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Crafts can be more than just fun, they can resuscitate items that are destined for the recycling bin.  I love being able to give new life to common household items.  Here are some great ideas that do just that.

1. This is a great way to add that special touch to all your presents.  You can use colourful magazine pages to create gift bows.  I’m sure flyers, newspapers, colorful junk mail pages or even old wrapping paper would work too.
2. Here’s another way to reuse all the extra paper that seems to accumulate.  These gorgeous coasters are made using a simple weaving technique.  They are so practical and easy to make.
3. I thought this project was so cute.  Organize the clutter on your fridge and reuse old jeans by turning the pockets into magnets.  These would look so great if you have embroidered jeans that your kids have outgrown.
4. Thanks to the internet, I never actually use my phone book.  If you don’t either, I think this is a great idea for your old phone book; turn it into an organizer for pens, pencils and other assorted goodies.
5. This is a quick project that is sure to entertain your kids during mealtimes.  You can convert a favourite picture book into colourful, personalized placemats.
6. I love this project because it is such a beautiful way to store your pictures and it is made from such an unexpected source.  Chip bags, candy/granola wrappers etc can be used to transform a regular binder into an amazing album.  You can find the weaving technique used for this project on this page.  It has always bothered me that some food wrappers are not recyclable.  This is such a great way to reuse them.
7. This is a easy project to make a birdfeeder from a juice carton.  It is fun to make and your kids can decorate it any way they like.  The birds will love it and your kids will love it.
8. Instead of buying one, make your own watering can from a plastic jug.  You can even make more than one and let your kids help water the plants.
9. I love the idea of sitting outside on a summer evening surrounded by these beautiful candle holders.  Reuse tin cans to make these candle holders that can be used inside or outdoors.  They would be a great place to put citronella candles and keep the bugs away.
10. This is a very versatile project to turn big plastic bottles into door hangers.  On the site they recommend using it as an outdoor planter that can be hung on fence posts, but I think it would great on the door knobs of kids’ rooms.
11. Somehow I always need more containers, so I thought this project was wonderful.  Weave newspapers around different forms to create baskets of different sizes and shapes.  This is great use for newspapers and you can recycle the basket when you don’t need it anymore.
12. Plarn – make yarn from plastic bags.  I think this is an amazing way to reuse plastic bags.  You can watch the video here and once you’ve made the yarn it can be used for just about anything, including making crochet bags.  I can’t wait to try this!