Here’s how to make an adorable bumble bee craft for kids using recycled materials. We used portions of a drink carrier, but you could easily make this cute bee with a cardboard egg carton too. These little bees turn out super cute and perfect for an Earth Day, spring or summer craft.

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You can make these adorable bees using things you would normally recycle. For these particular bees we used an old drink carrier (which already has the perfect indented lines for bee stripes), but you could also use an egg carton for the bee’s body. Get creative with the wings using either a plastic milk jug (like we did), newspaper, or even bubble wrap, and you’ve got yourself one adorable bumble bee craft for kids!

Bumble Bee Craft Using Recycled Materials

Materials for Bumble Bee Craft Using Recycled Materials

• • Drink Carrier (or an empty egg carton)
  • Empty, clear, plastic milk carton (or tracing paper, white construction paper, newspaper or even bubble wrap for the wings)
  • Paint (This is our favorite tempera paint! I love the bright colors, and how this paint doesn’t have a strong smell like other tempera paints.)
  • Paint Brush (We used these paint brushes provided to use by Craft Project Ideas.)
  • Black Pipe Cleaners
  • Googly Eyes
  • Glue (You can use liquid glue or a glue gun.)
  • Scissors

Directions for Bumble Bee Craft Using Recycled Materials

1. Cut out the top pieces that divide each drink on the drink carrier. (They already even have stripes for the bee!) Don’t have  a drink carrier? You can use a cardboard egg carton too. Cut out the individual portions of the egg carton and trim them to be about 1/2 inch high. This is definitely a step for an adult to do.

2. Paint the drink carrier pieces bright yellow.

3. Paint black lines on the yellow, painted bodies. Let the paint dry completely.

4. Make wings for your bee using either a milk jug (like we did), newspaper, bubble wrap, tracing paper, or even white construction paper. To do this, draw two wing shapes on the material of your choice and cut them out.

5. Glue the wings onto the back of the painted bee bodies. (Did you know they make sets of tacky glue pens? Perfect for doing projects in the classroom.)

6. Cut a black pipe cleaner into 4 pieces and twist the ends to form antennae.

7. Glue the antennae onto the back of the bees.

8. Glue googly eyes onto the front of your bee.

9. Optional: Cut a small stinger from black cardstock or construction paper and glue it to the bottom of your bumble bee.

These little bees are super cute hung up together and can even be used as pieces for creative play!