3 Eco-Friendly DIY Projects

Aug 5, 2016
2 min read

Assembling eco-friendly DIY projects can be rewarding for both you and the environment. By reusing materials to turn trash into treasure, these hands-on projects remind adults and kids alike that saving the earth can be fun and creative. Here are some ideas that you can do at home:

1. Plastic Bottle Herb Planters

Instead of going to the grocery store, save money and plastic bottles by growing your own herbs at home. To make an easy herb planter, start with a label-less liter-size bottle. Keep the cap on, but remove all adhesive labels. Measure 13 cm from the base of the bottle and cut all the way around. Invert the top of the bottle into the freshly-cut cylindrical base. Partially fill it with soil. Insert a seedling and gently secure it with additional soil. Lift up the top portion and remove the cap. Add 5cm-7cm of water until the lip of the top portion -where the cap used to be - is submerged. Give the seedling a little more water, and that's it! Keep it in a sunny place and enjoy taking care of your plastic bottle herb planter.

2. Tin Can Lanterns

Light up your summer nights with beautiful, easy-to-make lanterns. Fill a clean tin can with water and freeze overnight. The ice will help stabilize the tin can as you decorate it. Cushion the tin can with a towel to prevent slippage and catch ice debris. Carefully punch holes into the tin can using a hammer and assorted nails to make a pretty design when the light shines through the holes. From flowers and snowflakes to Chinese characters, the possibilities are endless! Rinse the tin can under hot water and pop the ice out. Once dry, you can decorate the outside of the tin can with colorful permanent markers and glitter. Now insert a lighted votive candle, and you have just created a beautiful lantern from a recycled tin can!

3. T-Shirt Tote Bags

Instead of throwing out old T-shirts, transform them into functional, reusable tote bags. Start by laying the T-shirt flat on the ground. Cut off the sleeves. Next, measure 5cm-10 cm away from each shoulder seam depending on your desired handle thickness. Using these marks as a guideline, cut a large hole around the neck of the T-shirt. Stretch the fabric so that the edges curl upon themselves. Sew up the bottom edges of the T-shirt to complete its transformation into a bag. It's that simple!

Explore your creative nature through eco-friendly DIY projects, like the three examples above. Thanks to green groups like Spearmint and modern technology, inspiration and ecological education are at your fingertips! Who knew being environmentally-responsible could be so fun?