At this point, we should all know that recycling is important. Not only should we all be making an effort to recycle, reuse, and reduce whenever we can, we should also be setting a good example for our children. We can set that example by teaching them how to recycle things via bins, how to reuse items, and how to use less items that will eventually end up being tossed. But what about using crafting as a way to get excited about recycling, reducing, and reusing?
More from MamásLatinas: Simple ways to teach our kids to take care of our planet
Creating crafts with recycled materials is so much fun and a creative way to reuse something that has already served its purpose. It helps minds of all ages see possibilities in discarded items. Why wouldn't you want to make something out of things you already have?
Scroll through this gallery of recycled crafts we've put together and get inspired to create your own. You won't believe how lovely some of these creations are. Some are so nice you'll want to make a bunch to give as gifts and as well as keep for yourself. There are also plenty that your kids will be get super excited about.
CDs make great coasters.
Old CDs or DVDs can easily be decorated and turned into coasters.
Make beautiful painted tin cans to hold plants and flowers.
Paint and your imagination is all it takes to create these beauties.
Hang your pretty cans.
If you want to make a hanging plant holder out of your painted tin cans, just use a hammer and nail to make holes in the cans. Then string wire or a heavy cord through them for hanging.
Pull out the crochet hook and get to hookin'!
Turn your rags into rugs. This is perfect for the clothes you want to get rid of and are too ratty to donate.
Give plastic Easter eggs a second life.
Kids love plastic Easter eggs, but once Easter is over what the heck are you supposed to do with them? Well, you can have the kids turn them into wobble dolls.
You can also turn them into sugar skull candy holders.
Another great use for plastic Easter eggs is to hold on to them until autumn and turn them into sugar skull-inspired candy holders.
Breathe life into tires that are too tired for the road.
An old tire can be turned into a lovely outdoor wall planter.
And let's not forget about a good old-fashioned tire swing.
All you need is rope, an old tire and a strong branch to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Turn a jar into a DIY sewing kit.
Perfect for small repairs when there is no need to pull out the big sewing kit.
Gift cards keep giving when you turn them into jewelry.
Turn gift cards into a gift that keeps giving by upcycling them into jewelry.
Turn paper into trees.
Paper comes from trees and with this project you can turn paper back into trees.
Deck the halls with toilet paper roll Christmas trees.
You can also use empty toilet paper rolls to create a lovely Christmas tree.
Create candle holders with a coastal vibe.
You don't have to live by the beach to get a coastal vibe going in your home.
Plastic bottle cap art that looks great.
Kids and adults can create plastic bottle cap art by gluing bottle caps on a canvas. The results can be surprisingly lovely and colorful.
Turn your milk jugs into sugar skull decorations.
If you have young kids, chances are you go through a lot of milk. Save some of those gallon jugs to make Day of the Dead decorations.
Make letter art from scraps.
Cut a letter out of an old cereal box and then cover it in scraps of newspaper or magazine paper.
A DIY stove is a great project for kids.
A large delivery box can so easily be turned into a play stove that kids will play with over and over again. Just use your imagination to create one.
This cute hedgehog wants to be your pet.
Use a glue gun to attach tiny pinecones to a plastic bottle and before you know it you'll have a hedgehog.
Use delivery boxes to make cute piñatas.
Cardboard boxes can be turned into piñatas so cute you won't want to bust them.
Build castles out of dreams and bottles.
It's pretty amazing how a few plastic bottles can be turned into the castle of your child's dreams.
Baby food jars make for great snow globes.
Making your own snow globe is much easier than you might think.
Upcycle your aluminum cans into vases.
Fresh flowers look adorable in these DIY flower cans.
Don't throw those Valentine's Day candy boxes away.
Stock up on heart-shaped boxes in February and turn them into gorgeous (he)artwork.
Fashion a vertical garden out of empty soda bottles.
Wish you had more space for a garden? Go vertical!
Make tin can lanterns to light up your nights.
Tin can lanterns are perfect for the outdoors because they let light out, but keep the wind from blowing the candles out.
Dive into the recycle bin for inspiration.
Go through your recycle bin and pull out a variety of containers that you can turn into a person of sorts.
Newspaper is great for wrapping things.
You can use old newspapers to wrap gifts or fresh cut flowers you plan to give away.
Shredded paper is a great filler.
If you have a paper shredder, you can use the shredded paper as a filling for gift baskets or to pack fragile items you plan on shipping.
Use old buttons to make new cards.
Have a bunch of buttons just laying around waiting to be used, but you have no use for them? Don't throw them away. Use them to make cards. You can shape them into trees, hearts or flowers.
Cardboard egg cartons can turn into critters.
Think of all the critters you can make out of cut up egg cartons. You could make bunnies, mice, kitties, dogs and so many more clever creatures.
Turn glass jars into personalized vases.
Write something on a glass jar with a glue gun and turn it into a personalized gift.
Get kids excited about plants.
Use egg cartons to grow seedlings and get children inspired to grow plants.
Make ornaments out of broken bits of crayons.
Crayons tend to break and broken crayons tend to pile up. Turn those piles into ornaments.
How about creating a mood board collage?
Tear out words or images from magazines that inspire you and create a mood board collage.
Cheers to making things out of corks.
Start saving corks from wine bottles and when you have enough, you can fashion all sorts of things out of them.
Turn old jeans into an apron.
Turn jeans that have been outgrown or worn out into one-of-a-kind aprons.
Turn a jumbo can into a cute utensil holder.
Big cans of hominy are the perfect size to use for a DIY utensil holder.
Turn all those plastic bags you save into a tote.
Perfect for those of us that have a drawer full of plastic bags.
Create a newsworthy Day of the Dead pin.
Use old newspapers to create a pin that is to die for.
Make an army of calacas out of soda bottles.
How cute are these skeleton people? VERY!
