After dying all those Easter eggs, I bet you have an egg carton or two that you were just about toss. DON’T THROW IT AWAY! Instead, show those kiddos the importance of recycling by turning that carton into a bouquet of flowers. It’s soooo easy!
Here’s what you need:
- Cardboard Egg Carton Craft Paints
- Paint Brushes
- Pipe Cleaners or Popsicle Sticks
- Glue
- Scissors
Step One: Cut-Up Your Carton
Most egg cartons have twelve cups for the eggs to sit in. Using your scissors, cut around each cup to separate them from each other. If you don’t accidentally cut through one of them, you should have a dozen cups when you’re done.
Step Two – Create Some Petal Power
Now is the time to shape your flowers! Each cup naturally has four sides. Cut a slit into each of those four sides. Be carefully not to cut into the flat bottom part. That round bottom part is the center of your flower. Once you’ve got four distinctive sides, round them out with your scissors to create petals.
Step Three – Paint!
Paint the inside and outside of each petal. Two coats usually does the trick. Feel free to get super-creative. Paint each petal a different color. Or instead of paint, use glitter glue. You can even leave them in their natural gray or brown color. It’s up to you!
Step Four – Glue ‘Em Together
Once your paint is dry, glue the pipe cleaner to the back of the flower. Let the petal and pipe cleaner (stem) rest flat so the glue can harden. Once the glue is dry, put them in a vase and enjoy!
Give your flowers away to your mom, your favorite teacher or keep them for yourself.
Did You Know?
- You can recycle cardboard egg cartons with other cardboard materials. Never get those foam egg cartons. Those can’t be recycled.
- You can tear up cardboard egg cartons and add them to a compost pile.
- You can use cardboard egg cartons for all sorts of fun crafts. What kind of crafts would you like to do with egg cartons?
Scott Meeks is a regular contributor to Our Children Magazine. He’s also a children’s book author and a self-described craftaholic. Scott produces beautiful, funny, and fun craft videos to go along with many of his projects on his Crunchy Scott YouTube channel.
