I’ve been known to dig through the lunch bins recycling Styrofoam trays for printing projects. I save newspapers for delicate ceramic projects and concentrated juice can tops for robot heads. Is it enough? No way.

Sometimes I start to collect things and then abandon the idea when I can’t come up with an art project or the pile threatens my limited storage. Then back to the bin they go. Depressing. But every once in a while, I adapt or create an art lesson that uses up my collections of recyclables.

Here are some of my favorite projects over the years using recycled materials…

Recycled Cardboard Lion

This lively little lion, inspired by the illustrations of Clare Youngs, is sure to have your students roaring with excitement! With only a few basic shapes involved, students can easily create a lion with stunning results.

Students will focus on line and pattern to create bold, energetic designs with a waterproof marker on all pieces of their lion before overlapping the pieces to create one cohesive piece.

This lesson is a great opportunity to teach students how to attach pieces of cardboard together using clothespins to ensure that everything dries in the correct position and attaches securely. 

Recycled Robots

This lesson came to me via Painted Paper. Laura’s colorful little darlings inspired me to start collecting tag board from the teachers workroom. After I got enough to crop at least 60 rectangles, we embarked on our project. I added concentrated juice can tops, soda can tabs, plastic fruit baskets and old buttons and yes, I actually snip them off all my old clothes!

Rocket and Space Art Collage

Using similar recycled materials, I created a rocket and space collage. I saw this idea behind a glass case at the Aerospace Museum at The Los Angeles Science Center. I snapped a picture and began collecting tag board scraps. You’ll need something heavy like tagboard but you could also cut up corrugated cardboard boxes or cereal boxes. It’s a dynamic piece that not only uses up old scraps but covers many art concepts. A real keeper!

Foil Sea Turtle and Fish Collage

This is a bit of a half and half project. You’ll need new tin foil but it’s a fantastic use for old fruit and vegetable net bags. I collected dozens and made my own texture boards. My students created fish and sea turtles but you could change up the subject to include almost anything. The original idea came from a Usborne Art Book. 

Recycled Tropical Fish

Have some cardboard boxes lying around?

Of course, you do! I make it a point to keep a stack of trimmed cardboard pieces to use in the art room. I find many uses for cardboard: for printmaking, scraping paint, to act as looms for weavings and my personal favorite, to paint on.

And these painted Tropical Fish are simply the easiest and most colorful projects to do.

Day of the Dead Catrina Dolls

Catrina Dolls may require some collecting. Egg cartons, newspapers, old lunch bags, paper plates or recycled card stock, cereal boxes and toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. The results are worth it! 

Matisse Art Projects

Matisse Name Panels. When you want to use up paper scraps there is no better artist to inspire you than Matisse. Both of these lessons require only one new piece of paper for the base. Everything else can be found through scraps. Do this project at the end of the year when your scrap box is overflowing! 

Symmetrical Aliens

These aliens use a bevvy of recycled materials: plastic twirly’s from a plastic manufacturer (okay, I don’t know what the heck they are) and lots and lots of paper scraps, old buttons, old fabric, plastic tops, etc.

Household Supplies to Save

– Toilet paper rolls

– Paper towel rolls

– Egg cartons

– Tag board, poster board

– Tissue paper and gift wrap from every celebration

– Curly ribbon

– Buttons from discarded clothing

– Fabric scraps from discarded clothing

– Fruit baskets & net bads

– Old lunch bags

– Plastic bread bags – good for stuffing with newspaper and using as a base for papier-mâché

– Paper scraps from art projects – divide into painted paper, white paper and colored paper

– Old markers – to use as rolling pins for ceramics

– Dish detergent/shampoo/plastic bottles for form-based projects

Some Tips…

Amy wrote – “I’ve been collecting old clothes… stained, holey clothes that would normally be trashed, and my kids are weaving with them… as well as cutting up plastic bags, some old screen I found, bags of chips, etc. The kids are encouraged to bring anything in from home that they can weave with too… as long as it is something that was headed to the trash can or recycling bin.”

Susan wrote – “I love doing decoupage wine bottles with my students. If you don’t drink wine, most any restaurant will save them for you.”

Midge wrote – “I reuse all my Clorox wipe containers for my markers and colored pencils and black sharpies and paint pens. I reuse all my large butter tubs to house oil pastels and crayons, and any small ones I get but beads and such in each… I never buy containers! Also I use egg cartons for paint with my kiddos! One pump per section per color and it works perfect on portion control and the lid closes and keeps the paint fresh for 2 weeks!”