Today, I am going to talk about recycled crafts for kids. No, I don't mean turn their crafts into something else (though, that could be an option). What I mean is using the things most of us have lying around the house at about any given moment. Some of you will have all the materials, some will have less. What is important here is to think outside the box. Get creative! There are ways to turn just about anything you have into a craft for kids. Just make sure the materials are safe from sharp edges, splinters and don't pose a choking hazard.

One of my very favorite materials for crafts with school age kids is old magazines or catalogs. Really any book with glossy pages and pictures will work. Collages or murals of different facial features combined to make a whole face is one simple way to both entertain, but open their minds to different possibilities. How about pictures of animals? Making your very own, one of a kind animal from several different animal photos is always fun. Boys, espicially seem to like "inventing" their own super-mega-destructor dog/wolf/dinosaur combo. And girls love fashion design. cutting out pictures of tops, dresses, skirts, bags, hair, etc. to create their own favorite outfits. All it takes is some paper, glue/glue stick and sissors to cut the magazines up.

Next up on my list of favorites is toilet paper rolls/paper towel rolls. Generally speaking, I use these more with preschool aged kids, but they can be adapted for any age group. Cotton balls for hair, Q-tips for arms and a marker face make some cheap puppets that kids will adore when they get to create them. Another idea for rolls is to put a handful of beans/popcorn inside, then seal with tape and paint or color them. Your very own marching band full of maracas!

Soda/water bottles. Who doesn't have a few of these at any given time? My own children's favorite activity with these is to make bird feeders. Cut the bottom off of a 2 liter bottle about 3 inches above the bottom. Cut a hole on three sides forming a triangle then tie sturdy string through each hole. Gather the three strings at the top, about 18 inches from the bottle and secure Firmly to a tree limb and fill with bird seed. Painting or decorating the feeders is also an enjoyable addition to the craft.

As you can see, making crafts with kids doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. It just takes a little ingenuity and forward thinking. Recycled crafts are always popular with kids and a fun little bonus is feeling good about finding another use for something instead of going straight to the trash. I hope you all have enjoyed and will try a few crafts for yourselves.