Egg Carton Ants Art Craft

How to Make Egg Carton Ants Craft

We love to make something from nothing! Perhaps, one of the first recycled craft projects (just behind the milk carton house) was the egg carton ants art craft. These cute little ants are fun for preschoolers to make, but they also work fine motor skills. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your egg cartons and get ready to make some ants. We've added a few more ant art ideas, so keep scrolling and Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

How to Make a Bottle Bloom into a Flower: Recycled Projects

Use your old plastic bottles to create a fun flower project for kids:  Bottle Bloom

Things to do with a Plastic Bottle. This is a special guest post written by my very creative brother, Jamie. Watch how he makes a plastic bottle into a flower  in this fun, recyled activity project. We'll be unveiling many cute coloring sheets for kids and lots of fun projects little boys will love. Welcome Jamie in the comments below the post. Enjoy!

Wondering what to do with all those empty plastic bottles? 
Make them bloom into something new.

Looking for things to do with plastic bottles? Have you ever seen an old plastic water bottle bloom into a beautiful flower? Take your recycled items to a new level, and give them new life with our fun, recycled project ideas for kids. Use this as a companion project for a science lesson on naming the parts of a plant.

Supplies Needed to make your bottle bloom.

This is a fun way to turn those constantly piling up plastic bottles into a cute craft that anyone can make. All you need is a pair of scissors, a glue gun, and a straw. Well, of course, you will need a bottle.

Cut the bottom off of  the bottle.

How to make a flower from a plastic water bottle:

• Cut the bottom of the bottle off near the end.
• Carefully space and then cut out leaves from the remaining bottle.
• Use a cap full of glue to secure the straw in the bottle's cap. You need to use a lot of glue to anchor the finished flower. 
• Now, glue the bottom of the bottle to the top of the straw.
• Finish with your choice of paint. We chose water colors- not the best coverage but an interesting look. If you want your paint finish to last use an acrylic or even spray paint made for plastics.    

Cut the leaves from the bottle.

Be careful not to cut them all way off, leave the sides (leaves attached near the lid).

Attach the straw with lots of glue.

Glue bottom of the bottle to the other end of the straw.

Make an entire flower patch in minutes!

Make a whole flower patch in just minutes!


Recommended Reading:

Sand Art Bottles with Rice

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book*

The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling (Little Green Books)*










ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Creative Country Recycling ~ Oar and Cushion Chair

Isn't this about the coolest thing you've ever seen?  I love it! Perfect for a lake cottage or rustic cabin.

Rustic Chair from Recycled Boat items.

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Repurpose Anything into Handmade Magnetic Chalkboards even Pumpkins

Is that a chalkboard pumpkin? 

Why yes it is a chalkboard pumpkin, why do you ask?

That's Right, anything can make a chalkboard. It started with a kitchen wall for my pre-schoolers. I hadn't discovered magnetic paint yet. I bought a black can of chalkboard paint (green didn't go with my decor) and painted an entire wall. It made a fun, new place to teach spelling and math for our homeschoolers.  Enjoy!

Make a Plastic Pumpkin Painted with Chalkboard Paint.

That's our chalkboard on the wall behind Jake.

It's Kitschy ~ I signed into Etsy and saw someone selling horse statues they had painted with chalkboard paint. Well, a light went off in my head. I love to create 'stuff' from junk. I repurpose everything I can to help make the world a better place. :) 

How to make a magnetic chalkboard pumpkin 
for fun fall homeschool lessons.

Well, hello there, proud, magnetic pumpkin!

Start with a plastic pumpkin. You can find them at Michael's and JoAnn's. Sand the pumpkin lightly so the paint will take hold.  Then add 2-3 layers of magnetic paint. It is imperative that you let it dry 24 hours between coats. When magnets stick to it you're done.

Paint a chalkboard on your wall like this one behind Mayhem.



You can eve make your own magnets from re-purposed puzzle pieces painted with a silly character. I have so many advertiser's magnets (flat ones from doctor's offices). I cut them up and hot glue them to the backs of things. Here are some cool magnets from the NURTURE STORE.

Originally, I used a can of chalkboard paint and a brush. Then, I discovered chalkboard spray paint...  Awesome!  I had concerns that it would run, but it was excellent and left no messy brush strokes! Again, you must wait 24 hours between coats. Patience is a virtue for a reason. I used two coats allowing it to dry for 24 hours before prepping for chalk. To prep, color the entire item with chalk and let it set overnight. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

You Might Also Like:   Edible Scratch and Sniff Water Colors

Recommended Reading:

October Holidays Calendar

Pumpkin Soup *ad

The Runaway Pumpkin *ad

Top 10 Reasons to Hate Juice Packs, Recycle Plastic Bottles

Recycle Plastic Bottles for Lunch

Recycle Kid's Trash to Ease Mommy Woes. Hate Juice Packs? We're always looking for new ways to recycle plastic bottles. The juice pack mess really sparked this idea. How do you teach your kids to recycle? Enjoy!

How do you teach your kids to recycle? 

Ways to Recycle Plastic Bottles

Here are 10 reasons to hate juice packs:

1.  Straw wrappers. Everywhere.
2.  "Mommy, I can't get a straw in here!" (But they want to, try really hard, and squeeze juice everywhere.)
3.  Little dots of juice turned dirt magnets on the carpet. Everywhere.
4.  One box takes up a lot of fridge room and only lasts one day. Expensive, considering.
5.  Pouches in landfills. Everywhere.
6.  Half-full pouch tossed in trash because kids too lazy too squeeze out last drop.
7.  "I don't like Kiwi Strawberry." "I don't like lemonade." "Wah!" (Complaints)
8.  "Look, it's a volcano!" Everywhere.
9.  Added sugar.
10. Instant Balloon toys, need I say more?


Solution:
Recycle mini-soda bottles, fill with healthy drinks of your choice or even Kool-aid. Saves money, the environment, and Mommy headaches. 

Reuse Plastic Bottles: Kid's choose their favorite flavor and reseal for later.


Store recycled mini-plastic bottles in the bottom of fridge door for easy access: 
Allows for preschooler independence!

Of course, water bottles work too; maybe try it for lazy grown-ups or portion control.

Recommended Reading:

Uses for Plastic Bottles

Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons* 

Recycle a Bottle into a Valentine Card Holder

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here.Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Recycle Scrabble Games for Language Arts Literacy Centers

How to Recycle Scrabble into a Literacy Center for Sight Words and Language Arts 

Scrabble. Kids love it! Don't be a stickler for the rules. Let your preschoolers play by their own rules or follow these. You'll be amazed at their ability to sound out sight words or guess what the word will be when it's finished. Scroll down to see how we recycled Scrabble games into a literacy center for sight words. Enjoy!

How to Recycle Scrabble into a Literacy Center for 
Sight Words and Language Arts.

How to Use Scrabble as a Preschool Literacy Center

Things to do with Scrabble: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse. We placed all of the letters right side up in the Scrabble box. We built sight words like Foot and made magic by switching the two o's for two e's to get Feet. See if you can think of more words. The kids were giggling as they realized what was about to happen.

Tree. Leaf. Leap. Roof. Reef. Wreath....

Think of patterns to keep your little reader on the right track. Let them guess. Guessing helps them learn new sight words.  For example, I built coal but my son said it was cola. His mind saw all of the letters for cola. Praise them on a great guess and awesome letter recognition. Then, show them how coal can magically become cola!

Then, Jake thought this was the coolest thing he had ever seen.  Don't force it. Don't make them read it if they'd rather build nonsense words on the letter rack. Whatever they choose to do they have tangible letters and they are visualizing them. Letter play reinforces letter recognition, and if it's fun they will keep coming back for more.

Help them spell their names or yours. Let them build words and have you guess what they are- even if they aren't real words. Keep encouraging them to use letters in a fun way. My son began reading at two and half without the "Your Baby Can Read" products.  I never did flash cards or forced it. It just happened with fun ideas.  Never underestimate the power of "WORD WORLD" and "BETWEEN THE LIONS".

You will need more letters to spell "PIZZA". Make your own from cardboard or collect old games at garage sales. Scrabble Letters are great for crafts:  personalize picture frames, Greek paddles, or toy bins.  Let your imagination run wild. SCRABBLE is more than just a game.

Each time your kids do a craft project with the letter, they are learning!  Just be careful, the tiles could pose a choking hazard for little ones.

Oh and a post note:  In kindergarten, Jake read at 12th grade level! Thanks to PBS and fun. Don't expect those results, just appreciate that your child is learning and enjoying it!


Recommended Reading:


100 Write-and-Learn Sight Word Practice Pages: Reproducible Activity Pages*

Homeschool Projects

Preschool Activities

















ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Turkey Craft for Preschool Cardboard Tubes

Recycle Cardboard Tubes into a Turkey for this Preschool Craft

This cute turkey craft is made from a cardboard tube. We used found recycled objects from a nature hike. These turkeys use Christmas bulb ornaments, cardboard toilet tubes, twigs, and fall leaves. Each one is unique, and your kids will enjoy the family time spent making them at home. Togetherness :)  Enjoy!

Preschool Turkey Craft: Amanda, age 2.
She added the feet all by herself!

Supplies needed to make turkey craft for preschool.

You will need:

Collect leaves from your yard.

Save cardboard toilet paper tubes.

Tacky Glue or Hot Glue.

Modge Podge.

Sunflower Seeds

Walnuts w/ Green Outercoating, Apples, or anything from nature that is rounded

IPO of walnuts we used plastic Christmas ornaments that I purchased at the dollar tree!

15 for $1 - the perfect fit into the cardboard tube.

How to make a 'Green' Turkey Craft:

Cover cardboard tube with glue.

Glue fall leaves on tube to cover entirely.

Turkey craft for preschool from recycled items.

I love this leaf! Isn't it a thing of true beauty? Squeeze a line of glue inside the top of the tube, and insert the turkey's head. Glue a leaf on the back to serve as his tail-feathers.

Draw on preserved fall leaves with a Permanent Marker.

Draw on leaves with permanent marker to make a gobbler, then cut it out and glue it onto your turkey. Also, use the marker to write your name.



Mommy's turkey place setting name card, age unknown.

Cute turkey craft from leaves and twigs.

These still look cute after 4 days in a heated house. You might want to coat your leaves with Modge Podge to make them last longer or click here how to preserve fall leaves.

Happy Turkey Crafts! I'll be adding a turkey-themed craft each week until Thanksgiving so check back often. Please share your favorite ideas or ways to improve mine.

Recommended Reading:

Cardboard Tube Christmas Tree

175 Easy-to-Do Thanksgiving Crafts (Creative Uses for Recyclables)

Crafts for Kids: A Month by Month Idea Book

Fun Fall Leaf Wreath Tutorial with Real Leaves

How to Make a Fall Leaf Door Wreath DIY 

Learn how to make a real fall leaf wreath for your door. Get out today, and take your kids on a hike to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. It's great exercise and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy your children. Collect the brightest, healthiest leaves to make this together. Once preserved, it makes a perfect gift for Grandma or even a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Scroll down to learn how to preserve the glorious fall-foliage, color and all.  Enjoy!

This post contains Affiliate Links for your convenience.

Learn how to preserve a leaf wreath. 

To make this leafy wreath you must hurry; the colors fade fast!

How to make a fall leaf wreath with real leaves.

So easy to make.

The fall wreath craft turned out incredibly colorful and beautiful.

How to Make a Fall Wreath from Leaves

Fall Wreath SUPPLIES:

Paper Plates
Tacky Glue or Hot Glue Gun
Lots of colorful Leaves from your yard
(you can buy fabric leaves at Jo Ann's.)
Raffia Ribbon or Colorful Fabric Ribbon.
Glitter, if you want to make it sparkle.

Poke a hole in the center of a paper plate,

cut the center out, leaving only an outer ring.

Glue the leaves around the plate

in a colorful arrangement.

Voila a super easy, cute craft project.

We hung these leaf wreaths above the fireplace

but they would look great on the front door!

My kids enjoyed collecting the leaves in various shapes and sizes. We found very tiny ones and gigantic ones that made the search lots of fun. This project was so easy, with fantastic results. My 2 year old's wreath is beautiful, and she did it all by herself! I know the leaves will turn brown soon, but it was a great bonding experience. If you want to make a wreath that will last thru the season, buy a bag of fabric leaves at Jo Ann's Fabric. They work just as well and last forever! We had limited money and spent $8 at the dollar tree. We have tons of supplies left over and made 3 separate projects! The girls had a wonderful time today! Sam loved using the hot glue and Amanda loved using tacky glue while smearing it all over the plates. We spent nearly two hours working on various projects and nobody's attention wavered. This is a fun one! Unfortunately 4 hours later and Amanda's are starting to wilt and turn brown. I don't know if it was the tacky glue, the fact that she kept 'painting' them with water, or that she just liked to use the brown ones. Anyway, I will keep you posted on that - it is our side project: The science of leaf disintegration in the house. Will they turn brown more quickly or more slowly?

Recommended Reading:

More Kid's Seasonal Craft Ideas

The Toddler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy

Easy Crafts for Halloween and Fall - Crafts for Kids and Adults