Some of our very favorite craft projects are taking items that would usually be garbage (or recycling) and turning them into whole new creations. There is a treasure of craft supplies right in your discard pile! For some great ideas on using two of these staples: cardboard tubes and egg cartons, we have a pair of fun books by Fiona Hayes.
The first, 51 Things to Make with Cardboard Tubes, shows you how to transform unwanted cardboard tubes into dinosaurs, vehicles, jungle animals, monsters, woodland creatures, ocean life and much more. These are great activities for parents and children to create together and serve as a “jumping off” point for kids to use their imagination and make their own creations. The 51 projects included in the book feature a well-balanced mix of techniques, materials, colors, and styles for a range of ages.
I am a little bummed that so many brands have moved to plastic or styrofoam egg cartons because cardboard egg cartons are really the best ones for projects! (Although you can see our mini basket craft with styrofoam egg cartons here.) If you are lucky enough to have cardboard cartons, you’ll want to check out 51 Things to Make with Egg Cartons. Using the ideas in this book you can transform unwanted egg cartons into insects, monsters, reptiles, and much more. Again, these are great activities for adults and kids to work on together and the 51 projects feature a well-balanced mix of techniques, materials, colors, and styles for a range of ages.
About the Author: Fiona Hayes sounds like my kind of lady! She has illustrated, designed and written children’s books for nearly 20 years, and has worked with children and adults on a wide range of craft projects. She has always loved making things, from baking to all sorts of crafts. From her point of view, things you make are always better than anything you can buy, and best of all, creating wonderful stuff makes you and everyone else smile!
Reader Giveaway: One lucky Jinxy Kids reader will win both 51 Things to Make with Cardboard Tubes and 51 Things to Make with Egg Cartons. To enter, just complete the entry form below by 11:59pm ET on 9/20/16. Good luck!
51 Things to Make Giveaway
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I’m a busy blogger and happy auntie of Little R, who I spend time with several days per week – which ends up being the FAVORITE part of my week! We love to cook together, do crafts, play outside and turn boring errands into fun adventures.
Lily Kwan says
I will be making these crafts. My favorite recycled material to use for DIY projects/crafts is empty paper tubes.