Crazy green recycled crafts

Recycled crayons? (public domain photo)

Going green doesn't have to be difficult. It also doesn't have to be boring and tedious. In fact, it can be really fun. Crazy ecofriendly crafts made with recycled products and materials are both fun and rewarding. Recycled products can be used to make funny, decorative or kid friendly crafts the whole family will love. Your kids will love to go green with crazy craft projects like these.

Redneck wind chimes

This green crafts project will have everyone laughing. The recycled products used are beer cans. Aluminum beer cans make the loveliest sound when blowing in the wind. Continue to go green after the wind chimes have served their usefulness by recycling the aluminum cans as well.

To make the redneck wind chimes you'll need 6-8 empty washed aluminum beer cans. Drop a few marbles inside each one for weight. If you have no aluminum beer cans, pop cans will do, along with an old wire coat hanger and some nylon string.

These ecofriendly crafts are put together in traditional redneck fashion. First hang the wire hanger up. Now your hands are free to create. Tie strings of random lengths to the hanger. Tie the aluminum cans to the other end of the string through the can tabs. Now hang this silly wind chime on the front porch to amuse passersby.

Paper lunch bag puppets

Before undertaking this recycled crafts project, sit down and talk to your child about the importance of ecofriendly crafts and other green movement trends. Explain to them the need to preserve the earth for future generations. Then tell them to bring home their used paper lunch bags so you can make these crafts together.

In addition to a weeks worth of used paper lunch bags, gather up all the yarn, fabric and paper scraps and old buttons saved from crafts projects and recycled clothing. You'll also need some white craft glue or homemade flour and water paste for these crazy go green crafts projects. A few old crayon stubs can be used up by drawing on the bags. Save the rest of the crayon stubs for the candle making project.

The fold near the top of the recycled paper bag becomes a finger hold. This is the mouth of the ecofriendly puppet. Use the recycled crayon stubs to draw lips and teeth there. Now comes the rest of the project. Glue a yarn hairdo and eyelashes to the puppets head. Make it crazy and colorful. Add bits of recycled cloth and paper to make the cheeks and nose. The recycled buttons become eyes.

Recycled "crayondles"

Save all the crayon stubs and old wax from used candles for this crafts project. You'll also need some inexpensive wicks and wick holders from the craft store. Other recycled products needed include clean empty thick glass jars of all sizes and some tiny seashells.

Start this project by melting all the recycled wax from the old candles in a double boiler. If no double boiler is available use an old pan inside another pan filled with several inches of water. The inside pan can only be re-used to melt more wax for future projects. While the wax is melting, shave the recycled crayon bits.

Final instructions:

• Secure the wick tab with wick to the bottom of a jar with a drop of wax and let cool.
• Tie the wick around a pencil balanced on the jar top to keep the wick straight.
• Fill the recycled jar with ice cubes.
• Add the shavings from the recycled crayons and shells to the melted wax in the pan.
• Stir quickly. (Leave the colorful shavings partially intact.)
• Pour the melted wax into the jar.
• As the wax cools, the ice melts leaving air pockets in the crazy looking, colorful candle.
• Pour the water out.
• See the mosaic left by the air pockets, recycled crayons and shells.
  

Portions of this post were previously published by this author on a closed Yahoo! property.