Organize and Recycle Toys: Make Simple Heart Art With Kids

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Over winter break, I decided to organize and recycle toys.

Little plastic toys had invaded my house. You know, the random marker caps, missing game pieces, and LEGOS that left holes in my feet. I felt really annoyed and frustrated.  

Recently, I opened my eyes and reality hit me. My house wasn’t my own! The TV room looked like a dysfunctional toy store, the kids’ bedrooms were littered with leftover dollar store items, and we didn’t have one game with all of its’ pieces.  All of these missing toys felt like cobwebs in my mind. I needed a solution!

3 Tips to Organize and Recycle Toys:

1.Take two bins and label them ‘save’ and ‘donate.’

 

2. Sort through ALL of the kids’ toys and games. Any games that are intact, but the kids haven’t played with in a year, go into the donate pile. Any games have cute missing pieces, put in the save pile.

 

3. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes/day. Work on each toy area until your mission is complete. Save old toys for a fun art project.

 

 

How To Make Simple Heart Art With Recycled Toys

Materials:

• IKEA Ribba Frame 16″x 20″
• Low Temp Glue Gun
• 2 pieces of white 12″x 18″ construction paper
• Old toys, marker caps, etc.

 

Process:

1. Make a heart template. I used the inside paper from the frame.

 

2. Trace the heart on a large sheet of white construction paper. The paper should be large enough to fit into the frame.

 

3. Arrange old toys to fit inside the heart.

4. Use a low temp glue gun to glue toys on the paper. Low temp glue guns are really great for kids to use. However, I always tell my kids not to touch the metal end and I always supervise them. 

5. Remove the glass and place artwork into the frame.

 

 

If you are looking to reorganize, and reuse some of your old toys, try this easy project!