Kids love crafts and activities and upcycling projects can be a great way to teach them about wasting less, recycling and reuse in general. They are also cheaper than a trip to the craft store too!
Below is a fab round up of great upcycling projects for kids. These are all easy crafts and DIY projects that would be great for earth day or just for a fun family activity.
I’ve grouped them into sections by what material was used in the project so scroll to the section for the item you have on hand for upcycling for loads of great ideas and clever ways to get crafty with kids of all ages.
The sections below are:
- Upcycling Projects using Toilet Rolls
- Upcycled Crayon Crafts
- Upcycled Cardboard Crafts
- Upcycled Crafts using Egg Cartons
- Upcycling Projects with Tin Cans
- Upcycled Crafts from Fabric & Old Clothing
- Upcycle Projects using Paper Plates
- Upcycled Crafts with Old T-Shirts
- Upcycling Projects with Old CDs
- Upcycling Projects using Plastic Bottles
- Upcycling Projects with other items from your Recycling Bin
- Upcycled Nature Crafts
- Upcycled Furniture Play Areas for Kids
65+ Upcycling Projects for Kids (Super Fun Craft Ideas!)
Scroll down to find creative ways to entertain little kids with fun projects using different types of upcycled materials.
Upcycled Crafts using Toilet Rolls
Whether you call it a toilet roll or a toilet paper tube these are items no household is short of and they are perfect for all sorts of craft projects!
How cute is this toilet roll car garage! My kids would love putting their race cars in and out of the little slots!
Such a cute craft! A great way for using up leftover paint too!
Do you have a little explorer in the family? Toy binoculars are always a hit and these are easy to make and easy to see through!
DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots and Painted Stone Garden Markers
Teach your little gardener about planting and growing and upcycling at the same time with these seedling pots made from toilet rolls and painted stone garden markers.
Another fun art project! This time making a pirate! Argh!
Speaking of art projects this is a genius idea that will keep them entertained making fun and easy fireworks shapes.
Upcycled Crayon Crafts
This next group of ideas uses old crayons melted down. Such a simple idea but so colourful and fun for kids.
This is one of my craft projects - a super easy way to make name or letter crayons from the broken ends of old crayons - a great gift idea!
Another great way to breath new life into old broken crayons!
A similar idea to the ones above - this time using a flower mould.
Upcycled Cardboard Crafts
What doesn't come delivered in cardboard these days? Lets put it to good use - from cardboard boxes to cereal boxes there are tons of ideas here.
Make a cardboard train and then flip it over when your child gets bored to reveal a rocketship to the moon!
My son helped me to decided on the size of this bookshelf as well as helping me wrap it with wrapping paper to pretty it up at the end.
It took 4 cardboard boxes of different sizes and the tutorial can be adapted to fit your own space.
What child doesn't love a play kitchen? I love this cardboard version!
This is a super easy craft that will let your little one explore their love of pets with their soft toys before the real thing!
Such a cute idea! I think this one probably needs more adult hands than some of the others though!
Teach them about saving and do a fun art project at the same time!
This is a great way to upcycle some materials to display kid's photos in their rooms.
Of course your kids could help out in making it too!
Using a combination of different cardboards rom your recycling box and some duct tape you can make a fun robot character!
I think these frames are a great idea and perfect for little bits of kid's magazines or books that are constantly getting torn!
This is a great way to do an art project with an older child who might find some of these other crafts a bit childish.
Upcycled Crafts using Egg Cartons
Egg Cartons are another one of those items that you always have tons of - so its great we've find so many fun projects for them!
How pretty is this? It's good enough to decorate a bedroom with!
Does anybody else look at this and think it would be a great gift for Grandma?
You could do something similar with bottle caps as well if you have a hot glue gun.
Using egg cartons, pipe cleaners and a few other craft supplies - your kids will have so much fun making their own little critters.
More little creatures to make from your egg cartons!
Upcycling Projects with Tin Cans
Tin can crafts need adult supervision due to the sharp edges but if you smooth those down there is no end to the upcycle projects you can do with cans!
Another fun art project that does two things at once - gets kid being creative and appreciating saving their pennies!
Tin cans make super realistic looking robots!
Let your little one get arty on your tin can lids and then display them in the garden where they can serve a purpose and be on display for all to see.
I love how colourful this one is!
Upcycled Crafts from Fabric & Old Clothing
Upcycling fabric is my latest obsession and has led to me becoming a total quilting nerd.
Below are some fun ideas for how to reuse old clothing and scrap fabrics. (Note: there is a separate section for T-Shirts further below).
My son loves putting on his apron made from his Daddy's old shirt and taking orders for my 'cafe' meal!
This is definitely more a project for a baby rather than to make with a baby but I think it is a great way of using up fabric scraps and babies are fascinated with these books!
Get the free template and tutorial for this Scrap Fabric Owl - easy and fast to make and uses up those bits of fabric you aren't sure what to do with.
This is a totally doable project for a school aged child. They can pick their favourite colours and decorate their room!
Kids love making scrunchies!
A simple and fun first sewing project using scrap fabric or upcycled clothes.
How cute is this upcycled denim bike bag?
For loads of other fun denim upcycling ideas head here.
A fun way to get your child crafting for your pets!
Here is another upcycled denim craft for your dog this time. Kid's love making things for their 'best friends':)
Upcycled Crafts using Paper Plates
Don't throw away paper plates that aren't wet or soggy. Just brush the crumbs off and get crafting with your kids!
The perfect canvas for a budding artist.
Use paper plates and plastic lids to make these fun UFOs!
Upcycled Crafts with Old T-shirts
Don't toss you kid's old t-shirt just because it has a small hole in it - repurpose and upcycle it into something else they can wear or use.
Kid's will love feeling like they have made their own jewellery by wrapping old unloved bangles with t-shirt yarn to give them a new colourful look.
No sew crafts are great for kids and this one they'll be happy to wear too!
If your kid loves the motif on a particular shirt but they've grown out of it this little project is a great way to keep it on show where they can enjoy it for years to come.
Upcycled Crafts using Old CDs
Your kids might not know what your old cds used to be for, but that doesn't mean they can't have fun crafting with them!
Such a cute art project!
I never understood why kids love ladybugs (or ladybirds here in the UK) so much - but they definitely do!
Upcycled Crafts from Plastic Bottles
The ever-present recycling bin stable - the plastic bottle! So many fun upcycling ideas!
Plastic bottles are easy to cut and easy to paint - making them great as planters and for unique art creations.
Repurpose and upcycle plastic water bottles into these pretty sun catchers - a perfect project to spark little imaginations.
Hanging flower pots made from plastic bottles - so fun!
Could this be any cuter?
So simple and so stinking adorable!
This involves more painting skills but the results are fab aren't they?
Upcycled Crafts from Other Recycling Bin Items
This section is a catch all for other bits and pieces that end up in your recycling bin from popsicle sticks to yoghurt pots, diaper bin cassettes and more!
A nappy is what we call diapers here in the UK but I'm pretty sure these diaper bin refill cassettes are similar in both countries and if you have babies you probably have a lot of these!
This one is for using up your junk mail including the envelopes as well as some other cardboard packaging to make fun kid's colouring books.
This pretty project uses upcycled plastic carrier bags.
If you haven't made a kid's craft with popsicle sticks are you really a parent? These are fast and fun to make.
Another fab project for the green fingered artist in your family.
This tin man robot guy uses a range of materials from your recycling including paper towel rolls.
How to make an Upcycled Pencil Case using Duck Tape: A New Back To School Tradition
Cute DIY pencil case idea.
More planting - this time using a yoghurt pot!
This is a great way to pretty up the presents your kid gives to their friends for their birthdays.
For more upcycled wrapping ideas check out our Upcyclers Guide to Gift Wrapping Post here.
If you find yourself with too many rubber bands try sorting them by colour and making some cute bouncy balls.
This is a great art project for a kid's party.
Make creative use of some plastic lids to make these pretty kid's necklaces.
These are upcycled play-doh containers! So fun!
Not sure I'd be encouraging my kids to catch bugs but this upcycled glass jar sure does look cute and could be used for storing small toys too!
This fun bug hotel uses any round container from your recycling to get started such as an empty oatmeal container.
Check out his fun DIY bird house using an old coffee can!
Use milk cartons or juice cartons to make a fun little bird feeder.
Upcycled Nature Crafts
Hmm...now is this really upcycling?
Not really but it is a cute way to repurpose and use items from your garden or local area - from rocks to seashells.
A fun take on the painted rock idea.
More garden marker ideas - this time with painted seashells.
Upcycled Furniture Play Areas for Kids
Depending how old your child is they may or may not be able to participate in making these but they sure are fun ideas and ones that will entertain them for hours once the project is done.
DIY Lego table form an old desk!
Wow - lucky child is all I can say to this one!
This is a fun and easy DIY project for slightly older children who want to make their own beach-themed decor using shells they find on the beach.
Fun Kids Crafts!
I hope you have been inspired to get creative with your kids and repurpose and reuse recyclable materials and some of your own stuff that is just cluttering up your home!
I would love to hear the creative ideas you have come up with to share an upcycle project with your child so do drop me a comment with your suggestions for this list!
Here are some other posts you might enjoy too:
Kate at Bunny's Garden
Wednesday 21st of July 2021
Awesome list of ideas! Can't wait to try some of these with our girls. Thank you for including ours.
Kristen Hubert
Thursday 22nd of July 2021
Aw fab! Thanks for contributing! x Kristen