15 Eco Friendly Crafts: Super Clever Ideas

Here is a round up of some eco-friendly crafts.  These green crafts are mostly focused on ways to upcycle using things that we have already in our homes and that may otherwise get thrown away or recycled. Most of these recycled craft ideas are great for involving your children with both for fun and to teach them about environmentally friendly habits. Eco craft projects are a great way to reuse everything from plastic bottles to wine corks to fabric scraps. There are so many creative ways to repurpose and it is so much fun creating new sustainable crafts.

What is Eco Friendly Crafting?

Eco-friendly crafting is all about making art, decorations, or functional items in ways that are kind to the environment. It focuses on using sustainable, non-toxic, and often recycled or biodegradable materials. The idea is to reduce waste, avoid harmful chemicals, and make conscious choices about how and what you create.

Here are some key craft supplies and materials of eco-friendly crafting:

• Recycled items: Old magazines, paper scraps, fabric scraps, glass jars, cardboard, etc.
• Natural materials: Wood, leaves, twine, stones, pressed flowers.
• Sustainable supplies: Organic cotton, bamboo yarn, soy-based crayons, beeswax.
• Non-toxic glues, paints, and dyes.

The practice of eco friendly crafting is all about turning trash into treasure—like making jewelry from bottle caps or turning an old T-shirt into a tote bag. The idea is to encourage creativity without contributing to landfills.

15 Cute & Clever Eco-Friendly Crafts

So go ahead and pull your recycling bin up to your craft table and get started on some of these fun recycled crafts ideas. The best part of an eco-friendly craft project is discovering cool ways to reuse everyday things like empty toilet paper rolls and old cans. Next time you have old items you want to throw away, challenge yourself to come up with a simple project to give them a second life. Click the links provided for easy step-by-step instructions on each of these easy crafts.

Recycled Craft Bean Bag Toss Game

One great way to reuse a few boxes is to make a bean bag toss. Not only is this a great family activity, it also provides some fun, in-door exercise during the winter months.

Upcycled E-Reader

Directions for making your own eReader case or tablet case from an old book and some fabric.  This is a fun way to have several covers (if your an accessory fan), to give a personalized gift or simply to have for practical reasons.
read more at DIY eReader Case

Make A Draft Stopper Eco Craft

Wintertime comes with hefty heating bills. Luckily there are lots of ways to lower your heating bills and save energy. Making a draft stopper is one way to help conserve energy and keep your family comfortable and away from those cold winter drafts! They also make a perfect gift during the holiday season. How to Make a Draft Stopper- just take a long rectangular piece of fabric (37 inches by 5 inches is great for a door) and fold it in half lengthwise with the pattern inwards. Then sew the length together by hemming it along the edge. Once you have done that turn the material so the pattern is on the outside of your fabric tube. Stuff with batting or old clothing strips and then sew ends shut.

Reuse Your Egg Cartons As Puppet Material For Kids

This post offers ideas for how to make leftover egg cartons into fun puppets with your kids. Then set up a show and enjoy your work!
read more at jennifischer.blogspot.com

Eco Craft for Kids: Making Your Own Pencil Box

Clear, plastic lettuce tubs with lids are perfect for holding paper scraps and repurposed shoe boxes are great for holding paints and paint brushes. We also use old diaper wipe boxes to hold crayons or cleaning wipe packages to hold pencils and markers. This DIY craft is a great “upcycling” project that teaches kids to reuse items.

Upcycled Sewing Machine Craft

Create a fun recycled art project using a old sewing machine and tons of secondhand buttons like this one by the Quilted Cupcake.

Making Seeded Paper Green Craft

Making paper with your kids is a great way to teach them about recycling and a really fun project they will enjoy.  When I started to show my daughter how to make plantable paper, she was immediately curious about it. She wanted to know if it was the way they made the paper she writes on and if all paper is made out of trees.

Turn A Plastic Bottle Into Bathroom Storage

This Recycled Plastic Bottle Bathroom Storage project from Cristin Frank is perfect for holding makeup, toothbrushes, or cotton balls.  It doesn’t take up any space on the counter so it’s great for small spaces.
read more at Plastic Bottle Storage

Eco-friendly Craft: Make Your Own Pet Motel

This fun craft will keep your kids busy not only while they’re making it but also for hours and hours of imagination and play time when they are done. This eco-friendly craft is a pet motel for your child’s stuffed animals. You can actually build any variation of this you like such a doll house or car park.
read more at Cardboard Boxes Crafts

Eco-Friendly Clay Elf Craft

Add some holiday cheer to your year by making your favorite elf! All you need is some clay (any non-hardening or sculpting clay will work), hair raiser (garlic press or strainer), a pencil and of course your IMAGINATION! “One of the most earth friendly ‘toys’ for children is clay.  Clay is mud, just mud and it brings delight and smiles to every student I teach and observe!”
read more at How to Make a Clay Elf

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Puzzle Kids Craft

Allowing children to create a puzzle is an educational and fun craft that also saves you a trip to the toy store. A homemade puzzle is also a great way for them to reuse their artwork or old magazine photos. Not only do they practice problem-solving, but it allows them to learn about reusing. A pretty page from a magazine can be cut into simple shapes like squares and kids to practice putting them back together to complete the photo again. They can them use school glue to affix them to the back of old cereal box and display them.

Recycled Box Music Makers

With the holidays bringing so many different size and shape packages to your doorstep, it’s a great time to have a little musical fun by creating instruments called rattle boxes. If you add textured fabric or paper as you decorate them, it becomes a musical and sensory experience as well!
photo credit: tinytappingtoes.wordpress.com

DIY Dog Bed Eco-Friendly Craft

Some clothing may be too stained or ripped to donate. What do you do with clothing that is not good enough to donate? You can reuse things like old T-shirts in several ways such as making rags to use for cleaning. If you have enough rags, you can use your old textiles to make a homemade pet pillow…
read more at Homemade Pet Bed

Recycled Picture Frame

Some tips on upcycling old picture frames.  From dump to office decor!
read more at DIY Memo Board

Yarn Scrap Wall Hangings

Want one more DIY eco-friendly craft? Then you are in luck. This is a great eco craft for reusing yarn scraps. This pretty craft is often called a “God’s Eye” — also known by its Spanish name, “Ojo de Dios”. It’s traditionally made by weaving yarn around crossed sticks (often popsicle sticks or twigs) to form a diamond-shaped pattern. They’re often used as wall hangings or decorations and can be made in a variety of colors and patterns. While rooted in Indigenous Mexican and South American traditions, they’re now a popular craft for kids and adults alike.

Here’s a quick guide:

1. Cross two popsicle sticks to form an “X” and glue them together if needed.
2. Tie the end of the yarn around the center where the sticks cross.
3. Wrap the yarn over and around each stick in a clockwise (or counterclockwise) pattern, going over one stick, around the back, then to the next.
4. Keep wrapping in the same order, pushing the yarn snugly toward the center as you go to build layers.
5. Change colors by tying on new yarn and trimming the ends.
6. When it’s the size you want, tie off the end and add a loop for hanging!

Conclusion

Eco-friendly craft ideas are a perfect way to express creativity while showing love and respect for Mother Nature. By using eco-friendly materials like recycled paper, natural fabrics, and biodegradable supplies, each eco-friendly project becomes a small step toward a healthier planet. Whether you’re crafting for fun, function, or gifts, these mindful choices help reduce waste and protect the environment. Embracing eco-conscious creativity is not just rewarding—it’s a beautiful way to care for the Earth and inspire others to do the same.

I hope these eco craft ideas have provided you with some inspiration. Eco crafts are a great way to reduce your crafting costs and to make a positive impact on the planet. Every bit adds up! So which of these recycled craft ideas are your favorites? Connect on social media @familyfocusblog to share your upcycled materials and finished product!

Related Posts:

DIY Baby Clothes Upcycle Ideas

Cereal Box Crafts- Clever Ways To Reuse Cereal Boxes

Go Green For Kids