60 Christmas Crafts from Recycled Items
Christmas is expensive enough. Save money by making recycled Christmas decorations this year!
With this list of 60 Christmas Crafts from Recycled Items, you'll save your hard-earned cash and the planet, one project at a time. Inspiration can strike at any moment and you never know when you'll find a plastic bottle, metal can, or piece of scrap paper you can turn into a Christmas crafts.
For instance, you can make Christmas trees out of old wine corks, coasters out of washers, and recycled Christmas decorations out of Christmas cards.
And don't forget to subscribe to the AllFreeChristmasCrafts newsletter for more projects you love from bloggers you trust, delivered straight to your inbox every week.
If you need ideas for your next gift exchange, try creating recycled Christmas gifts. Many of these projects are kid-friendly, so gather your little ones and show them how much fun recycling can be.
Table of Contents
Christmas Crafts from Recycled Materials
With enough know-how and a little imagination, you can create amazing Christmas crafts from recycled materials. If you're not convinced, check out these projects for some inspiration. From homemade Christmas ornaments to kids crafts to mini books and more, you'll love making these crafts from the contents of your recycling bin.
If you love crafts from recycled materials, it's your lucky day. You can learn how to recycle book pages, corks, and other discards to create the one-of-a-kind craft projects below. This is a great way to save money on crafting and help the planet at the same time.
Vintage Paper Fan Homemade Ornaments
Greet the holiday season with the elegance of Japanese arts and crafts that will give a unique touch to your Christmas tree!
Christmas Joy Chalkboard Paint Bottles
Do you have a few empty bottles on hand? Don't toss them out!
These make great gifts because they're unique and can be personalized for a recipient with whatever you choose to use as a scarf around the neck!
Cardboard Cutout Snowman Ornaments
Nothing's cooler than using your recyclables to create totally new Christmas ornaments like these snowman ornaments!
If you're looking for some alternative Christmas light ideas, then check out these lanterns.
How to Make a Cork Reindeer Ornament
Learn how to make a cork reindeer ornament and decorate your tree with Rudolph, Dancer, Prancer, and the whole gang.
Add some serious sparkle and shine to any get-together with these bottles!
Snowman Mason Jar Christmas Craft
Make a super easy Christmas craft with your kids with this snowman mason jar!
Vintage Bottle Christmas Ornaments
Once you learn how to wire glass bottles and add beads for decorations, you can use the same idea for antique salt and paper shakers, small tea pots, and other pottery and glass pieces.
When the weather outside is frightful, it's time to craft indoors with the kids.
Upcycled Plastic Cup Snowman Ornament
If you have a single cup coffee maker and you go through those little plastic cups like there's no tomorrow, then this is the perfect project for you.
Recycled crafts can be fun for the kids too, especially when they're like these snowmen.
Save your burnt-out light bulbs and use them to create a fun and glittery ornament!
Homemade Christmas ornaments don't have to be complicated or expensive!
With a couple of toilet paper tubes and a few other materials you probably have on hand, you can make these darling angel ornaments for your Christmas tree.
Sheet Music Boxes Advent Calendar
If you're looking for homemade advent calendar ideas, try this sheet music advent calendar.
Learn how to make a wreath with items you already have at home with our collection:20 Christmas Wreaths Made from Recycled Materials
Upcycled Decor
Don't spend a fortune on brand new Christmas decorations. Instead, opt for DIY Christmas decorations like these recycled Christmas decor projects. These Christmas crafts allow you to deck your halls without breaking the bank. Plus, these elegant upcycled crafts are sure to impress your guests this winter.
Grab your old rags, mason jars, and other vintage treasures and make your very own decorations that you'll treasure for a lifetime. This list of upcycled decor is one of the easiest ways to get inspired and think creatively this holiday season. Be resourceful with your limited budget and Christmas crafts from recycled items that you'll love showing off.
When it comes to decorating your home for the holidays, you don't have to break the bank.
Reclaimed Wood Card Display Board DIY Christmas Decor
No mantel? No problem! This Christmas decor makes use of reclaimed wood, so its a super frugal project.
Refashioned Wine Bottle Candle Holders
Add a chic ambiance to your next Christmas dinner party with these candle holders!
Put your leftover chicken wire to good use this holiday season with this door hanger!
Use a plastic condiments bottle instead of a wine bottle and holiday embellishments to create this unique decoration!
Recycled Toilet Roll Advent Calendar
This budget-friendly craft is made with some recyclable materials right off the bat, saving you some money in the decorations department.
Combine old book pages, stamps, and washi tape to create this DIY banner.
Santa Candles Mason Jar Christmas Crafts
If you're looking for mason jar Christmas ideas, consider this your lucky day.
Vintage Snowshoe Christmas "Wreath"
A vintage snowshoe is easily repurposed and upcycled into a unique version of a Christmas wreath!
If you want an absolutely gorgeous wreath without spending too much, you'll love this coffee filter wreath.
Create a beautiful decoration out of a not-so-beautiful with this coffee filters wreath!
If you love decorating for the holidays but don't want to go overboard with spending, then take a look at our collection:45+ Cheap Christmas Decorations for Your Home
Recycled Christmas Gifts
The holiday season can get expensive, especially when it comes to gift-giving. In the end, what you give isn't as important as the sentiment behind the gift itself. Instead of spending big bucks on a generic purchase, take a look at these recycled gift ideas. Each project is fun to create and very inexpensive. Enjoy the spirit of the season without the financial stress, all you need is this list of Christmas crafts from recycled items.
With these recycled Christmas gifts, you can treat your loved ones to easy homemade presents when the big day rolls around. Here you'll find ideas to make homemade earrings, hair bows, and more.
The special little girl in your life can finally have some Christmas fashion accessories that are as sweet as she is once you make some hair bows!
If you've ever wanted to create a unique piece of jewelry, then you need to check out this DIY necklace.
Love upcycling? Use some socks to create fun, adorable Christmas ornaments with this insanely easy DIY sock snowman tutorial.
Recycled Cereal Box Christmas Tote
Put one of those cereal boxes to use this holiday season with this Christmas tote!
Yuletide Friends Cardboard Toys
Similar to paper dolls, these cardboard toys are fun to assemble and even more fun to play with.
Christmas Tree Cardboard Doll House
This Christmas tree doll house is a new take on the traditional doll house craft!
Stenciled T-Shirt Sleeve Pouches Recycled Christmas Craft
This Christmas craft makes a fantastic gift for kids of all ages!
These free patterns will give you plenty of ideas to spread some festivity to everyone on your list! Crank up your favorite holiday tunes, break out that sewing machine, and dig into this collection:32 Easy Sewing Christmas Gifts
Christmas Card Crafts
When Christmas is over, what do you do with all of your holiday cards? Instead of throwing them in the recycling bin, create easy Christmas crafts. This is a great option for the frugal crafter because you don't have to invest in paper or cardstock. Help the environment, cut clutter, and make a craft that's green–literally and figuratively.
Used Christmas cards are a perfect way to add a personal and thoughful touch to any project, so take a look at these homemade Christmas card ideas for inspiration.
If you hate to throw away your Christmas cards every season, keep this wreath card in mind.
If guilt is preventing you from throwing away all of those Christmas cards, or if you just like the look of them, this ornament may be right up your alley.
Recycled Christmas Card Folded Tags
Making your own gift tags like these folded tags is an easy way to add a personal touch to any present!
Recycled Christmas Card Gift Tags
Instead of rushing to the store to buy gift tags, grab some old holiday cards and create your own gift tags.
Homemade Photo Ornament From Christmas Cards
Use your old Christmas cards to create your own homemade photo ornament!
Create festive little packages for gift cards, money, and more with this gift box.
Christmas card designs are getting more and more diverse every year, so making a Folded Christmas Card Box seems like a great new way to use them.
If you're stuck with leftover scraps from your DIY Christmas cards, turn them into holiday card tags.
Before you throw those old Christmas cards in the trash, check out this collection:
What types of materials do you like to work with when creating recycled Christmas crafts? Tell us below!
Read NextSilver Platter Advent Calendar
Your Recently Viewed Projects
Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!
SissieSass
Nov 26, 2018
Which one is your favorite from this list? I have to say that cutest one in my mind is the penguins made with recycled two-liter bottles. They are so adorable and fun. I think young and old alike would love this craft. The paper towel and toilet paper roll crafts are fun too because you can paint them or add glitter and make them stand out.
mulberrygalprinces s
Sep 26, 2016
The toilet paper roll is just too good. I can make so many cute things out of them. I thought I had made everything one could make but you proved me wrong. If I take gold or silver paper and wrap like the blue ones shown, they can be used on New Years Eve to look like fire works. They would look cute scattered around the punch bowl. I don't know who comes up with these ides but thank you and keep them coming!
KLC
Feb 26, 2016
For me, it's toilet paper rolls, old books, newspapers, and magazines. I really love paper crafts.
collagegirl91
Jul 28, 2015
5 months until Christmas! I'll be referring to these creative ideas to make homemade Christmas presents very soon!
ecartinian
Jul 01, 2015
LOVE these ideas! They are great ways to save money and the environment just in time for everyone's favorite holiday.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.
