• Recycled craftsArts and Crafts image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com
  
  Teach your kids how to make green crafts made from recycled items. Using recycled items for crafting teaches children how to think creatively and conservatively. Children will enjoy salvaging empty containers and goodies to make crafts for friends and family.
  
  

Egg Bouquet

• Make a bouquet of flowers, like the one illustrated at the Better Homes and Gardens website, using empty paper egg cartons and pipe cleaners. Instruct the child to cut the carton into sections and paint them inside and out with craft paint. Help them punch a hole and insert a doubled pipe cleaner. The pipe cleaner will become the plant stamen and stem. The child could make several of these flowers and tuck them into a clear glass container. This is a good craft to make in the spring.
  
  

Art Display Board

• With an old cardboard box, your child can create an art display board. Art display boards are good mediums for children to show off their artwork. Help the child cut the board in half and remove the top and bottom. The idea is to make a display board that folds out and stands freely. Have your child decorate the board with paints, stickers or construction paper. Add fabric or ribbon strips to tuck pictures and artwork under.
  
  

Luggage Tags

• When traveling, your child's luggage will stand out from the crowd with unusual recycled luggage tags. Recycle Christmas tinsel, like metallic silver or gold strand. Add plastic letter jewelry from broken necklaces to the strand. Alternatively, recycle old Scrabble letters, if you have an old game, and glue the letters to the strand instead. The child should knot the strand; add a letter, then knot the strand again. Spell the child's name out with the letters. Tie the Christmas tinsel strand around luggage and backpacks. The distinctive tag makes luggage easy to identify.
  
  

CD Clock

• Old scratched CDs that do not play do not have to be tossed away. Make a clock out of an old CD, as described at crafts.kaboose.com. The CD should be painted with craft paint first; paint on both sides if you like. Paint colored circles to indicate the 12-, 3-, 6- and 9-hour marks on the clock. Add clock hardware into the CD's hole and hold it in place with a washer. Add magnetic strip to the back and hang the clock on the refrigerator.