Five super simple upcycled crafts to turn trash into treasure

Since the coronavirus has a lot of people self-quarantined many are looking for things to do.  If you didn’t have time to go to the craft store to stock up on supplies, don’t worry.  You can create upcycled crafts with just ordinary stuff you find around the house and turn trash into treasure.

Just be creative.  If something calls for felt, substitute construction paper.  It’s all relative.  There are so many options.  

Most of these projects are great to make with bored kids.  Great for family time while we are all staying inside and safe. 

1.     Recycle advertising magnets into magnetic pets.  You can really have fun with these magnets.  Try using photos of friends and relatives in addition to pets.  If you don’t have double-stick tape, substitute some school or tacky glue spread thinly.

Recycled advertising magnets 

2.      Paint chip photo frame.  You might have some paint chip samples leftover from a painting project.  If you do, the color chips are super cut up and applied onto a frame. You can use a paper shredder to cut the strips or just cut them with scissors to vary the sizes.  Don’t have a frame, use some corrugated cardboard cut in a frame shape and apply the strips to that.

Paint chip photo frame

3.     Plastic bag friendship bracelets.  If you get the newspaper delivered many times during rain they come enclosed in plastic bags.  Don’t toss those bags, use them to make cool friendship bracelets.  This one uses a rattail ribbon, but you can easily substitute extra shoelaces, ribbon, strips of fabric.  Be creative.  It’s fun and easy and kids love them!

Plastic bag friendship bracelets

Egg carton shrink charms

4.     Shrink an egg carton to make charms.  Remember shrinky dinks?  Well, did you know that any plastic container that has a #6 on it you can shrink to 1/3 of its size and the thickness of about a nickel.  A lot of egg cartons are listed number 6 so if you have one of these follow the tutorial and create all sorts of charms you can use for key chains, backpack charms, hair clips and more.  Remember only number 6 will work. 

Recycled DVD egg mosaic

5.     Cut up an old DVD and make a shiny mosaic Easter egg.  You can use paper mache eggs, plastic eggs, even Styrofoam eggs.  The trick is for this craft is that DVD’s have two layers, when you separate the layers they super easy to cut into pieces.  The pieces can then be glued onto an egg or other surface.  

How to make fun Halloween eyeball ring party favors

If you want to make some Halloween fun try these quick and easy Halloween eyeball ring party favors!  They are inexpensive and you can make enough for a crowd in no time.

Attach the Halloween eyeball ring on to a lollipop before and you will have two gifts in one!

Halloween eyeball ring party favors

Updated: October 2018

Lets get started:

Materials:

Round felt stickers (I used eyeballs)

¼” wide black elastic

Ex-acto or craft knife

Small paintbrush

Lollipops (I used blow pops)

Pen or pencil

Ruler

Tacky glue

1.     You will need two round felt stickers for each mask/ring.  If the motif has any dimensional felt applied peel it off of the one you delegate as the bottom.  Only one side faces up.  Make two marks across from each other with a pen or pencil on the back of the bottom felt motif.  (See photo)

2.     Cut a piece of ¼” elastic 3 inches long.

3.     Cut through the slit marks you made on the back of one motif with an exacto or craft knife.  Remove the backing from the motif you cut the slits in and using the end of a small, thin paintbrush push the elastic through the slits entering through the non-sticky side, fold and adhere each elastic end to the sticky surface.  This is when you should measure to make sure the mask fits on your particular lollipop and pull through tighter or looser as needed.  

Measure your lolly

4.     Remove the backing from the other motif and attach to cover where you attached the elastic.  Slide onto your lollipop.  You may want to add a bit of tacky glue to further reinforce the bond.

5.     When you have eaten the lollipop use the mask as a cute ring.

If you can't find the eyeball felt stickers in your area, don't fret.  Simply cut two circles out of white felt and glue some wiggle eyes in the center.  Draw red lines with a fine line sharpie and make the rings as instructed using the tacky glue to adhere the two pieces together.

How to make an adorable little pompom bunny

You can make this cute little pompom bunny in just about any color yarn you may have.  I made mine in gray yarn but he would look equally adorable in pink, white or any pastel color. 

Make your pompom quick and easy using the Bowdabra bow maker tool, or any pompom maker you may have on hand.  Then, use a few little extra touches to bring your pompom bunny to life!

Let’s get started…

Materials:

Yarn your choice of color

Felt in white and pink

Chenille stem

Two 12 mm white pompoms

1 5mm pink pompom

Two pink wiggle eyes or any color you want

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Optional:

Bowdabra bow maker

Bowdabra bow wire

Pompom bunny

1.     Make your pompom.  To make a pompom with the Bowdabra, cut a piece of bow wire and insert into the Bowdabra horizontally. Next, begin to wrap the yarn around the towers of the Bowmaker.  (See photo)

2.     Continue wrapping the yarn around 60 times.

3.     Now, tie the bow wire tightly around the wrapped yarn. 

4.     Remove from the Bowdabra and tie a few more knots as tightly as possible.

5.     Cut all the loops.  Trim and shape up the pompom.

6.     Next, cut long teardrop shape from the white felt.  Curt another one using the first one as a guide. (Ears) Now, cut a smaller teardrop shape from pink felt to fit on the inside of the ear, repeat for a second one as you did the first. 

7.     Cut a small piece of chenille stem and glue to the white felt ear.  Then, glue the pink interior of the ear over the top of the chenille stem.  This will allow you to bend and shape the ear.  Repeat for the second ear.

8.     Move the yarn pieces to make a space to insert the ears.  Add a dab of glue on the end of each ear and insert into the pompom. 

9.     Glue two wiggle eyes under the ears.

10. To finish, glue two 12mm pompoms together on the front of your bunny. (Muzzle) Then, glue the 5mm pompom in the center (nose) Enjoy your pompom bunny!

How to make a sweet puppy card brooch for the holidays

Do your children need a cute little gift for the teacher this year?  Maybe you would like to make something special for a friend or co-worker.  If you are like me you get lots of cards in the mail and never throw any away.  They are just too cute, especially the puppies, kittens and other cute animals.  So this year, I grabbed a few simple supplies and made adorable a sweet puppy card brooch.  They were an immediate hit.  I mean who doesn’t love puppies or kittens? 

You can make some too and they cost practically nothing so when you need a few simple gifts they very budget friendly.  Simply look through old cards or new ones that you can pick up at the dollar store, or even samples you get in the mail.  Choose a small animal image, cut out and create your brooches.

Materials:

Christmas cards with puppies or kittens or any adorable animal

ModPodge Dimensional Magic

Stiffened felt in coordinating color

Scissors

Waxed paper to protect your work surface

Tacky craft glue

Pinback

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Tiny bows, usually 10 in a package

Instructions:

1.     Find your image. Cut out your image. Use some tacky craft glue to attach the image to the stiffened felt and let dry. 

2.     Place your prepared image on some waxed paper.  Do not shake the ModPodge dimensional magic or you will have bubbles form.  Use the ModPodge dimensional magic to cover the image right up to the edges.  Let dry for several hours. 

3.     Now, add another coat of ModPodge dimensional magic up to the edges as you did before.  Let dry completely.

4.     Using the hot glue attach a little ribbon to the front of your brooch.

5.     Add a pin back on the back. 

We hope you enjoyed this simple and easy craft tutorial.  This is a super kid’s craft.  Kids just love when they something for their teacher or Grandma!  Visit Make it easy crafts again for more fun and easy DIY crafts! And please follow on Facebook, Pinterest, G+, twitter, and bloglovin.  We love comments.

How to paint a snowflake rock for the holidays

Rock painting is all the rage these days.  It’s fun to paint a rock with a positive message on the back and leave it somewhere for someone to find.  Then, they, in turn, leave it somewhere else.  Kids, adults, anyone can paint a rock.  The cost is minimal only requiring some paint and anything goes.  And this little snowflake rock is so easy and so much fun!

You can make your snowflake rock individual by varying the shapes and sizes of snowflakes.  Then to finish, write a simple word on the back.  I chose Joy, but you can use peace, kindness, snow, or any other positive word that fits the season.  They make a great gift as well to use as a desk decoration or paperweight!

Materials:

Rock

Acrylic paint, light blue, white

Tiny silver beads

E6000 glue

Pencil
Sharpie paint marker in black

Small paintbrush

Newspaper or something to protect your work surface

Instructions:

1.     Paint the entire front of the rock light blue, let dry and then turn it over and paint the back.

2.     Next, use a pencil to outline the snowflake.  First, draw a vertical line.  Then draw a horizontal line.  Finally, draw an x with two lines in the center.  

3.     Now, draw lines near the base, connecting the snowflake all around.  (See photo)

4.     To finish your snowflake pattern draw two lines on each spoke all around. (See photo)

5.     Use white paint to go over your pattern.  Let dry.

6.     Go over the snowflake for your snowflake rock a second time if necessary and let dry completely.

7.     Turn the rock to the back and using the pencil, write your message or word.  Then go over it with the black sharpie and let it dry.

8.     Use E600 glue to attach some tiny silver beads on the ends of each spoke. (Optional)  Let the glue dry. Your rock is ready to spread some kindness!

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