Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to spark creativity while teaching kids the importance of recycling and sustainability. And what better way to celebrate than by turning everyday waste into beautiful, functional art? These five recycled craft activities are not only fun and engaging but also serve as a hands-on reminder of how small eco-friendly steps can make a big impact. These Earth Day art projects make it easy for kids to connect with nature through creativity, helping them understand the value of reusing waste in innovative ways. With easy-to-follow steps and materials you likely already have at home, these projects are perfect for inspiring young minds to think green and craft with purpose. Whether you’re crafting at home or in a classroom, these art activities for Earth Day are perfect for making learning both fun and impactful.

1. DIY Pen Holder Craft Ideas with Recycled Materials
Turn everyday items into quirky desk organisers! This eco-friendly pen holder project is perfect for kids who love recycling and adding their own creative flair to practical things. Let’s make something both fun and functional!

Materials Required

• Fevicol A+

• Rangeela Creative Clay

• Rangeela Tempera Colours

• Newspaper

• Bottles

• Pencil

• Paper Cutter

• Fine Art Brushes
   

Steps to Create:
Cut a plastic bottle and layer it with tissue paper using Fevicol A+. Sketch and paint a cartoon face using tempera colours. Coil the newspaper into a stand and colour it. Cut the base off another bottle to shape a turban, cover it with creative clay, and let it dry. Assemble all parts with Fevicol A+ to complete your charming pen holder. Among all Earth Day craft ideas, this one stands out for blending functionality and fun with an important message about upcycling.

Creative Tip:
Personalise your pen holder with fun accessories like miniature glasses, moustaches, or even tiny hats! This project also works well as part of environment day craft ideas, helping children build eco-awareness in a hands-on way.

Upcycle with style by checking out the full steps for the DIY Pen Holder Craft Ideas with Recycled Materials.

2. Waste Paper Craft Project Activity | Recycle Project
Teach kids the joy of recycling with this fun centipede wall hanging! It’s a simple yet imaginative way to turn paper waste into cheerful décor while introducing eco-conscious habits. It also doubles as one of those art activities for Earth Day that both entertains and educates.

Materials Required

• Fevicol A+

• Pencil

• Compass

• Scissors

• Colourful Papers

• CD

• Googly Eyes

• Pipe Cleaners

• Ribbon
   

Steps to Create:
Draw and cut progressively smaller circles from green paper. Stick them on a CD to form the centipede’s body, add googly eyes, and curl pipe cleaners for antlers. Glue a ribbon on the back for hanging. You can reuse CDs and other bits to make fun variations!

Creative Tip:
Add tiny paper feet or glitter details to bring more character to your centipede. This centipede design can even be adapted into Earth Day art projects for schools or group craft sessions.

Encourage creative recycling with our step-by-step guide for the Waste Paper Craft Project Activity | Recycle Project.

3. DIY Earth Day Clock for Kids
Mark Earth Day with a meaningful craft! This is one of the more thoughtful Earth Day craft ideas, especially because it encourages kids to see how time and nature go hand in hand. This DIY clock combines creativity with sustainability, using upcycled materials to craft a working clock that’s both educational and artistic.

Materials Required

• Fevistik Power

• Corrugated Sheet

• Upcycled Fabrics in shades of green & blue

• Chart Papers in Shades of Green

• Green Coloured Corrugated Sheets

• Green Foam Sheet

• Wool in Shades of green

• Toothpicks

• Clock Device

• Compass

• Scale

• Scissors

• Pencil

• White Felt Pen
   

Steps to Create:
Cut circles from a corrugated sheet and fabric, then draw a world map on the fabric. Divide it into 12 sections and stick toothpicks for clock points. Decorate each with mini trees made from various upcycled materials. Add numbers using chart paper, attach the clock device through a central hole, and your Earth Day clock is complete!

Creative Tip:
Use glow-in-the-dark paint for the clock hands to make it fun and functional even at night. Perfect for classrooms too, this makes a great addition to any environment day craft ideas list for educators.

Celebrate Earth Day creatively with the eco-friendly DIY Earth Day Clock for Kids.

4. Colourful Diwali Lantern with Recycled Materials
Add festive sparkle to your Diwali with a handmade lantern! While traditionally a Diwali item, this lantern also fits perfectly into broader Environment Day craft ideas by showing how festive décor can be eco-friendly. This bright, colourful craft uses waste materials and brings light and charm to your celebrations.

Materials Required

• Fevicryl – Water-Based Glass Colours

• Fevicryl 3D Cone Outliners

• Fevicryl Fabric Glue

• Fevicryl Acrylic Pearl Metallic Colours

• Gold Cord

• Waste Carton

• OHP Sheet

• White Card Paper

• Gold String

• Sponge
   

Steps to Create:
Cut windows into a carton and sponge it with colour. Draw triangle templates, outline them on an OHP sheet with 3D outliners, and then fill with glass colours. Form a pyramid and attach it inside the carton. Add sponge-painted paper strips around the base, and tie a gold string at the top for hanging.

Creative Tip:
Pop in a battery-operated tea light to make your lantern glow beautifully from within. If you're planning art activities for Earth Day with a festive twist, this colourful lantern is a great conversation starter about sustainability.

Brighten up your festive décor with the colourful charm of the Colourful Diwali Lantern with Recycled Materials.

5. Tribal Face Decor Mixed Media Craft Activity
Explore expressive art with this tribal face décor! Kids can mix and match different materials to create vibrant, quirky characters that celebrate upcycling in a creative way. This is a great example of how Earth Day art projects can be expressive, experimental, and exciting.

Materials Required

• Fevicol MR

• Upcycled Boxes

• Upcycled Material of your choice

• Toys

• Mount Board

• Black Foam Sheet

• Feathers

• Buttons

• Beads

• Bottle caps

• Scissors
   

Steps to Create:
Stick two boxes together for the face base. Use toys as ears and add facial features like eyes and a moustache using beads, caps, and feathers. Secure everything with Fevicol MR. Let kids experiment with different materials for each creation.

Creative Tip:
Mount the finished artwork on a larger board and label each face with fun tribal names or stories. Activities like this are great Earth Day craft ideas that help children tell visual stories using upcycled items.

Let kids dive into imaginative reuse with the vibrant Tribal Face Decor Mix Media Craft Activity.

And It’s A Wrap!

Crafting for Earth Day is more than just a fun activity—it’s the essence of what makes Earth Day art projects meaningful and impactful. These recycled crafts prove that with a little imagination, we can give new life to old materials and reduce waste in creative ways. Whether it's a glowing lantern, a cheerful pen holder, or a playful wall hanging, each project helps kids see the value in upcycling. So gather your craft supplies and celebrate Earth Day by creating something beautiful—and meaningful—together. These ideas also work well as art activities for Earth Day that blend creativity with real-world lessons. Whether at school or home, these Environment Day craft ideas empower kids to think differently about waste and resourcefulness. Try mixing these with other Earth Day craft ideas to create your own eco-friendly celebration!