Great Earth Day Craft Ideas

Earth Day is coming. Each year people gather to shine a light on the environment and what we can do to help save it. Began in April 22 1970, Earth Day is a celebration of life and our Mother Earth. Senator Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, came up with the idea in 1969. It was an instant success with over 20 million participants that first year. In 1995 he received the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as the Father of Earth Day. He passed away in July of 2005 but he was able to see his vision become a success. Earth Day, although the idea of Senator Nelson, has a mind of its own and organization is on the people, and they always respond. This Earth Day, which is officially April 22nd, 2008, will be another success. Below are a couple craft ideas that can easily be done to make a great Earth Day celebration.

Idea One:

Coffee Ground Fossils:

Items you will need:

1 cup of used coffee grounds

? cup of cold coffee

1 cup of flour

? cup of salt

Wax Paper

Mixing Bowl

An object (what you want your fossil to be)

A can of some type

How to:

Stir the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt together until mixed well.

Roll the mixture and flatten it onto the waxed paper.

Use the can to cut out circles of the mixture.

Press your object firmly into the mixture. When you take the object out, you have your fossil. If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string.

Let the fossil dry overnight and then hang it if you wish.

Idea Two:

Bandanna Sit-Upon:

Items you will need:

2 Bandannas

Embroidery floss or yarn

Embroidery Needle

Adhesive Velcro Tab

Soft Grass, Leaves or Moss

How to:

Place one bandanna on top of the other and stitch them together on three sides.

On the open side, attach a Velcro tab to make a simple closure. You could also forgo the Velcro and just make a basic button-hole closure instead.

To fill the Sit-Upon gather soft grasses, dead leaves, or moss you can find. Break them all up into small enough pieces that they won't pierce the bandannas.

Close it up and there you go.

Earth Day is a great day to get out and enjoy our planet. If it's crafts or just picking up trash in your neighborhood, do your part to help our planet.


By Gene Bannister