Trash or treasure? Every day, millions of items鈥攑lastic bottles, paper scraps, old T-shirts鈥攁re tossed away without a second thought. But what if those 鈥渦seless鈥� things could be transformed into something creative and meaningful?
April 22 marks both Earth Day and GreenCitizen鈥檚 anniversary, a reminder of why we do what we do. While the world celebrates sustainability once a year, we believe every day should be Earth Day鈥攖hat鈥檚 why our motto is 鈥淢ake Every Day Earth Day.鈥�
This year, let鈥檚 rethink waste with Earth Day crafts that turn everyday materials into something beautiful and useful. From upcycled decorations to DIY gifts, these hands-on projects aren鈥檛 just fun鈥攖hey鈥檙e a small but powerful way to protect the planet.
Whether you鈥檙e crafting with kids, decorating your home, or looking for creative ways to repurpose materials, these Earth Day crafts will inspire you to see waste in a whole new light.
Let鈥檚 get creative, protect the planet, and make something truly special. Here are the best Earth Day craft ideas to get started!
30 Best Earth Day Crafts for Kids
Here are 30 of our favorite Earth Day crafts and activities.
1. The Bug Motel
One of my favorite Earth Day crafts for kids is constructing a听. All you need are small branches and a few pinecones. Stuff them tightly into a cut open empty plastic bottle, hang it from a tree and wait for bugs to find a new home.
2. Moss Balls
This is another one of those easy Earth Day activities for preschoolers who like to get their hands dirty. Simply听听and gently form it into a ball and wrap some wool around it.
3. Paper Bag Canvas
Rather than reach for clean sheets of paper, upcycle those grocery store paper bags and make them into a simple听.
4. Egg Carton Trees
This is one of the simplest Earth Day crafts ideal for preschoolers.听听and stick them to a piece of paper. Then paint a trunk and your Earth Day craft is ready.
5. Colorful Suncatchers
They might look like听, but they use wax paper and look amazing when you hang them in your windows on Earth Day.
6. Upcycled Desk Organizer
If your kid has a听, gather up old metal cans and paint them in bright colors. Make sure there are no sharp edges, and then use them for storing pens.
7. Wildflower Seed Bombs
Pick up a听听at a garden center and some torn-up scraps of tissue paper on Earth Day. Put them in a blender with some water, let them dry and then scatter them around a garden and wait for them to germinate.
8. Upcycled Maze
Gather recycled materials like cardboard, newspaper or any used paper, and drinking straws.听听and then simply add a marble for a homemade game.
9. Recycled Quilt
Any clothing items that you no longer use and that aren鈥檛 suitable for donation can be听. This Earth Day craft might be a project for older kids and not preschoolers.
10. Fairy House
Preschoolers and kindergarten kids will love this project on Earth Day. All you need are some empty plastic bottles,听听on them, and let kids decorate them.
11. Upcycled Garden Seating
If you have听, then paint it in a bright color and find a round cushion that fits on top. It鈥檚 perfect for kids to enjoy more nature time during Earth Day.
12. Wild Nature Wreath
I originally got this idea from I Heart Crafty Things, and it couldn鈥檛 be easier. On Earth Day, head out on a nature walk and collect plants and flowers. Then attach them to some braided twine to听.
13. Aluminum Recycling Organizer
听to a box and keep them in a convenient place in your home. Then gather all aluminum cans in this box and, once full, bring them to a recycling center.
14. Paper-Mache Pots
This is another Earth Day idea for preschoolers to get messy. All you need for听听is an old newspaper or any used paper, magazines, and some glue, and you have hours of kids鈥� entertainment.
15. Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder
All you need is a plastic bottle, some string, and a pack of seeds to make a听. It鈥檚 one way to combine Earth Day crafts with exploring wildlife.听
16. Newspaper Birds
This Earth Day craft project is simple for young preschoolers. Take an old newspaper and听, then color it with as many ideas as you can think of.
17. Homemade Hanging Garden
On Earth Day, gather up some recycled materials, including a plastic bottle and an old piece of cable. Cut a hole into the side of the bottle, fill it with compost and听.
18. Shaving Cream Glue
Many kids鈥� crafts and activities involve glue, but this one is unique. By mixing听, glue, and paint, you can get some amazing textures in your Earth Day artwork.
19. Upcycled Terrariums
An empty clear plastic bottle is ideal for听. With just a bit of compost and some seeds, even preschoolers can do this Earth Day craft.
20. Earth Day Popcorn
For some healthy Earth Day activities, create snacks for kids to enjoy 鈥� all you need are some听.
21. Flower Art Project
If the weather doesn鈥檛 allow you outside on Earth Day, then gather up some recycled materials like magazines and newspapers.听听and stick them on paper for some simple process art.
22. Tissue Paper Earth
Here鈥檚 another simple project for preschoolers to do. All you need is a听听and watercolors, and you鈥檙e good to go.
23. Multi-Colored Crayons
Don鈥檛 throw out those small bits of leftover crayons. My children love to place them in a jar and then gently melt them into one large听.
24. Plastic Bottle Cap Art
听throughout the year can give you a great resource for making all types of different patterns in a hugely creative way.
25. Pasta World Map
Create a fun听听with different shapes of pasta and plenty of color to get kids interested in the geography of the earth.
26. Pebble Art
These are fun activities for young kids on Earth Day and they involve听听and painting them. Then glue them to some recycled cardboard for maximum impact.
27. Magazine Art
This Earth Day craft idea is ideal for older kids. Simply听听or newspaper pages and shape them into images of nature.听
28. Plantable Paper Earth
Similar to seed bombs, this project allows you to create an听听with wildflowers and herbs.
29. Paper Plate Earth Craft
听are ideal for younger kids to start with an earth-shaped canvas, and all they need is some inspiration to create some colorful art.听
30. Upcycling Art Wall
This is one of those Earth Day crafts that are ideal for kindergarten kids to continuously听听by adding new pieces like toilet rolls and egg cartons every day.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found these Earth Day crafts inspiring and that they bring joy to your family鈥檚 celebrations! Whether you’re crafting with kindergarteners, preschoolers, or even older kids, these fun and eco-friendly activities make it easy to teach sustainability on a budget.
Looking for more ways to celebrate? Check out these Earth Day Tips to make an even bigger impact, and get inspired by these Earth Day Quotes that remind us why protecting our planet matters every day.
Let鈥檚 keep the creativity going and make every day Earth Day!
