Great craft supplies for kids, found in the trash!

You heard me right… If you're looking for great craft supplies for your kids you need to look no further than the trash!

(Before you actually throw them in the bin of course, but I think you know what I mean. )

I am a big fan of recycled crafts for kids. In fact those that know me well, know that I love the concept so much that I once had a small craft show on a local network called the "Sophisticated Scrounge" ,where all the crafts shown the viewers were created from 'scrounged' or recycled materials.

I recently came across an article about an artist who teaches children to use recycled materials in her art classes.  After reading the article it reminded me of what a valuable resource the things you may consider 'junk' can be for your kids.

Getting kids to work with materials that can be found around the house is great for many reasons.

It allows them to think more creatively when working on their art. It teaches them that there is more than one way to use something and to waste as little as possible.

Plus, because the materials were going to be thrown out anyways, using recycled materials in your crafts saves you money.

You can make some of the best costumes from recycled materials too!

Last year both of my kids made their own homemade robot costumes.

They had so much fun, starting by covering boxes with tin foil and then gluing 'robot like' accessories found around the house.

They glued on old CD's, dead batteries, broken headphones, wires, metalic papers, buttons, knobs, old jewelry, glow sticks, film cases, and even a K'nex motor and gears!

The comments they received while Trick or Treating made them feel so proud and thrilled that they had made the costumes themselves.

Keeping a box of recylcled materials that your kids can use for craft supplies, means you'll have a place to put those funny little odds n' ends and your kids will have a valuable resource that they can go to when creating art.

So go ahead, keep some of that junk and tell your spouse you're, "Doing it for the kids!"