As the leaves begin to change and the air becomes crisp, it’s the perfect time to gather the family for some creative fall-themed crafts. This season, why not incorporate sustainability into your projects by reusing dairy product containers like milk jugs, yogurt cups, and butter tubs? These everyday items, often thrown away, can become the foundation for festive and fun decorations, all while teaching kids about the importance of recycling.
Here are a few fun fall crafts using recycled dairy containers that the whole family can enjoy!
Milk Jug Pumpkin Lanterns
Milk jugs are perfect for creating whimsical pumpkin lanterns that you can display on your porch or around the house. With a few basic supplies, you can turn an ordinary jug into a glowing fall decoration.
What you’ll need:
- 1-gallon milk jug
- Orange acrylic paint or spray paint
- Black marker or construction paper
- String of LED lights or a battery-operated candle
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Start by thoroughly cleaning and drying your milk jug.
- Paint the outside of the jug with orange paint. You might need a couple of coats to get full coverage.
- Once the paint is dry, use a black marker to draw a jack-o’-lantern face or cut shapes from black construction paper and glue them on the jug.
- Cut a small hole in the back of the jug and insert the string of LED lights or a battery-operated candle to make your pumpkin glow.
- Variation: make a ghost or monster instead by using different color paint!
Yogurt Cup Pumpkin Craft
This easy and fun craft is perfect for toddlers and young children. Using yogurt cups, you can create a whole patch of homemade pumkins!
What you’ll need:
- Plastic cups in the shape you want your pumpkin to be. Flatter, wider yogurt cups are perfect for this.
- Acrylic paint
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
- Pencils
- Green paper (construction or similar thickness) and if you want gold paper scraps
- Glue
Instructions
- Paint your plastic cup orange. If needed, when it’s dry, paint a second layer.
- Now take a thinner brush and draw some vertical stripes on the cup in a darker shade of orange, or gold.
- Cut out leaves, vine and stem for the pumpkin from construction paper. Fold in decorative creases – such as lines on your leaves, crease between the points of the sepal (star-shape).
- Then glue the leaves as you like them on the top of the yogurt cup.
- Finish it off by gluing the swirly paper strips as vines on the pumpkin.
Cottage Cheese Planter Pot
Recycling a plastic cottage cheese tub can result in a super planter pot or a container that’s perfect for handing out candy or small treats during the fall season. These pots can also double as adorable table decorations.
What you’ll need:
- Large cottage cheese plastic container
- 1 bag of glass accent gems
- Glue gun with glue sticks
- Spray paint, color of your choice
- 4 small wooden craft balls with one flat side (for the feet of the planter)
Instructions:
- Wash and dry container.
- Using the glue gun, glue the gems randomly on the container, let dry.
- Attached the four wooden craft balls to the base using the glue gun.
- Once dry, spray paint the container. You may need to spray up to three times for total coverage.
- Fill with flowers or autumn plant or use as a candy dish!
Yogurt Cup Spooky Halloween Garland
Create a spooky and charming Halloween garland using yogurt cups. This craft is easy enough for kids to do, and they can personalize it to their favorite Halloween ghouls!
What you’ll need:
- Clean yogurt cups (Yoplait brand or similar)
- Construction paper, various colors
- Googley eyes and other
- Markers or paint
- String or twine
Instructions:
- Cover the empty yogurt cups with construction paper of your choice.
- Add eyes, bat wings, paper towel pieces or a friendly pumpkin face.
- Attach a small string by taping each end inside of the cup and hang as a garland.
- OR drop in a battery-operated tea light for a glowing monster cup.
Fall crafts are a wonderful way to bond with your family and get into the spirit of the season. By using recycled dairy containers, you not only save on crafting costs but also teach your children about the importance of reusing materials. From glowing milk jug lanterns to cottage cheese container planters, these crafts will fill your home with warmth and creativity all season long!