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These art projects using recycled materials are perfect examples of turning trash into treasure! Go ahead & gather all your ‘junk’ – we’re making art!

Have you noticed that most of the special days that have to do with the environment are during spring-summer? For instance, take a look at this list:

• 3 Mar – World Wildlife Day
• 18 Mar – Global Recycling Day
• 21 Mar – World Forestry Day
• 22 Mar – World Water Day
• 30 Mar – International Day of Zero Waste
• 22 Apr – World Earth Day
• 22 May – International Biodiversity Day
• 5 Jun – World Environment Day

See? Most of the major days are concentrated around this time of the year. I like to think that it’s a part of the spirit of spring, which is renewal and hope, and caring for those around us.

We’re all aware that a big part of doing this is by following the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. While you can most certainly use it for your daily things, we think you can also get a little creative and turn your trash into treasure – treasure that is art!

15 Creative Art Projects Using Recycled Materials

1. Vegetable Printing Art

One of the things every home throws out is probably old veggies, and we show you here how you can put even those to good use – not to eat of course, but to create art!

2. Sunset Art Pillow Cover

Live in a high rise that doesn’t give you a sunset view? No problem – just take an old cotton or canvas cushion cover and create your own sunset art on it!

3. Melted Crayon Monogram Art

‘Broken crayons still color’ That’s a beautiful quote, but we like to take it further; broken crayons can still create beautiful art – especially if you melt them!

4. Potato Print Monster Art

Some of the best art projects using recycled materials are with veggies, especially spuds! Take your old potatoes and use them to create little paint monsters – the shapes don’t matter at all!

5. Button Burlap Wall Art

It can often be confusing about how you can use buttons that are of random shapes, sizes and colors. This easy burlap wall art is an excellent way to use up old random buttons, and you can also add in other materials you like!

6. Recycled Art Sculptures

One thing we love about art projects using recycled materials is that they’re so open-ended – just like these sculptures from Tinkerlab! You can use practically anything lying around, and use your creativity to put them together.

7. Pool Noodle Flower Prints

Pool noodles and flowers – what’s the connection? Well Childcareland shows us that if you use a little creativity, you can get some pretty little spring blooms from your summer must haves!

8. Magazine Wall Art

Most of us have moved on to digital magazines and books, which means we may have some old mags lying around. If you do, then check out these tutorials from Brit.co on how to turn them into fun wall art.

9. Cereal Box Flower Art

Do you throw away your cereal boxes after you’re done? You won’t after you see this fun project from The Resourceful Mama! Use multicolored cereal boxes to create unique flowers or other pictures that you like.

10. Magazine Collage Art

If the previous magazine art projects were too complex, here’s an easy one from Modge Podge Rocks. This is a great way to introduce young kids to the idea of reusing materials to create art.

11. Upcycled Plastic Bottle Cap Art

Spring and summer is when we tend to consume a lot of bottled drinks, so make sure you’re saving up all the bottle caps, because you’ll need them to make this butterfly from Fiskars!

12. Recycled Self-Portrait Collage

We love art projects using recycled materials of different kinds, and this one from The Artful Parent uses paper bags, cardboard, toilet paper rolls and more!

13. Cardboard Rainbow Collage

Our lives are better when it’s filled with different colors, different sounds and of course, different art materials! Art Bar Blog celebrates this idea in this open-ended rainbow art project where you can use pretty much anything you like!

14. Bottle Cap Flower Wall Art

Here’s a fun art project using recycled metal bottle caps from Building Our Story. The good thing about these is that you can twist the metal, giving you more possibilities than plastic bottle caps.

15. Dale Chihuly-Inspired Plastic Bottle Art

This list of art projects using recycled materials can’t be complete without a project inspired by a great artist, and we love this one from Mum in the Madhouse, inspired by Dale Chihuly!

Please note that these art projects using recycled materials are just starter ideas, and I’m sure these can trigger many more amazing suggestions in your head! Soon you’ll be able to think of something to make as soon as you look at an item you were going to throw away – that’s how it should be!