This Veterans Day, let’s gather our families and do more than just say “thank you” to our heroes. Let’s show our gratitude through action, creating beautiful tributes with our own hands. 🇺🇸
I believe the most heartfelt gifts come from a place of creativity and resourcefulness. It’s about spending time together, talking about what it means to be brave, and making something meaningful. ❤️
That’s why I’ve put together a list of my favorite eco-friendly Veterans Day crafts for kids. We’ll be turning everyday items from our recycling bins into proud, patriotic decorations that honor those who have served. ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: Egg Carton Poppy Pins
- Most Unique: Tin Can ‘Winds of Freedom’ Wind Chime
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Patriotic Jar Luminaries
Cardboard & Paper Creations
Cardboard Tube American Eagle 🇺🇸
I just love this classic craft! It’s a wonderful way to teach little ones about our national symbols while using something you’d normally just toss in the recycling. My son and I had a blast making a whole family of these eagles one year.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~25 mins
Best For: A simple activity for teaching kids about American symbols.
Key Materials: Cardboard tube, scraps of white and yellow paper, brown paint or markers.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a set of non-toxic, kid-safe acrylic paints ensures the project is safe for the littlest hands and the colors really pop on the cardboard.
Image-1: A close-up shot of the finished cardboard tube eagle sitting on a windowsill, with a child’s hands visible in the background.
Egg Carton Poppy Pins 🇺🇸
The natural cups of an egg carton make for surprisingly realistic-looking poppy petals. These little pins are so simple to make but carry such a powerful message of remembrance. They are perfect for kids to wear to a Veterans Day assembly or to give to a family member.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins + drying time
Best For: Creating a wearable tribute or a small remembrance wreath.
Key Materials: Cardboard egg carton, red paint, black buttons or marker.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I recommend using a bulk bag of assorted small black buttons for the centers, as it adds a lovely bit of texture that a marker can’t quite replicate.
Image-2: A child’s hand holding up a finished egg carton poppy, showing its textured, flower-like shape.
Cereal Box Flag Display 🇺🇸
This is such a clever way to make a large, sturdy flag without buying a new poster board. I always tell my crafting groups not to worry about perfect lines; the slightly uneven, rustic look gives this flag a wonderful and heartfelt charm that’s full of character.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: A rustic piece of art to display on a shelf or mantel.
Key Materials: Empty cereal box, red, white, and blue paint, crayons, or markers, ruler.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For really crisp stripes, I find that a set of multi-surface craft paint pens gives you much more control than a regular paintbrush.
Image-3: The finished cereal box flag leaning against a bookshelf, showcasing its recycled texture.
Newspaper Star Garland 🇺🇸
This has become my go-to craft for using up stacks of old newspapers, and it always looks surprisingly chic! It’s a simple, calming activity of tracing, cutting, and stringing that results in a beautiful, rustic decoration for any room.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: Quickly decorating a doorway, window, or fireplace mantel.
Key Materials: Old newspaper, twine or string, star-shaped cookie cutter.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a spool of natural jute twine to string the stars together really enhances the garland’s charming, rustic feel.
Image-4: The finished newspaper star garland draped across a white fireplace mantel.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Upcycled Container Crafts
Patriotic Jar Luminaries 🇺🇸
These are absolutely stunning at dusk and a fantastic way to give old pasta sauce or pickle jars a second life. My family loves to line our front walkway with them on Veterans Day evening. They cast such a warm, peaceful glow.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~35 mins
Best For: Creating a warm, glowing display for a porch or windowsill.
Key Materials: Empty, clean glass jar, red, white, and blue tissue paper or paint, Mod Podge or craft glue.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To keep things safe and worry-free, I always use a pack of flameless, battery-operated LED tea lights inside the jars.
Image-5: A trio of finished jars of different sizes lined up on a porch step in the evening, glowing with battery-operated tea lights inside.
Bottle Cap Star Mosaic 🇺🇸
This is such a fun and colorful project! I recommend starting to save your red, white, and blue bottle caps a few weeks in advance. It’s a great way to teach kids about colors and patterns while creating some really unique, textured art.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~45 mins
Best For: A hands-on project for sorting colors and creating textured art.
Key Materials: Plastic bottle caps, a piece of sturdy cardboard, strong craft glue.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: You’ll want a bottle of Gorilla Glue or similar heavy-duty craft adhesive to make sure those bottle caps stay put permanently.
Image-6: An overhead shot of the bottle cap mosaic in progress, with a small bowl of sorted caps next to it.
Plastic Bottle Wind Spinner 🇺🇸
Here’s a project that turns plastic waste into beautiful, moving art! This is a fantastic craft for slightly older kids, with an adult helping with the cutting. It’s so rewarding to hang it outside and watch the wind bring your creation to life.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~40 mins + drying time
Best For: An outdoor decoration that adds patriotic color and motion to a garden or porch.
Key Materials: Empty 2-liter plastic soda bottle, permanent markers or acrylic paint, fishing line or string.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that a set of Sharpie permanent markers in patriotic colors is the easiest and least messy way to decorate the plastic bottle.
Image-7: The finished wind spinner hanging from a tree branch, slightly blurred to show its spinning motion.
Tin Can ‘Winds of Freedom’ Wind Chime 🇺🇸
I love the gentle sound this wind chime makes—it’s such a peaceful reminder of the freedoms our veterans have protected. It’s a wonderful project for using cans of different sizes to create different tones. Just be sure an adult handles preparing the cans!
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~50 mins
Best For: Creating a rustic, musical tribute to hang on a porch.
Key Materials: 3-4 empty, clean tin cans, nuts, bolts, or old keys, durable string or twine.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For safety, I always use a can opener with a smooth-edge safety feature, which cuts from the side and prevents sharp edges.
Image-8: The finished tin can wind chime hanging from a porch overhang, with cans painted in red, white, and blue patterns.
Fabric Scrap American Flag Banner 🇺🇸
This project requires absolutely no sewing skills—just tearing and tying, which kids love to do! It’s a beautiful way to use up old t-shirts, worn-out jeans, or any fabric scraps you have. The mix of textures makes it a truly special piece of décor.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: A no-sew project that creates a beautiful, rustic wall or door hanging.
Key Materials: Scraps of red, white, and blue fabric, a sturdy stick or dowel, twine.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: While not required, using a pair of pinking shears to trim the fabric edges can help prevent too much fraying and give your banner a neat finish.
Image-9: The fabric scrap flag hanging on a front door, showing the different textures of the torn fabric strips.
Quick Tips for Upcycled Crafting
- Tip 1: Clean Your Recyclables Well. Before you start, make sure all jars, cans, and plastic containers are thoroughly washed with soap and water and are completely dry to ensure paint and glue adhere properly.
- Tip 2: Use the Right Paint. For plastics and glass, use multi-surface acrylic paint or permanent markers. For cardboard and paper, standard tempera or craft paint works perfectly.
- Tip 3: Adult Supervision for Cutting. Projects involving cutting tin cans or thick plastic should always be done by an adult to ensure everyone stays safe.
- Tip 4: Embrace Imperfection! The beauty of upcycled crafts is their rustic, homemade charm. Don’t worry about perfect lines or shapes—focus on the creative process and the meaning behind the craft.
The Meaning of the Poppy
Have you ever wondered why the red poppy is a symbol for veterans? After World War I, the poppy was one of the first flowers to grow on the battlefields of France and Belgium. It has since become a powerful international symbol of remembrance, sacrifice, and hope for a peaceful future. Creating a poppy craft is a wonderful way to honor the memory of those who have served.
Turning our recyclables into symbols of gratitude is a powerful way to honor our nation’s heroes. These crafts are more than just decorations; they are conversations, lessons in history, and heartfelt thank-yous made with our own hands.
They teach our children about service, sacrifice, and sustainability all at once. I hope you and your family find joy in creating these tributes.
Which of these eco-friendly crafts will you and your family try first to honor our veterans? Let me know in the comments below
