A Dozen Ways to Turn Recycling into Art

First off, cheers to you for taking the initiative to recycle. Recycling is easy and something everyone should be doing by now. Once you see the quantity of plastics, glass and paper products you are actually recycling, it can become a bit of a wake up call to cut back on using those items all together. There are many fun ways to reuse your recycling by turning them into art.

1. Bird Feeder

Turn big plastic bottles and glass jars into bird feeders. Simply turn your glass jar upside down and fasten a drop tray underneath that will allow your feathered friends to comfortably sit and eat. Using string or wire run from the drop tray on both sides of the jar and held in place with rubber bands or string you will have a loop to tie your feeder to the tree. Plastic bottles are easy. Just melt small holes inward for feeding and make sure to run a bird seat (wooden, plastic or steel pole) horizontally through the bottle near the feeding holes. Tie string around the top and hang.

2. Pen Holder

Take old tea tins or bottles and using clear packing tape, create a collage to your liking for yourself or for gifts. I like drawing my own pictures and taping them around the tins. You can also use photos. Also, try classing up a clear pen jar by filling it with coffee beans, pebbles or marbles.

3. Grain Storage Containers

Using glass jars, remove all labels using Pledge. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it off. Fill with rice varieties, cereals or dried soups. It makes a colorful and artsy way to store your dry goods in an airtight container. I like to hang tags from the top describing the contents.

4. Tree Decoration

Take old wine or olive oil bottles or any other fancy, shapely or colorful bottle and using sturdy jute twine or anything similar, hang low from your bottom tree branches. It will give your yard a surreal and magical look.

5. Cat Toys

Using an avocado seed, create a fun and fast moving cat toy. Once you clean the seed thoroughly and allow to dry for a day, attach a string or other fun item and your cat will be entertained for hours.

6. Painting the News

Use old newspaper as background for your paintings. This works especially great if you are reusing canvas, paper or wood. Using a light shear color over the top so the newspaper is still seen underneath the painting itself, Original and eye-catching.

7. Change Collector

Use old bottles and jars to keep your spare change. Label them with fun sayings by cutting out magazine words, letters or drawing your own and taping them around the jar using clear packing tape. Some ideas would be: college fund, runaway money, concert money, vacation, etc.

8. Bottle Cap Lampshade

Using bottle caps spice up your old lampshade. Simple glue the bottle caps around the existing lampshade in patterns or however you see fit. Use strong permanent glue.

9. Picture Frames

Using bottle caps, old magazines, material or newspapers, glue around a basic picture frame. This makes great personalized gifts.

10. Head Bands

Take old material, ribbon pieces, bows from gifts and anything else your heart desires and use it to refurbish your plain head band. Using a little super glue or strong water proof glue, wrap the material around the head band and glue at the ends and middle. If you have left over flowers from wrappings or anything else, throw those on there too for a dash of your own flare.

11. Reusable Bags

Give your tee shirts, shower curtains and table cloths a second life by sewing them into a simple reusable bag. Try using an old belt as the strap. With tee shirts, it its best to cut out the design and sew on to sturdy material or double the material up by sewing two tee shirts together to create one bag. Original and a thousand times better than using plastic bags!

12. Tire Garden

If recycling your old tire isn’t available, try using it as a flower pot. Plant flowers or herbs in the old tire and give it a second life.

Patrick Hopkins holds a B.A in Journalism and currently writes for Phoenix Kiosk, a kiosk manufacturer. He covers everything from outdoor kiosks to technology and education.  Phoenix Kiosk: Innovative Technologies from Vision to Reality.