encourages independent exploration and open-ended play. It’s also fantastic for early STEM learning, without needing to “teach” a thing. Children are naturally drawn to sorting, stacking, pouring, connecting, testing, and inventing. Give them the materials, and they’ll do the rest.

If you’re keen to reduce waste, boost backyard play, and encourage creative thinking, I highly recommend checking out the full post. It’s packed with inspiration, and as always, the insights from The Empowered Educator remind us that simple ideas often have the biggest impact.

You can read the full article and see photos of the project here:
Recycling Fun with Rubbish and Pallets – The Empowered Educator

Give it a go—and see what your kids can create with the “junk” you were just about to throw out.

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If you’re anything like me, the Halloween decorating bug bites as soon as the first leaves start to turn. I love pulling out the pumpkins, stringing up lights, and adding a little spook factor to the front porch. But here’s the thing—Halloween decorations can get expensive, especially if you want a whole collection of them.

That’s where this thrifty little craft comes in. With nothing more than a few empty milk jugs, a marker, and some string, you can create a row of DIY milk jug skulls that look fantastic hanging from the porch or glowing in the yard. It’s simple, it’s cheap, and it’s a wonderful way to give those plastic jugs a second life before tossing them into the recycling bin.

This is one of those crafts that proves you don’t need a big budget for big impact. Even better—it’s family-friendly. Kids can help draw the faces, while the grown-ups handle the cutting. Before you know it, you’ll have a creepy crew of skulls ready to scare (or charm) the neighbors.

What Makes These Milk Jug Skulls So Fun?

Eco-Friendly: They’re made from recyclables, which means less waste.
Budget-Friendly: The only thing you may need to buy is a pack of battery tea lights.
Customizable: Keep them classic and spooky, or jazz them up with paint or glitter.
Porch-Ready: They’re lightweight and easy to hang in clusters for maximum effect.

Supplies You’ll Need

Empty plastic milk jugs (1 gallon size works best, but you can use any size)
Permanent black marker (Sharpie is perfect for clean, bold lines)
Scissors or craft knife (adults only—this is the only tricky part)
Hole punch (optional, for stringing)
Twine, string, or fishing line (for hanging)
Battery-operated tea lights (optional, for glowing skull lanterns)

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Rinse & Prep the Jugs

Give your jugs a good rinse with hot soapy water to remove any leftover milk residue (nobody wants a stinky skull). Peel off any labels—you might need to scrub a little with warm water or rubbing alcohol if the glue is stubborn. Let the jugs dry completely before you start.

Step 2: Cut Out the Skull Features

Using scissors or a craft knife, carefully cut out:

Eye sockets: Two large ovals or circles near the upper front of the jug.
Nose: A small upside-down triangle below the eyes.

Tip: Don’t stress if they’re not perfect. In fact, slightly uneven shapes look creepier and give the skulls more personality.

Step 3: Add the Mouth

Now grab your permanent marker and draw a long horizontal line across the lower part of the jug (just above the spout). Then add short vertical lines through it to create a “stitched” effect.

Want them extra spooky? Make the mouth jagged, curved, or crooked—each one can have its own little “expression.”

Step 4: String Them Up or Place Them Out

To Hang: Punch two small holes at the top of the jug, thread through twine, and knot it. Hang them in clusters from the porch or tree branches for maximum impact.
To Display on the Ground: Pop a battery-operated tea light or glow stick inside. At night, the cut-out features glow eerily, making them perfect for lining a walkway or lighting up your porch steps.

Extra Decoration Ideas

Want to take it up a notch? Here are a few twists you can try:

Paint the whole jug black or silver before cutting for a bolder look.
Use glow-in-the-dark paint around the eyes and mouth so they stand out at night.
Add fake spider webs or plastic spiders inside for extra creep factor.
Mix them with sugar skull versions (painted in bright colors) for a Day of the Dead meets Halloween vibe.

Where to Display Your Milk Jug Skulls

Hanging in a cluster by the front door to greet trick-or-treaters.
Along the garden fence, glowing with tea lights inside.
Dangling from tree branches for a haunted yard look.
As a budget-friendly centerpiece for a Halloween party.

This is hands-down one of my favorite DIY Halloween porch decorations because it’s so simple yet so effective. The best part? Every jug can look slightly different, so you end up with a collection of skulls that each has its own “personality.” It’s spooky, it’s thrifty, and it’s a great way to get the kids involved in holiday crafting.

So don’t recycle those milk jugs just yet—give them a creepy new life as part of your Halloween décor. You’ll be surprised at how quickly they become a porch staple you bring out year after year.

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