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Recycled Crafts

So art projects probably don't have a huge carbon footprint, but wouldn't it be nice to turn all that stuff you have lying around into cute little collectibles for your kids? Here, three easy trash-to-treasure ideas they can help with.

By Emma Hardy

Free and Easy Crafts
Improvise kids' craft projects without a lot of planning (or a lot of spending).
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Cork Animals


Collect a pile of corks and create a whole jungle of these cute animals. Make sure an adult cuts the corks (a bread knife works very well) and then stick them together, using the little bits left over to make the ears, eyes, and horns.

Materials:

  • Corks
  • Glue
  • Bread knife
  • Scissors
  • Yellow and brown wool
  • Small beads for eyes
  1. To make a giraffe, take seven corks and cut four of them. Glue them together to make the giraffe shape. Leave to dry before moving.
  2. Cut some little strands of wool and glue them down the back of the giraffe's neck to make a mane. Cut a short length, fold it in half, knot it at the end, and stick on the back to form a tail. Cut little pieces of cork to make the horns and ears, gluing them in place on the head. Finish with two small beads glued on as eyes.
  3. To make the lion, take five corks and cut them into the shapes shown above. Stick them together to make the lion, leaving aside one piece of cork that will become the face. Leave to dry.
  4. To make the mane, wind yellow wool a few times around your fingers.
  5. Take the wool off your hand and tie another piece of wool around the middle and pull tightly, knotting it in place.
  6. Stick the mane onto the back of the lion's head and then stick the piece of cork onto the animal's neck to make the head. Cut out small pieces of cork for the ears and a triangular piece for the nose. Glue in place. Knot a loop of wool for the tail and stick beads on for the eyes.
  7. To make a crocodile, cut out the corks as shown. Glue them together and leave to dry.
  8. Cut half pieces of cork for the legs and glue four of them in place. Cut small pieces of cork and glue onto the head, attaching a bead to each to make the eyes.


Emma Hardy is the author of Green Crafts for Children (CICO Books).


Next Page: Recycled Crayon Discs

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