Parenting Today
Celebrating the arrival of spring is a wonderful family activity. After all the winter decorations come down, it’s time to replace them with colorful, nature-inspired creations that remind us of warmer days ahead.
Kids love to help with crafts and decorations, so involve the whole family in the project! Rather than purchasing decorations or expensive materials, try using household items that are headed for the trash or recycling bins.
By upcycling these materials, you’ll give them a second life and have fun in the process!
Plastic Bags
We all have a plethora of plastic bags, so why not turn them into a lovely spring decoration?
Use plastic bags as an upcycled insert for throw pillows to save money. You can also DIY sew the pillow shams with old clothes or materials.
Choose materials that welcome the season and place them on the couch or a front porch rocking chair. You can add more plastic bags over time as the fluff level decreases.
Another great use for that stack of plastic bags is to make customized coasters for your spring table or outdoor dining area. You can choose the colors and designs of bags you enjoy and put them on top, or add a layer of fabric to the stack of plastic once you’re done.
Help supervise little ones during the cutting and ironing stages, but even elementary-aged kids can finish this project with minimal assistance.
Egg Cartons
Egg cartons are everywhere! If you need décor ideas that go beyond the typical egg-carton animals, try something more sophisticated for your front door or over the mantle.
This Easter wreath is a great way to reuse egg cartons while disguising their original form. It’s also a great project for little hands since there are so many components to paint!
For a different flower-inspired egg carton craft, try these spring fairy lights. You’ll want to leave them up year-round!
Metal or Tin Cans
Rather than throwing the old vegetable and bean cans in the recycling bin, turn them into spring planters! These cute centerpieces can serve a dual purpose as both décor and a practical space for planting seedlings and herbs in the newly warm weather. Everyone in the family can decorate their own can for easy plant identification in the months to come.
For a fun and whimsical project with soda cans, try these beautiful aluminum butterflies! Kids under about 12 should be supervised during the cutting phase, but even the littlest family members can help decorate the butterflies once they’re the right shape. You can place them around the house or yard to welcome spring to your home.
Plastic Silverware
Rather than throwing away the plastic utensils that come with takeout orders, upcycle the spoons so the kids can make these adorable garden dragonflies. By using both spoons and bottle caps, you can keep even more items out of the landfill. Let your kids tuck their new bug friends in potted plants around your house or in corners of the garden beds outside.
For something more elegant, these rose tea light holders use plastic spoons to create a lovely centerpiece for your table or small adornment on the bathroom counter to signify the new season.
Cardboard Leftovers
So many boxes come with small packing inserts made from thin cardboard. The pieces aren’t large enough for big projects, but you can still use them for wonderful spring crafts around the house.
These rainbow birds are the perfect way to bring color and fun to your house while using any size cardboard pieces you can find; make a whole bird family! You can also create a cardboard feather or flower wall hanging by using scraps of cardboard, paint, and twine. Stick with natural colors for a more earthy look, or go wild with color to really welcome the season!
With a little bit of creativity, your home will be ready for Spring without spending much on materials.
