Green Winter Crafts for Kids

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 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 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 You Can 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!

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