4 image collage diy gifts & crafts

Make gorgeous gifts and crafts using items from your recycling bin, scrap pile or even the trash. 35 creative and eco-friendly DIY gift ideas!

Gift & Craft Ideas Made from Trash, Scraps & Recyclables 4 image collage

DIY Gift Ideas & Crafts

When it comes to giving something meaningful, DIY gifts are always a win. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, surprising a family member, or getting ready for the holiday season, the best part about these amazing homemade gifts is the love and thought that go into them.

Unlike store-bought gifts, these crafty ideas show off your creativity and add that personal touch everyone appreciates.

In this post, we’re sharing fun and easy DIY gift and craft ideas that are perfect for any time you want to make someone feel extra special.

Gift & Craft Ideas Made from Trash, Scraps & Recyclables

PIN FOR LATER

Gift & Craft Ideas Made from Trash, Scraps & Recyclables pin collage with text

Are you inspired to create your own DIY gifts after seeing these ideas? There are so many great crafts too!

Thanks for stopping by.

signature

If you like this post, you may also like this post with DIY gifts from your kitchen.

Gifts from your Kitchen Pinterest image

I saw a report on our local news station about hummingbirds saying that this is the time when a huge migration of hummingbirds fly south to Mexico for the winter. Can you imagine those little tiny birds flying from as far away as Canada down to Mexico and Central America? That’s an insanely long journey, even for a human in a car! Apparently, they start the trip when the weather begins to cool and as flowers and food become more scarce. According to the report, now is a great time to keep the hummingbird feeders well stocked as these winged marvels need lots of fuel to make it to their final destination. 

Photo Credit: Perky-Pet Bird Feeders

I didn’t have a hummingbird feeder, so I went to my local bird center (you can check your local hardware stores) to see what they had. All the cheap feeders were plastic and not very appealing. The more attractive glass bottle variety were a lot more expensive. As I sat there looking at all the hummingbird feeders, I thought to myself, I could probably make my own DIY hummingbird feeder for a lot less and make it more beautiful.

How to Make a Beautiful DIY Glass Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

You really don’t need anything fancy to make your own DIY Glass Bottle Hummingbird Feeder. Just look in your recycling or fridge and finish that soda or wine that’s been in there forever. I’ve listed all the materials for you below.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions:

I made this quick video to show you exactly how to make your own bottle hummingbird feeder. Below are just simple instructions to follow.

  1. Clean out your bottle very well using soap and water. Remove any labels (this is the absolutely best way to remove adhesive labels!)
DIY Gold Leaf Vases from Recycled Bottles | Pretty Handy Girl

2. Use a thick gauge copper wire to hang the glass bottle. First, bend a small curve at the bottom and feed it around the neck of the bottle. You can use a clamp to help get a tighter fit against the bottle’s neck.

3. Work your way up and around the sides of the bottle, twisting the glass bottle as you bend the wire. End at the base of the bottle.

4. Form a big curve and a curly Q at the bottom of the bottle (which will now be the top of the feeder) to act as a hanger.

For simplicity, I ordered these inexpensive hummingbird feeder tube spouts online that come with a red plastic flower and small feeding holes.

Optional: Before I fit the stopper into the neck of the bottle, I wrapped a smaller gauge copper wire around the spout and bent a small loop under the flower to create a small perch for the hummingbirds to rest on while feeding. Apparently, they will frequent the feeders that have a perch more than the kind they have to hover up to. They will also stick around longer.

And that’s how you make your own homemade hummingbird feeder using beautiful copper wire and a glass bottle.

Now it’s time to mix up a batch of hummingbird nectar to fill the bottle.

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe:

Create a sugar water mixture by using 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Bring the water and sugar to a boil. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, then remove to cool. You can store the mixture for up to five days in the fridge.

After you fill up the feeder, hang the bottle outside a window so you can see all the pretty hummingbirds that come to your window.

It didn’t take long for the hummers to find my feeder.

Help! How Do I Deter Bees:

I have to be completely honest with you. After a few days of watching the hummingbirds come to the feeder, I got a very unexpected guest to the feeder. It was a honeybee. I didn’t think much of it because there were only one or two bees. But, then they must have spread the word, because soon it was a swarm. If you have any ideas how I can deter the bees, I’d love to hear it.

In the meantime, I’ve ordered two more spouts to try in the hopes that they don’t drip and hopefully that won’t attract the bees. These are the spouts I ordered:

3 Flower Hummingbird Feeder Spout

2 Flower Hummingbird Feeder Spout

I’ll be sure to report back as to how well they work. Until then, I hope you enjoy watching all the hummingbirds.

signature

Pin this image to refer to at a later date:

If you liked this tutorial, you’ll also love this other simple DIY hummingbird feeder.

collage with 4 arts and crafts for kids

These 41+ arts and crafts for kids are the perfect way to encourage creativity and keep them entertained during the dog days of summer!

4 image collage Arts & Craft Projects for kids

Arts and Crafts for Kids

If you are looking for fun and engaging activities to keep the little ones busy, you are in the right place! This post includes over 40 easy arts and crafts for kids of all ages.

Whether you’re crafting on a rainy afternoon or planning a weekend project, these ideas are a creative way to spark imagination and build hands-on skills.

From colorful paper crafts to simple DIY’s using items you already have at home, there’s something for everyone.

The best part? Most of these projects are quick, mess-free, and tons of fun for the whole family!

Arts & Crafts for Kids

These are some of the best arts and crafts ideas to help young artists explore their creative side while having fun. Each project encourages imaginative play and helps develop important skills like fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

I hope you enjoyed this post all about easy arts and crafts for kids. Hopefully, you found a fun art activity (or two) to add to your summer craft list.

In the meantime, pin this image to save it to Pinterest to refer to later.

vertical collage arts and crafts for kids with text overlay

You may also enjoy these easy crafts:

chalkboard planters

Handlettered Mini Chalkboard Planters

Your finished watercolor painted lavender plants!

How to Paint Watercolor Lavender

signature
4 image collage spring and summer wreaths

Add a fresh touch to your home with these beautiful DIY wreaths for your front door perfect for spring and summer wreaths! From floral hoops to creative upcycled designs, these easy projects will brighten your door all season long.

4 image collage DIY wreaths for front door spring and summer

18 DIY Wreaths for the Front Door – Spring & Summer Ideas

Get ready to spruce up your home with these fabulous DIY spring and summer wreaths! They’re super creative and each one includes a step-by-step tutorial so you can easily recreate them, or use them as a jumping off point for your own DIY wreath. Why not add a festive touch to your home this spring or holiday season?

Dozens of creative DIY spring and summer DIY wreaths for front door

The easiest way to update your front door for a new season is to place a beautiful seasonal wreath on your front door. Skip the store-bought wreath and create your own DIY wreath. Take a look around at these lovely wreaths for tons of inspiration! Happy crafting!

modern floral wreath

Modern Floral Wreath by Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome guests to your home with a DIY front door wreath, complete with lovely spring flowers and a modern gold hoop base. This is the perfect way to add a little creativity to your spring decor.

 

birds nest wreath

Spring Birds Nest Wreath by Home Stories A to Z

Learn how to make an adorable spring DIY grapevine wreath using seasonal items, such as oversized Easter eggs and moss. The best part? You can create your own wreath in under 30 minutes with a hot glue gun. Plus, it’s super beginner-friendly!

DIY Modern Spring Floral Hoop DIY wreaths for front door Modern  Hoop Wreath for Spring by Decor Hint

The next time you are browsing the craft stores, check out the seasonal ribbon section to add to a spring wreath. Instead of a grapevine wreath base, try using a gold hoop wire wreath form for a more modern look. Spring is the perfect time to decorate with floral stems in soft colors of pink and white.

boho wreath for spring

Boho Style Wreath for Spring by Place of My Taste

Learn how to make a beautiful Boho-inspired wreath with spring stems and a macrame base. This is such a unique DIY and surprisingly simple to make.

 

Pretty Yellow Scrapbook flower wreath on green door

DIY Paper Button Floral Spring Wreath by Pretty Handy Girl

  I love to add spring décor to my front door. A DIY wreath is a great way to welcome friends and family and it is so affordable to make.

 

medallion book page wreath

 Book Page Rose Wreath by Pretty Handy Girl

Add a personal touch to a wreath frame by attaching a book page flower as the focal point. Finished off with a pretty red check ribbon. It is a nice change from a classic wreath form. Check out the thrift store for unexpected vessels to use, such as a medallion, or other architectural items.

 

flower pot wreath tutorial

Terracotta Flower Pot Wreath Tutorial by DIY Beautify

Learn how to make a festive wreath for your front porch or patio. This clay pot wreath finished with faux florals adds a beautiful touch to any space.

spring tulip wreath

Spring Tulip Wreath by The How to Mom

Learn how to make a beautiful wreath for spring using colorful tulips. Pick up floral wire to secure the flowers to the base. This beauty is a great way to welcome springtime to your home.

 

valentines-wreath-branches-close_up_wood_heart_wreath

Wood Slice Heart Shaped Wreath by Pretty Handy Girl

Save those wine corks and enlist your friends to save theirs as well! They can be used to craft a pretty heart shaped wreath for Valentine’s Day, or all year long.

 

house-shape-door-decor-1

Home is Where the Heart is Door Decor by Jaime Costiglio

This wood house door decor is such a unique piece to hang on your door. The hanging hearts take it to the next level!

 

 

Heart Shaped Topiary | Pretty Handy Girl

Heart Shaped Topiary by Pretty Handy Girl

You can’t go wrong with a DIY topiary. While not a wreath, this beauty can be placed in a window, or by the front door for a festive touch. Love the heart shape!

 

spring grapevine DIY wreaths for front door

Spring Grapevine Wreath by Worthing Court

All you need is a wreath frame of your choice (grapevine wreaths work great) and faux flowers to create your own spring wreath. This looks just lovely on a single door, but you could also make two if you have double doors.

 

spring grapevine wreath

Grapevine Spring Wreath with Pussy Willows from Stone Gable

Classic grapevine paired with a spring nest is an easy way to decorate your front door. Add spring stems such as pussy willows for an extra festive touch.

peony spring DIY wreaths for front door

Summer Peony Wreath DIY by Hearth and Vine

Use a foam wreath form and silk peonies to make an absolutely stunning wreath that brings that wow factor to your home.

 

fairy garden wreath

Fairy Wreath Tutorial by Country Chic Cottage

Make a statement by creating a fairy wreath complete with a fairy door and mushrooms. This can be hung on a porch, or anywhere there is a bit of protection from the weather.

 

moss pocket book DIY wreaths for front door

Spring Wreath with Moss Purse from Average But Inspired

Easter wreaths are always popular for spring. Check out the dollar store for budget-friendly flowers. Place them in unexpected bases, such as a moss purse. How fun is this?

 

boxwood lemon wreath

Lemon Slice Boxwood Wreath by Twelve on Main

The first thing you want to do to make this boxwood wreath is to dry out lemon slices. The boxwood gives the look of a fresh wreath, but will last the entire spring and summer season.

 

spring bunny tobacco DIY wreaths for your front door

Tobacco Basket Spring Wreath by Our Crafty Mom

If you are looking for unique front door ideas, try using something unexpected as your wreath base, such as a tobacco basket. Follow this DIY tutorial to make your own Easter wreath complete with a sweet little bunny. Wire cutters will be a handy tool for trimming the spring florals to size.

I hope these Creative Spring & Summer DIY Wreaths for Front Door will get your creativity sparked. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy some warm breezes and outside weather.

If you want something to do with all those fresh flowers outside, how about making pounded floral art for gifts and decorations.

close_up_pounded_flower_vase

Trying to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit? Need to inject a little romance into your home? Yup, me too! Here are several unique Valentine’s Day Wreaths to help you decorate for February 14th.

Unique DIY Valentine’s Day Wreaths

valentines-wreath-branches-close_up_wood_heart_wreath

Have some downed tree branches in your yard? Make this Valentine’s Day rustic tree branch heart.

This upcycled book page rose wreath is the perfect addition to any house.

Check out this tutorial from Pretty Handy Girl and see how easy it is to create a heart shaped topiary. Keep it for yourself or give it to the one you love. | Non-candy Valentine's Day gifts | #prettyhandygirl #Valentinesday #DIYtopiary #plant

Train some ivy vines around a copper pipe to make this beautiful heart shaped topiary.

Be still my heart, this Home is Where the Heart Is Wreath belongs on my door.

This PVC heart decoration is easy to make with various sizes of PVC pipe!
Call me plumb crazy, but I think this adorable PVC pipe art would make a beautiful wreath.

 

Have some extra ribbon you’ve been hanging onto? This ribbon wreath is a pretty way to use it.

I get it, you want a wreath you can leave up through Valentine’s Day and beyond. This Modern Floral Wreath should make you happy.

DIY Rosemary Wreath & Juniper Garland | Pretty Handy Girl

This last idea is a start shaped wreath, but you could easily bend it into a Rosemary Heart Wreath.

I hope those gave you some great last minute decorating ideas. Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day to you.

Need something to do with the kids for Valentine’s Day? Here are several DIY Valentine’s Day cards:

Skip the candy with these DIY melted crayon valentines from Pretty Handy Girl! | DIY Valentine's Day gifts #holidaygifts #prettyhandygirl

Glitter Cut Out Valentine Name Tags| Pretty Handy Girl

If you liked these ideas, you’ll love these Fall DIY Wreath ideas.

24 Creative Fall Wreaths | Pretty Handy Girl