Happy Earth Day!

In the last post, we talked about saving money from your kitchen - and now I want to talk about saving money from your Recycling!

Children are the greatest gifts of all, which means we always want to shower them with presents, but most children don't appreciate things like expensive toys or clothing because they're too busy being kids!

Why not give the children in your life the gift of time?  Spend some time with them creating something amazing, and start with your recycling pile!  Below is a list of great ideas for crafts and projects that are very low cost and also great for the planet!  Celebrate Earth Day with the children in your life - and teach them about sustainability by example.

• Homemade Paper:  Let the little ones' imaginations run wild as they gather paper products from around the house and gather plant products from around the yard!  You can include flower petals or wild grasses in your homemade paper to give it that extra boost of color, which is especially helpful if you're starting with a gray base of newspaper.  Link Here to Instructions on How to Make Homemade Paper.
• Crafty Mobiles:  Pick some toilet paper and paper towel tubes out of your recycling pile, add some old wire hangers and some thread or yarn, and create away!  You can make mobiles out of basically everything, but that's my favorite recipe.  Let the children color the tubes with paint, crayons, markers, or pastels (whatever you have in the house) and attach the tubes to the hangers with thread or yarn.  They'll love these mobiles, and they can hang them in their rooms so that they'll always remember the special time you spent with them, and the fun you had!  Link Here to Other Great Mobiles Ideas.
• Paper Lanterns:  Lanterns made out of reused paper bags aren't only good for the holidays, they're good for any time of year!  You can use any small reused paper bag to make a lantern - all you have to do is trim the top (you can trim it straight or make it fancy but cutting it in shapes) and cut into the front and back of the bag to let the light shine through.  These lanterns make great yard accessories!  You can make them in any shape - a face, a star, an apple.  Let the children pick their favorite food and make a lantern to celebrate it!  Or celebrate the bounty of the Earth and make a circle shaped hole in the front and back, to symbolize the warmth emanating from the planet, and from the love between you as you create together!  When you're done, be sure to put some sand in the bottom of the lantern when you put it outside so that it's safe!  Link Here to Instructions on Making Fancy Paper Lanterns.
• Translucent Wings:  Do you have an old pair of stockings and two old wire hangers?  Then you can make pretty translucent wings!  Don't worry about the rips, you can always cover those with paper or fabric.  Simply attach the two wire hangers together at the top (wrap fabric around the bits poking out so they're safe), cut the stockings (lighter-colored tights work, too) in half at the middle seam, and stretch the halves over each side of the set of wings.  Then you can put glitter, paint, paper, and fabric on the wings to make them beautiful!  Any child would love a pair of wings - these aren't just for girls.  Boys can have elf wings or they can become King of the Fairies with a pair!  Link Here to Instructions on Making Upcycled Hanger Wings.

You can find all sorts of crafts to make from your Recycling, if you look hard enough!  Spend some time with the wonderful kiddies in your life, and teach them about Reusing and Recycling by showing them how!  Happy Earth Day!