8 up-cycled craft ideas for Earth Day 2018

On Sunday, April 22, Australia joins 175 other countries to mark International Earth Day, the world's largest environmental movement. The goal for this year's day of action is to end plastic pollution, by providing the information and inspiration needed to change human attitudes and behaviours about plastics.

Eradicating the use of single use plastics and promoting environmentally sound alternatives has been identified as a primary objective of the campaign. To support this goal, our craft ideas for April incorporate and up-cycle items of single-use plastic.

Plastic bottle flowers Children may need help cutting the plastic but will enjoy decorating these funky plastic flowers, which can be used to create a garden.

Plastic lid ladybirds Super cute and super easy, this project also has a very low impact on the craft supplies! What's not to love?

Margarine tub boats You'll need to do a call out to parents and carers to save their plastic butter tubs to send in for this project.

Plastic lid wind chime This is a wonderful group opportunity and results in a lovely, colourful wind chime which would look great hanging in the garden. Young children will need supervision with the beads.

Water bottle octopus Turn a single use water bottle into a cute octopus. Younger children may need help cutting the plastic but will enjoy embellishing their cute creature.

Rainbow wind spinners Decorate a large plastic bottle with rainbow colours for a pretty garden decoration.

Recycled robot Single use plastics and cardboard boxes are put to great use in the creation of this friendly robot. This would be another good activity for a group of children.

Bubble wrap stamps Cut (unpopped) bubble wrap into apples, or any other shape you like, and apply paint to create lovely textured stamps.

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Thanks to Crafts by Amanda for these creative craft ideas!