Unusual Materials for Art Projects

Try Crafting Outside the Box and Reuse Neglected Stuff

Aug 2, 2009 Scott Fogdall

Shoe boxes, pipe cleaners, tongue depressors... all are trusted ingredients in craft ideas aimed at children. But plenty of other art materials exist around the home.

A few minutes scouring the basement, attic, or closet will almost always yield something a beginning artist can use. Parents and teachers who are tired of folding origami or cleaning up glitter will find fresh ideas below.

A gentle advisory: although these suggestions are family-friendly and easy to incorporate, some require parental involvement. Taking apart used electronics, for example, shouldn’t be left to youngsters to try alone. Even so, there are plenty of opportunities for hands-on fun here, and kids will have a chance to learn the wisdom of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” at the same time.

Carpet Scraps

Remnants from shag carpet or even old bath mats can become a miniature prairie or farmer’s field. Alternatively, these scraps make interesting paint brushes.

Yarn Handles on Shopping Bags

Making dolls in the vein of Raggedy Ann requires short lengths of ropey hair. Instead of shelling out cash at a craft or fabric store, make use of high-end bag handles.

Newspaper Wrappers

Some dailies and periodicals arrive inside colored plastic bags. Blue plastic makes a nice artificial water surface for miniature towns.

Plastic Coffee Can Lids

Easily cut into any desired shape, the wide, flexible plastic lids are an ideal raw material for stencils, flat figures, translucent window ornaments, and more.

Bottle Caps

Reptile-lovers can make a turtle shell by hot-gluing bottle caps to a rinsed-out bleach or detergent jug, then applying green paint. Gluing may be easier if the jug is first coated in masking tape or paper mache. Parents should always supervise the hot glue process.

Ping Pong Balls

Since turtle shells vary in size and texture, a workable alternative to the bottle-cap idea above is old ping-pong balls. Handy parents can cut the balls in half with a utility knife or hacksaw.

Outdated Utensils

Fancy wooden salad spoons and forks from the 1970s sometimes had handles carved like figurines. When they’re sawed off by a careful parent, these make great miniature statues.

Old Appliances

If it isn’t rusty or full of sharp edges, a worn-out clothes dryer can provide cool space-ship parts. The door can become a hatch, while dials and buttons fit nicely into a pretend cockpit panel. Never use the whole appliance or allow children to play inside one.

Old Electronics

Ancient computers, stereos, VCRs, and DVD players are bristling with raw materials for robots, space ships, and futuristic props. Again: never allow children to take these items apart, since they may contain dangerous materials. When in doubt, donate the items to an electronics disposal service and ask if a few pieces can be set aside for kid-friendly creativity.

Lumber Yard Scraps

It pays to become friendly with local lumber sellers, because their table saws almost always produce interesting wood remnants. Why should these end up in a dumpster? Instead, put them to artistic use in the classroom or home.

Art and craft supply stores are wonderful places, but it never hurts to set an example of thrift, resourcefulness, and environmental sustainability for children. Besides, it’s just plain fun to think up off-beat uses for ordinary things. And once again, always, always play it safe. That’s a good example, too.

The copyright of the article Unusual Materials for Art Projects in Kids Crafts is owned by Scott Fogdall. Permission to republish Unusual Materials for Art Projects in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Reuse, Recycle: Art Materials

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