8 Easy Upcycled Easter Crafts for Kids 4-10
Easter is the perfect time to gather around the table, get a little messy, and create something magical together, but at GlueStick, we know that planning and budgeting for kids’ Easter activities can be overwhelming and expensive. This year, skip the craft-store run. These eco-friendly Easter crafts use recycled materials (like milk jugs, egg cartons, and newspaper) so you can skip the store and start creating fast. Your family will be making more than just cute decorations. These crafts spark creativity, teach sustainability, and make memories that last long after the last jellybean is eaten. All of them are available with a FREE GlueStick account!
The GlueStick app gives families:
Step-by-step, kid-friendly instructions
A supply list that helps track the supplies you already have
Projects that build creative independence (we guide kids through setup → create → cleanup)
An ad-free space designed for kids
Learn more about GlueStick, or see our pricing.
Why Upcycled Easter Crafts Are a Win for Families
Creative activities help kids develop problem-solving skills, fine motor coordination, and emotional resilience (Harvard GSE, 2021). Working side-by-side on a craft project is also a powerful way to bond with your kids. There’s nothing better than giggling over sticky fingers or celebrating a job well done.
Did you know the tradition of decorating eggs for spring goes back thousands of years, symbolizing new beginnings and hope (History.com). Plus, Americans buy more than 16 billion jellybeans for Easter each year—enough to circle the globe three times! (National Confectioners Association)
GlueStick has tons of fabulous Easter and Spring-themed projects that’ll get your family making fun, affordable memories using supplies you already have. Here are a few of our favorite supplies.
Upcycle Bin List
Easter crafts are a breeze with these affordable, upcycled supplies:
These five basic supplies + a little paint or markers equals sustainable, family fun for Easter.
8 GlueStick Projects Perfect for Family Time This Easter
Time: 20-40 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Milk Jugs
Transform recycled milk jugs into “stained glass” eggs that catch the light in your window. This eco-friendly craft from A Little Pinch of Perfect encourages upcycling and creative design.
Time: 20-40 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Hangers, Ribbon
Kids personalize paper eggs with colorful washi tape for a low-mess, reusable decoration that builds fine motor skills and encourages independent choices. Then, repurpose an old hanger to display your beautiful creations!
Photo credit: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Time: 15-30 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Egg Carton
Turn a simple egg carton into a fluffy sheep friend in this GlueStick-exclusive craft! Cut and color an egg carton for your sheep's body, add a cotton ball coat, and watch your recycled animal come to life.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Paper Plate
Turn a paper plate into an adorable bunny—perfect for little hands and big imaginations. Great for developing cutting and gluing skills while helping kids see the potential of every day supplies.
Photo credit: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Time: 20-45 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Milk Jugs
Butterflies symbolize rebirth and resurrection, perfect themes for celebrating Easter. Use recycled milk jugs to make butterflies that glow in the window. This project teaches about light, color, and sustainability.
Photo credit: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Time: 30-45 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Milk Jugs
Upcycle a milk jug into a one-of-a-kind basket for egg hunts or candy. Kids learn about sustainability and creative problem-solving.
Photo credit: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Time: 5-15 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Newspaper
This easy paper bunny craft is so fun to make and goes together in about 5 minutes. It’s the perfect Easter activity to complete while waiting for dinner to get on the table and is a great way to use up last week’s newspapers.
Photo Credit: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Time: 20-30 minutes
Upcycled Supply: Clothespins
Bejeweled clothespin bodies elevate one of our favorite upcycled supplies. Painting and decorating doilies teaches about color blending while creating beautiful butterflies your family can display all season long.
Photo credit: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Tips for Making Upcycled Crafts Less Messy
We know the holiday is already stressful and the last thing you want to do before serving a big meal is clean up a big mess on the table. Here are our tried-and-true tips for balancing creative fun and a beautiful place setting:
1) Cover the table in wax paper or parchment paper. These papers are inexpensive ways to protect your table from paint, glue, and glitter. They are easy to fold up and put in the trash when it’s time to clear the table, and won’t transfer ink like newsprint.
2) Make sure everything has a home. Scissors, paper, and pencils all belong somewhere in your house. Help your kids keep track of where items belong when they’re done using them by storing the supply’s location in your GlueStick Supply Cupboard! Then, when it’s time for cleanup, the kids will know exactly where to put things away.
3) Use automated clean-up checklists. - The GlueStick app will automatically generate a clean-up checklist for your kids to follow. In-app creative buddies will encourage your kids to wipe up spills and sweep up the scraps while you finish dinner.
Want More Eco-Friendly Projects?
Want more eco-friendly, low-mess projects you can do today with what’s already in your house? GlueStick helps you pick a project based on supplies you have, then guides your kid from setup to cleanup.
Create your GlueStick account and start crafting memories that last.
Looking for even more ideas?
Check out our Spring Lion/Lamb crafts or 7 Crafts you can Make with Kids While Traveling
