Project: Reuse - Big Y® World Class Market®

Today’s kids will grow up knowing more about their impact on the environment than any other generation before them. While every day is filled with moments you can use to teach them even more about environmental responsibility, Earth Day is a great opportunity to show them how they can help protect their planet.

This year, why not celebrate Earth Day with your children by transforming everyday tossables — milk jugs, soup cans, egg crates — into one-of-a-kind treasures? All it takes is a pinch of imagination, a dash of creativity and a few items from your recycling bin!

Bottle Cap Wind Chime

Transforming your soda pop bottle caps into a charming, musical wind chime is easy with this simple craft. Note: This craft uses a drill, so adult supervision is required!

Supplies you’ll need:

1 - 3" to 4" plastic lid from an instant coffee
25 Plastic bottle caps
1 Spool or skein black lanyard thread (plastic)
105 - 10mm wooden beads
1 - 14mm wooden bead

Tools you’ll need:

•Drill with 1⁄8" bit
• Scissors
•Ruler

1 - Using the drill, put 5 evenly spaced holes in the jar lid.

2 - Drill a hole in the center of each bottle cap.

3 - Cut the lanyard thread into one of each of the following lengths: 26.5", 25.5", 24.5", 23.5" and 22.5".

4 - Starting with the longest piece of thread, tie a triple knot at one end and then string three beads onto it. Follow with a bottle cap, then another three beads, then another bottle cap, repeating the pattern until you have strung
7 bottle caps. End with three more beads.

5 - Repeat the pattern with each length of thread, using 6 caps for the 25.5" piece, 5 caps for the 24.5" piece, 4 caps for the 23.5" piece and 3 caps for the 22.5" piece.

6 - Thread each piece through a hole in the jar lid, starting with the longest one and working around to the shortest. Then thread three more beads onto the top of each piece. Gather all the ends up tight, and thread them all through the 14mm bead.

7 - Fold all the ends down to the top of the 14mm bead and tie a knot 2" from the fold. To finish, tuck the loose ends into the hole of the large bead.

Tin Can Herb Planter

Use an empty can to start your own little garden patch — right in the kitchen.
Note: Since this craft uses a screwdriver and hammer, adult supervision is recommended.

Supplies you’ll need:

Empty, clean aluminum can
Sandpaper (if necessary)
Acrylic gesso, white
Acrylic paints in your favorite colors
Assorted paintbrushes
Black permanent marker
1.5 cups potting soil
1 - 4" potted herb plant of your choice
Saucer to catch water
Newspaper or brown kraft paper to protect your work surface

Tools you’ll need:

•Screwdriver

•Hammer

1 - Completely wash and dry aluminum can. Sand smooth any rough edges.

2 - Turn can upside down and poke 4 or 5 holes in the bottom of the can using the screwdriver and hammer.

3 - Paint the entire outside of the can with the white gesso. Let dry completely.

4 - Use your favorite color paint to decorate your can however you want — stripes, polka dots, etc. Let dry completely.

5 - Using the marker, write the name of the herb.

6 - Add soil until the can is 2/3 of the way full.

7 - Transplant your herb to the can and fill in with remaining potting soil.

8 - Place can on saucer and gently water.

9 - Put your new herb garden in a sunny window and watch it grow!