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Children crafting colourful rainbows using Kitpas crayons, recycled cardboard and collage materials. One child is visible on the left and another is visible on the right, working on the projects.

Reuse, Recycle, Play: 20+ Easy DIY Craft Ideas for Kids

Every day is an opportunity to care for our planet, and what better way to teach children this than through the joy of making and playing? We've picked our favourite, easiest-to-make activities from our community, using recycled materials you already have at home: cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes, egg cartons, glass jars, popsicle sticks and wooden pegs.

Best of all, many of these projects pair beautifully with products you already own (or might want to add to your collection), from building blocks to craft supplies.

Please note: some activities involve scissors, hot glue and similar tools that require adult supervision.

A collage showing children's eco-friendly craft and play activities using cardboard boxes - to encourage recycling and reusing of materials, alongside toys and craft supplies from Oskar's Wooden Ark in Australia

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard is one of the ultimate open-ended play materials, much like our wooden toys. These five ideas pair a simple box with products you already stock at home.

  1. Cardboard Castle: A lavish palace complete with a drawbridge, turrets and royal crests for knights and princesses. (Full tutorial available) Image: @learnandbloom.
  2. DIY Shape Sorter: Cut shapes into a cardboard box to match your child's favourite building block set, then colour in the outline for a fun colour and shape matching game. Image: @pagesofchildhood.
  3. Sun Catcher Fairy Wand: A magical wand that captures sunlight beautifully using Japanese Silk Tissue Paper.
  4. Shooting Star: A fun catching game or playroom decor piece made using Sarah's Silks Playsilks. Image:@woodentoyplay.
  5. Cardboard Stitching Templates: Practice stitching patterns through pierced cardboard using Golden Fleece wool.
MORE Ways to Recycle and Re-use a Cardboard Box
A collage showing children's eco-friendly craft and play activities using cardboard tubes and egg boxes - to encourage recycling and reusing of materials, alongside toys and craft supplies from Oskar's Wooden Ark in Australia

Cardboard Tubes & Egg Cartons

Before you toss out another paper towel roll or egg carton, try one of these: perfect for small world play.

  1. Cardboard Rolls Ball Run: One of the best additions to any ball or marble run, a natural extension for kids who already build with Grimm's and other wooden construction toys. Image: @jen.ma.bu.
  2. Cardboard Forest: Use cardboard tubes as the trunks for cardboard trees of all shapes, sizes and colours for a simple small world backdrop or nature display. Image: @learnandbloom.
  3. Leafy Tree Colour Sorting: Combines colour sorting, sensory play, nature elements and art in one activity. We have used Grimm's beads, but any loose parts will do.
  4. Nature Colour Hunt: Head outside and fill an egg carton with colour-matched treasures from nature. (Full tutorial available.) Image: @simply_bea.
  5. Ice Cream Cones: The pointy piece of an egg carton becomes the perfect ice cream cone for pretend play, serve it up with Grimm's Wooden Rainbow Balls as the "scoops".
A collage showing children's eco-friendly craft and play activities using glass jars - to encourage recycling and reusing of materials, alongside toys and craft supplies from Oskar's Wooden Ark in Australia

Glass Jars

Glass jars are handy for all sorts of projects and organisation around the home (adult supervision advised).

  1. Walking Rainbow Experiment: An incredibly simple but striking science experiment for little learners using STOCKMAR paints. (Full tutorial available.) Image: @exploringlifetogether_.
  2. Plant a Seed: Watch a plant grow from seed to sprout in a jar with cotton balls, a simple, satisfying science activity. Make it extra fun by creating a growth ruler from a popsicle stick, marked up with your favourite pencils, to track how tall your seedling grows each day. Image: @exploringlifetogether_.
  3. Glass Tissue Paper Lantern: Grab a glass jar, glue and shapes cut from Japanese Silk Tissue Paper for a simple but beautiful rainbow lantern. Image: @woodentoyplay.
  4. DIY Lava Lamps: Coloured water, oil and a surprise ingredient make lava erupt and blobs bubble. (Full tutorial available.) Image: @learnandbloom.
  5. DIY Easter Bunny Jar of Treats: Bunny ears on the lid, a cute face drawn with Kitpas Art Crayons, and treats inside: a charming gift or decoration.
A collage showing children's eco-friendly craft and play activities using wooden popsicle sticks - to encourage recycling and reusing of materials, alongside toys and craft supplies from Oskar's Wooden Ark in Australia

Popsicle Sticks

You'll be rushing out to buy ice blocks after seeing what a few popsicle sticks can become.

  1. Pencil Holder: Upcycle Grimm's Glitterstones packaging or any paper cup into a simple, effective pencil holder.
  2. Small World Furniture & Accessories: Simple and sturdy, build a fence or other small world accessories for your farm, house or garden scene, finished with STOCKMAR Watercolour Paints for a realistic, quaint touch.
  3. Beach House: A stylish holiday home for your Maileg Mice, made with just popsicle sticks and hot glue.
  4. Seed Labels: Never lose track of your seedlings again, decorate with your favourite pencils. You could also create a growth ruler to track how tall your seedling grows each day (see above).
A collage showing children's eco-friendly craft and play activities using wooden pegs - to encourage recycling and reusing of materials, alongside craft supplies from Oskar's Wooden Ark in Australia

Wooden Pegs

Old, broken pegs get a second life as these long-lasting creations.

  1. Peg Doll Ballerina: Hair, shoes and a leotard painted with STOCKMAR Aquarelle Paint, finished with a pompom tutu made from Japanese Silk Tissue Paper.
  2. Peg Butterflies: Simple but effective butterflies made with coffee filters and STOCKMAR Watercolour Paints. Image: @pagesofchildhood.
  3. Peg Lion: Fine Motor Skills Practice: Painted pegs become a lion's mane, great for fine motor skills and pattern learning. Image: @pagesofchildhood.
  4. Art Display: A Grimm's-inspired peg gallery for pegging up drawings and photographs.

Over twenty simple ideas, endless play: proof that some of the best craft projects start with what others might throw away. Share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram, tagging @oskarswoodenark and using #oskarswoodenark.

Stock up on everything you need for your next recycled creation, from watercolour paints and silk tissue paper to wool and craft essentials.

Stock Up for Your Next Craft Session

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CREATE: Make, Craft & Imagine

Hands-on art and craft ideas to spark creativity in little makers, with step-by-step instructions and suggested material lists

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