| A new trend in schools and homes is green crafts. | | | | keepsake holders; cover an old photo frame with a |
| This means that kids make crafts using recyclable | | | | wrapping paper decoupage; or cut out designs to glue |
| materials or things that would otherwise be thrown | | | | on other items. |
| away. These green crafts are booming since: | | | | Keep newsprint, or the paper that breakable items |
| - They help the environment | | | | come wrapped in, for crafts. Plain newsprint can be |
| - They teach kids to reuse, recycle, and make | | | | used to make your own wrapping paper by decorating |
| something new and different | | | | it with stampers, markers, cut outs from old wrapping |
| - They are inexpensive | | | | paper or printed cardboard boxes, old magazine |
| - They let children use their own creativity and | | | | pictures, your own art work, etc. Old newspapers are |
| imagination | | | | always good for protecting tables and surfaces from |
| Green crafts are also great for schools, since the cost | | | | paint and glue when kids are making their crafts. Old |
| is so low, and there are usually many items that would | | | | newspaper can also be shredded and used for |
| otherwise get thrown in the garbage. | | | | stuffing in puppets and dolls. |
| There are so many projects kids can make: costumes, | | | | Some extra items, like glue, markers and paint, may be |
| gift boxes, gift tags, treasure boxes, ornaments, | | | | needed to complete the crafts. You can supplement |
| puppets, notebook covers, locker decorations, | | | | your supplies by taking some products from nature like: |
| decorative picks, centerpieces, piggy banks, photo | | | | pine cones, wood sticks or twigs, stones, sand, leaves, |
| boxes, etc | | | | etc. |
| One thing I love to reuse for crafts is wrapping paper. | | | | It is never to early to teach kids how to go green. With |
| At Christmas or birthdays, take the used wrapping | | | | fun activities like green crafts, they will be motivated to |
| paper and roll or fold it for future craft use. You can | | | | do more. |
| use it to cover plastic containers or glass jars to make | | | | |