Winter season is a perfect time to stay inside in a warmth of your home and engage kids in crafting! We collected over 120 green recycled winter crafts to make with your kids. Raid your recycle bin and prepare to upcycle paper rolls, old newspapers and magazines, cardboard and shoe boxes, plastic bottles and caps, tin cans, mason and baby jars, and so much more!
Wow! I might have gone overboard with this list of repurposed winter crafts! But, as you will see when you scroll down the page, there are so many amazing ideas! It was so hard to cut down and decide which one not to include in this list.
Many items from your recycle bin can be reused and turned to treasures! Hope you and your kids will enjoy spending time together crafting this winter!
Which Winter Themes Are Included?
Winter crafts here cover many popular winter season themes like:
- snowflakes
- snowman
- icicles
- winter wonderland
- Frozen inspired crafts
- arctic animals
- polar animals
Supplies for Recycled Winter Crafts
Primary materials for all crafts on this page come from recycle bin. However, you will still need to stock up on some basic crafting supplies like:
- markers
- pipe cleaners
- paint
- glitter (silver and blue)
- googly eyes
- self-adhesive gems
- pom poms
Recycled Winter Crafts for Kids from Used Cardboard Box
In this section, you will find ideas for winter crafts from following items:
- cardboard box
- shoe box
- cereal box
- cardboard packaging
It’s always a good thing to have few boxes around and not only for crafting. You can always repurpose them to store your crafting supplies!
Charming Cardboard and Felt Bird Craft – Pink Stripey Socks
Snowflake Painting Process Art Activity – Stir the Wonder
South pole and Penguin Mini World from a Used Cardboard Box – Kara Carrero
Magnetic Ice Skating Craft – The Craft Train
DIY Winter Wonderland – La Maison De LouLou
Arctic Habitat Diorama from Recycled Shoe Box – Super Simple
Arctic Small World – Best Toys 4 Toddlers
Polar Animal Theater from Shoe Box – Handmade Charlotte
Recycled Cardboard Penguins – Pillar Box Blue
Peg dolls Winter Wonderland – Mr.Printables
Winter Cardboard Castle – La Maison de LouLou
Winter Cardboard Tree – Creative Jewish Mom
Paper Roll Winter Crafts for Kids
Items you can use for next section of winter crafts for kids:
- toilet paper rolls
- wrapping paper tubes
- paper towel cardboard inserts
And, in case you don’t have any of these in your recycle bin, you can always cut and roll a piece of cardboard box!
Frosty the Snowman Emo Doll – Danya Banya
Toilet Roll Snowman – Red Ted Art
Flying Reindeer – Team Cartwright
Snowy Owl – Crafts on Sea
Toilet Paper Roll Olaf Craft – Simple Everyday Mom
Snowman Windsock Toilet Paper Roll Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun
Disney’s Frozen Theme Paper Roll Bracelet Craft – Darcy and Brian
Snowy Owl Handprint Craft – Fun Handprint Art
Adorable Yarn Wrapped Cardboard Tube Snowman Craft – Artsy Momma
Reindeer Toilet Paper Roll Craft – Mommy Made That
Cardboard Tube Penguin Craft – Creative Family Fun
Winter Windsock Toilet Paper Roll Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun
Toilet Paper Roll Snowflake – Woli Creations
Toilet Paper Roll Ice Castle – Red Ted Art
Paper Roll Snowflakes – Krokotak
Cardboard Tube Polar Bear – Crafts by Amanda
Frozen Elsa Paper Tube Craft – Hello Wonderfull
Easy Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder – Live Life Mom
Yarn Hat Ornament – Felt Magnet
Paper Role Snowflake Bracelet – Happily Ever Mom
Reuse Egg Cartons for Winter Crafts
Next, we have winter crafts primarily based on egg carton. Although cardboard egg carton is the most usual type of packing eggs, some of the crafts here use styrofoam egg crate and other use plastic egg container. Now, you can repurpose any of them with ideas found here!
Egg Carton Snowman Craft – Simple Everyday Mom
Simple Egg Carton Snowflakes – White House Black Shutters
Egg Carton Penguins – Patchwork Parent
Winter Wonderland from Egg Carton – The Imagination Tree
Counting Snowman – Housing a Forest
Stackable Snowman on the Light Table – Happily Ever Mom
Snowman Birdfeeders – How Wee Learn
Egg Box Penguin Craft – Kids Craft Room
Egg Carton Polar Bear Puppet – Making Learning Fun
Egg Carton Igloo – Free Kids Crafts
Egg Carton Snowman – The Best Ideas for Kids
Easy Egg Carton Snowman – The Chirping Moms
Reuse Old Newspapers or Magazines for Winter Craft and Art Projects with Kids
So much of junk mail can be repurposed! You can reuse for crafts items like:
- old newspapers
- old magazines
- junk mail
- promo materials
- envelopes
- child’s artwork
- printed and not needed papers
- old book pages
Giant and Gorgeous Painted Snowflakes – Pink Stripey Socks
Newspaper Winter Landscape Art Project – I Heart Crafty Things
Newspaper Spiral Snowman on Sledge Craft – Incredibusy
Birch Winter Tree Art Project – How Wee Learn
Recycled Newspaper Snowman Art – I Heart Crafty Things
Recycled Wrapping Paper Winter Wreath – Creative Little Explorers
Penguin Winter Art Project – Crafty Kids At Home
Newspaper Polar Bear Craft – I Heart Crafty Things
Popsicle Stick Winter Crafts for Kids
If your kids are like mine, there will always be enough popsicle sticks for crafting! But, in case you fancy one of the popsicle stick winter crafts here and would like to make it with larger group of kids (for example, in the classroom), you can order popsicle sticks in bulk.
Build a Snowflake – Sixth Bloom
Snowman Suncatcher with Popsicle Sticks – Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Snowman Craft Stick Photo Ornament – DIY & Crafts
Sparkly Popsicle Stick Snowflake Craft – The Art Kit Blog
Fine Motor Snowflake Art – Teaching 2 & 3 Year Olds
Popsicle Stick Snowman Magnets – Thrifty Jinxy
DIY Popsicle Stick Snowman – DIY & Crafts
Popsicle Stick Penguin Craft – Simple Everyday Mom
Popsicle Stick Snowman Craft – Artsy Craftsy Mom
Cute and Fun DiY Popsicle Stick Snowman – Simple Mom Project
Popsicle Stick Snowman Craft – Simple Everyday Mom
DIY Popsicle Stick Sled Ornament – Fireflies and Mud Pies
Popsicle Stick Arctic Wolves – One Little Project
Popsicle Stick Polar Bear Craft – Glued to My Crafts
Easy Hot Chocolate Mug Popsicle Stick Craft – Simple Mom Project
Woven Craft Stick Snowflake Ornaments – Happy Hooligans
Use Old Mason Jars or Baby Jars for Winter Crafts
We collected winter craft ideas with mason and baby jars AND jar lids. Mostly, people think about how to repurpose glass jars and forget that each and every one of them comes with a lid! Repurpose it all!
Lego Snow Jars for Kids – Pink Stripey Socks
Mason Jar Lid Snowman – Craft Create Cook
Fingerprint Frozen Olaf – Crafty Morning
Mason Jar Lid Snowman – Crafts by Amanda
Melted Snowman in a Jar – Fireflies and Mud Pies
Snowman Sensory Jar – Craft Create Cook
Winter Luminaries – Crafts by Amanda
DIY Snowman Hot Chocolate Gift – The DIY Mommy
Recycled Cork Winter Crafts for Kids
Set wine corks aside and pull them out for crafting session with kids! Love cork crafts, so cute!
DIY Wine Cork Snowman Crafts – Growing Up Gabel
Cork Snowman Ornament – Red Ted Art
Wine Cork Snowflake Ornament DIY – Pink Fortitude
Rainbow Cork Penguins – Red Ted Art
Reused Fabric Winter Crafts for Kids
Which items you can repurpose for crafting? Here are some suggestions:
- old socks
- old jumpers and sweaters
- old t-shirts
- old denim
Snowman from Recycled Jumper – Red Ted Art
DIY Sock Snowman Craft – Reuse Grow Enjoy
Winter Pouch from an Old T-Shirt – Oh The Things We’ll Make
No-Sew Sock Snowman Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun
Upcycle Tin Cans for Winter Crafts
So many amazing ideas for winter themed items from tin cans! From homemade games to gifts to make and give. Pick something according to your child’s age and enjoy crafting!
Polar Bear Pencil Holder – Red Ted Art
Tin Can Snowman Craft – Kids Craft Room
DIY Snowman Tin Can Toss – 5 Minutes for Mom
Snowman Craft from Tin Cans – Hands On As We Grow
Magnetic Snowman – Fun Littles
Tin Can Lanterns – Kids Crafts Room
DIY Penguin Pencil Holder – Red Ted Art
Tin Can Bird Feeders – The Happier Homemaker
Recycled Winter Crafts for Kids from Plastic Bottles and Bottle Caps
Basic materials for this winter crafts segment:
- plastic bottles
- plastic caps
- metal caps
- milk jugs
Winter Frozen Glitter Jars – Glitter on a Dime
Cute Recycled Bottle Cap Winter Animal – Artsy Momma
Plastic Cap Snowman Ornament – A Little Pinch of Perfect
STEM Snowboarding Halfpipe – JDaniel4’s Mom
Plastic Bottle Snowman – Drugstore Divas
Cute Bottle Cap Snowman – DIY & Crafts
Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle: Glowman the Snowman! – Very Special Tales
DIY Plastic Bottle Penguin – Krokotak
Bottle Cap Penguin – Crafty Morning
Plastic Bottle Icicles – Colorful Crafts
Snowman Fine Motor Practice – Early Learning Ideas
Water Bottle Penguins – One Little Project
Snowman Puppet – Mollie’s Mom
Plastic Bottle Snowdrops – Krokotak
Milk Bottle Luminarie Penguin Craft – Crafts on Sea
Winter Sailing Boats – Best Toys 4 Toddlers
Easy Milk Jug Snowmen – Bee-ing Mommy
Inuit & Igloo Milk Jug Craft – The Pinterested Parent
How to build a milk jug igloo – DIY Projects
DIY Snowflake from Plastic Bottles – i Creative Ideas
Upcycle Paper, Plastic or Yogurt Cups for Winter Crafts
Paper Cups Snowman – Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Paper Cup Penguin Craft – School Time Snippets
Paper Cup Luminaries – Little Bins for Little Hands
Snow Shooters for Kids – Growing a Jeweled Rose
Winter Crafts for Children with Other Materials from Recycle Bin
Materials used in next set of recycled winter crafts:
- paint sticks
- old teethbrush
- packing peanuts
- old light bulbs
- bubble wrap
- coffee cup lid
- clay pots
- plastic bags
- mismatched puzzle pieces
Paint Stick Snowman – Money Wise Moms
Winter Tree Painting with Old Toothbrush – Crafts on Sea
Packing Peanuts Snowflake – The Resourceful Mama
Light Bulb Snowman Craft – DIY & Crafts
Bubble Wrap Snowman – The Resourceful Mama
Painted Light Bulb Penguin – DIY & Crafts
Coffee Cup Lid Snowman – The Resourceful Mama
An Easy Bubble Wrap Snowman Craft – Teaching 2&3 Year Olds
DIY Christmas Clay Pot Snowman – DIY & Crafts
Recycled Plastic Bag Snowman Portrait – FaveCrafts
Packing Peanut Snowmen – Toddler Approved
Puzzle Pieces Snowflakes – Red Ted Art
What Else Can You Repurpose?
We cooperated with many other bloggers online in junk play serial where we picked a different material from recycle bin every day for 60 days. You can find a full list and ideas for all 60 materials we used in 60 Day Junk Play Challenge. You can also join our Creative Junk Play group on Facebook! See you around!
Few Other Winter Ideas to Try
- Make a salty snowman
- Prepare few winter busy bags for independent playtime
- Set up a winter sensory bin for a child to explore
- Print few winter coloring pages to fight boredom
What fun winter DIYS. PINNED! Thank you for including my upcycled wine cork snowflake. My heart is full of gratitude. Hugs, Holly
Thank you! ♥