Raid Your Recycle Bin to Make These Fun Animal Planters!

As I’ve mentioned here before, the recycle bin is my FAVORITE place to find craft materials! I made some plastic animals a few years ago for The NY Times for Kids and now I can’t pass a bin without plucking out a colorful plastic container! I made these planters for The Week Junior magazine!

The swan is made from a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner! All I did was cut the back open and add eyes by pushing in a map tack. (And, of course, I washed it out very well!)

Save colorful caps and lids for ears, mouths, and snouts! I used paper brads as eyes.

The taller containers work better as vases, like the way I use it here for cut fern fronds. To use as a planter, put an inch of gravel or small rocks for drainage before you add soil.

TIP: If you add eyes by poking them into the plastic as I did, just make sure you do it above the soil or water line!

Take a good look at your container and see if the shape suggests anything. This handle on this jug wanted to be an elephant trunk!
Happy crafting! And if you share yours on Instagram, please tag me @supermakeit so I can see!