DIY People Planters Upcycled Craft
By: Highlights Editorial
Reduce, reuse, reimagine! Turn everyday recyclables into creative upcycled planters with this simple craft from Highlights magazine.
Your child’s creativity will blossom as you transform empty cans, spare buttons and leftover packaging into colorful, one-of-a-kind pots for your favorite plants.
What You'll Need
What to Do
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Clean two empty cans of different sizes.
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Cover the cans and any sharp edges with duct tape.
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Place rocks inside the bottom can. Glue the two cans together.
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Cut a nose shape out of thin cardboard. Cover it with duct tape, fold it in half, and draw nostrils. Glue it to the top can.
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Glue on recycled materials or use duct tape for clothes, hair and facial features.
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If you wish, put soil and real plants in the top can.
Tip: To avoid sticky scissors when cutting duct tape, place the duct tape on parchment paper first. Cut out shapes, then peel off the paper.
Extend the Fun
For younger kids
If little ones have trouble cutting tough recyclable materials, try using washi tape, finger paints or yarn scraps to decorate whimsical people pots. Or, gather twigs, dried flowers and leaves for a more rustic look. For a simpler version of this craft, decorate just one can or plastic container for the pot.
For older kids
Older kids can take this craft one step further by potting a real plant to care for. If your child likes to cook, find a favorite herb to grow — and a recipe in which to use it! If your child loves lizards, try planting a hearty succulent and research how they (and other desert creatures) live on such little water. If your child is a colorful soul, pick a flowering plant and learn how to prune and nurture its beautiful blooms.
