How to Make Miniature Household Items for Dollhouses Out of Recycled Items

I love making things, and I love recycling; and I ultimately enjoy being able to combined both of these hobbies. So when I started building my first dollhouse; I realized that there were so many things that get thrown out that are perfect for dolls to play with. Here are some ideas on how to recycle your garbage into miniature treasures.

One of the most versatile and unexpected items that I love to save and create with are empty coffee creamer containers. These little containers can be painted silver and a piece of wire can be attached to them as a handle; this way they can be used as a bucket or pail. You can paint them black or orange and use them as pots for flowers. You can even add a nice little border or trim to make them look pretty. You can also paint then several different colors and make them into lamp shaded. A needle, pin, or piece of wire can be glued to a couple beads in order to make into the base of a lamp. Attach the top of the wire to the bottom of the creamer and you have a lamp.

Empty battery packages make nice televisions as well. The best part of these mini TVs' is that you can change the picture when ever you like. All you need is to cut the plastic edge to the clear box is smooth, and use black electrical tape to tape around the sides. You can also extend a border across the bottom and paint buttons onto it. Next take a picture from a magazine, or draw your own picture, and glue it to the back of the television. Lean your television up against a wall or paint some cardboard black and attach it to the back using tape so you cal lift it and change the picture inside the television.

Another fun miniature recycling project is for the artist in all of us. It is simple and fun to make. You will need a few match sticks or toothpicks. Cut them into smaller pieces and color each one with a different color marker. Next put them all into a little match box that has been painted black. Write crayon on the top in white paint and display half open.

I hope this article has helped you to make many little things for your dollhouse; I also hope that when you are throwing things away you think about what else they could be used for before you trash them.

Mother's Day Crafts for Preschoolers with Recycled Items

 

Using recycled items to create Mother's Day crafts with preschoolers is inexpensive and creative. Using recycled items will show your preschoolers that recycling can be fun; these projects will also provide moms with wonderful gifts. Here you find detailed instructions on turning recycled items in Mother's Day crafts that preschoolers will love.

Soda Bottle Vase and Rose

Mother's Day always comes with flowers for your mom, and this preschooler craft uses recycled items and will last longer than fresh flowers. For this craft project you will need a soda bottle, paint, paintbrushes, a green pipe cleaner, a hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, scissors, and some junk mail. You will also need newspaper or other junk paper to cover the work area.

Start by helping preschoolers cut the junk mail into teardrop or heart shapes. Then place the shapes on the news paper. Help kids paint both sides of the pieces. While the petals are drying help kids paint the soda bottle. A fun way to do this is by getting a lot of paint on the brush and applying it to the top of the bottle. Let the paint drip down the sides of the bottle for a fun look.

When the paint has dried on the cutouts, you can help preschoolers assemble them to create a flower. Simply wrap a single petal around the top of the pipe cleaner and glue in place. Keep wrapping more and more petals in this fashion until a full rose is created. This Mother's Day craft is easy and fun to create with preschoolers and the result is lovely.

Photo Key Chain

A photo key chain is easy to make using recycled items as well, and mothers will cherish the lovely gift. For this craft you will need some cardboard, scissors, a photo, paint, ribbon, a hot glue gun, glue sticks, and clear plastic. Several items come packaged in clear plastic which is great to use for this project. Newspaper or other recycled paper should also be placed on the work surface for easy cleanup.

Start the project by helping preschoolers select a photo. Then cut the cardboard into 2 even oval shapes. Then cut a smaller oval out of one of the shapes. Let preschoolers paint the front of both of the cardboard shapes.

When the paint has dried, glue the clear plastic to the back of the oval picture frame piece. Then glue the picture to the unpainted side of the other oval. Then cut a piece of ribbon and tie the ends to make a loop. Glue the knot to the top of the oval with the picture glued to it. Then glue the frame to the photo. Make sure to cut away the excess plastic and photo as well to finish this craft.

Preschoolers will be proud to present their moms with these gifts made from recycled items on Mother's Day. Moms will enjoy these gifts for years to come, and recycling is a great way to create inexpensive crafts with preschoolers.