Welcome to Hands on Crafts

Let’s get crafty – without the waste. We love crafting. And we love getting the kids involved. But who says you have to spend a fortune on new supplies? You have an entire house full of materials just waiting to be recycled into something new – something magical (okay, I can’t promise the magical part).

From cardboard tubes to clothing, containers, egg cartons, bags, light bulbs and more, we have craft ideas for anything and everything you would normally toss in the recycling bin – or trash. These kid-friendly projects will keep the little ones busy (giving mom a few minutes to breathe) and help keep the world a greener, happier place.

What’s the Big Deal about Recycled Crafts?

Every year, the world tosses out 2.6 trillion tons of garbage. And most of that winds up in landfills. Only 1% of that waste is recycled.

At this rate, we’re going to run out of space to dump our garbage.

Space issues aside, did you know that landfills also emit methane? Methane is a greenhouse gas that’s 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. And the EPA projects that landfill liners will, at some point, start leaking. This means that all of that toxic “garbage juice” will eventually seep into the ground, contaminating groundwater and soil.

It’s estimated that about 90% of our waste could either be recycled, reused or composted.

I know what you’re thinking: I’m just one person. I won’t make a difference. Making a few crafts with my kids using items around the house isn’t really doing much.

That’s not true.

The average American throws out 4.5 pounds of trash every single day. Germany, China and other developed nations aren’t too far behind that number. One simple project a few times a month – or every week – can reduce your waste by quite a bit. If everyone did that, we’d have a much happier planet.

Why not turn your trash into a fun project for the kids?

Less trash winds up in the landfill. You and your kids have fun making something new – something you’ll actually use. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Turn Non-Recyclable Items into Something Useful

Unfortunately, there are a lot of items that can’t be tossed into your recyclables bin. And if you don’t find a use for them, they’ll probably wind up in the trash. Non-recyclables include:

• Food waste
• Shredded paper
• Diapers
• Wood
• Clothing
• Metal
• Electronics and cables
• Beauty items
• Polystyrene
• Foil
• Aluminum
• Soiled cardboard – sorry no old pizza boxes

While these items can’t be recycled the old fashioned way, many can be repurposed for other uses. And that’s exactly what we intend to help you do.

For instance I previously bought a Tria Beauty hair removal device and it was a fantastic laser hair removal device, however all things must come to an end. But instead of throwing it away I let my children transform it into a robot.

At Hands On Crafts, we have project ideas that recycle just about any household item you can think of, such as:

• Denim
• Plastic bottles
• Aluminum cans
• Egg cartons
• Books
• Cardboard tubes
• Wine bottles and corks
• Mason jars
• Paper plates, and more

No matter your age, no matter your skill level, you’re sure to find a project that you’ll love. From jewelry to home décor, we’ll help you turn your trash into treasures.

Turn your old wine bottle into a funky lamp, or transform old book pages into paper roses. Aluminum cans can double as planters, and an old mason jar can be home to your next terrarium garden. Build a castle with the box from your new home rowing machine (thanks to RowingAdvisor.com for that tip), you get fit while the kids also stay active playing. Don’t forget our collection of holiday-themed projects to help you and you’re your family celebrate.

There are so many fun ways to turn your old trash into something new and useful.

Check out our collection of recycled craft projects and tutorials, and help us make the world a greener, happier place.