Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Valentine’s Day decorations of red branches and heart blocks

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Paint and painting is my “go-to” medium this year. So for each holiday I am going to be painting my new decor elements. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so I thought I’d spray paint some recycled branches with Testors gloss red to make a large-scale arrangement and play with all sorts of painting techniques on scrap wood blocks using the heart and all things Valentine as my theme.

I highly recommend working on lots of different surfaces as each one holds no stress and you can just play with each one. Here is a list of the different painting elements:

Stencil

Dots

Drybrush

Arrows

Key hole

Cupcake

Letters (x and o)

Checks

Stripes

Stamping heart with recycled TP tube

Glowing

Starburst rays

Corner studs

squiggles

running stitch (dashes)

I used regular colors of Testors Paint along with metallic and Glitter. The more the merrier!

Thank you to Testors.com for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

I cut my wood square chunks from scraps of leftover 2×4’s but you could use anything.

I punched the stencils out of regular sticky back paper.

Here are some of my scrap wood blocks in progress with some of the paper stencils still on. As you can see I used the inside pieces and outside. I just kept playing until each block had several colors, patterns and elements. After I liked all my backgrounds I stenciled half of them with x’s and half with o’s.

For my red branch bouquet I simply went out to the yard and trimmed my camellia tree of a few dead branches.

Then a few coats of Testors Red gloss spray paint rotating the branches in between each so they would be covered evenly I placed them in a large glass vase.

So whether you grab branches from your yard, wood from your scrap bin or buy something from the store put your Valentine touch on it with a bit of paint and spread the love!

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Making Popsicle Stick Playing Cards – Surprisingly Fun and Totally Charming!

Okay, I’ll be honest — when I first saw the Popsicle Stick Playing Cards project floating around on Instructables, I wasn’t entirely sold. Popsicle sticks and playing cards? Sounds like a summer camp throwback, right? But curiosity got the best of me (as it usually does with anything slightly crafty and slightly quirky), and I decided to give it a whirl.

And let me just say: I loved this project way more than I expected to.

At its core, this DIY is super simple. You’re basically fusing old playing cards with humble craft sticks to create chunky, tactile “cards” that are durable enough for little hands — or just to enjoy as a cool novelty set. The end result? A full deck that feels a little bit rustic, a little bit retro, and totally unique.

What I really appreciated about this project was how accessible it was. You don’t need anything fancy to get started — just some basic glue, scissors, popsicle sticks (standard size worked fine for me), and of course, a deck of cards that’s either past its prime or missing a few members. We all have one of those lying around somewhere, right?

I ended up using an old UNO deck that was looking pretty rough around the edges, and it turned out great. The cards stick well to the wood, and once everything’s dry, you get these sturdy, chunky pieces that have such a fun hand-feel. It almost reminds me of vintage tile games or big wooden dominoes.

This would be such a great project for kids — whether it’s as a rainy-day craft, a classroom activity, or even as part of a DIY learning game (think memory matching or number recognition). I can see this also being a hit with older adults or people who need cards with a little more grip or visual clarity.

Plus, if you’re a DIY gift-giver like I am, imagine pairing these with a handmade fabric pouch or wooden box for a personalized twist. It would make a really thoughtful and low-cost present for a game lover or nostalgic friend.

Now, one tiny tip: make sure to let everything dry completely before stacking or using them. I rushed a bit on my first batch and ended up with a few cards stuck together. A bit of sanding or sealing would probably help prevent that too, especially if you want them to last.

Overall, this craft hit all the right notes — easy, upcycled, fun, and surprisingly satisfying to hold in your hands when they’re done. It’s a fantastic way to breathe new life into something old, and I honestly can’t wait to make a few themed sets as gifts.

So if you’re on the fence, give it a try. It’s playful, it’s practical, and hey, it might just be your new favorite weekend project.