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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Have you read?

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!