25 Best DIY Milk Jug Crafts to Have Fun with Your Kids
Updated on March 22, 2022
Don’t throw away those empty gallon plastic jugs from the supermarket. Instead, you can transform them into a number of fun DIY milk jug crafting projects for the entire family.
You can paint on milk containers, use them as planters for your gardens and even convert these jugs into useful items like a hamster home or a tabletop basketball game.
Best DIY Milk Jug Crafts that Deserve Your Attention
Here are some cool ideas for DIY milk jug crafts that can be easily made with leftover plastic containers from the supermarket:
1. Milk Jug Piggy Bank
A piggy bank is useful because it helps teach children how to save money. When a child has a piggy bank, they can deposit their money and learn about the importance of savings.
If you don’t already have a piggy bank at home, you can make one by recycling an old milk jug. As far as supplies are concerned, you need an empty gallon milk jug, a pair of scissors, soap, black and pink acrylic paints, paintbrushes, and newspaper.
It would also help to use a hairdryer for speeding up the drying process. Paint the piggy bank in any way you want so that it becomes unique and useful. It’s best to use at least two coats of paint to make it easy to clean afterward.
Visit Thrifty Fun to get the complete instructions for building a milk container piggy bank from the ground up. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.
2. Milk Jug Planter
A milk jar planter is practical because it can help you save money on plants. Buying a pot or container for your plants can be expensive, but using an old milk jug is a great way to recycle and reuse something that you would otherwise throw away.
You can also use milk jug planters to grow your own herbs and vegetables. All you need is a sunny spot in your garden and some soil. The best part about growing your own plants is that you know exactly what’s in the soil, and you can control the amount of water that the plant receives.
Visit Milk Life to learn how to make a milk jug planter from scratch. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.
For an indoor planter, leave out any milk jug decor steps. All you need to do is cut off the handle portion of the jug with a pair of utility or box cutters, clean it up if needed, and put potting soil in it before planting your seeds or seedlings.
Outdoors you’ll want to be very careful about leaving jugs out in the elements as they will degrade quickly without paint or proper sealing. You might also be interested in self-watering planters.
3. Old Milk Jug Storage Containers
A milk jug helps you store leftover food in the refrigerator. Jugs are especially useful for storing fruit juices, salad dressings, and other liquids because they keep their contents fresh for some time.
However, you can also use a makeshift storage container for your jewelry, crafting supplies, pennies, notes, and anything else you can think of.
You can make a pitcher or container by cutting down an empty old milk jug. If you have an old pot or pan that needs replacing, use it as your template to cut out the desired shape with a pair of utility knives.
Alternatively, just draw around the outside of any cup or jar that gets high traffic in your kitchen so that you know where to cut next time you’re near a recycling bin. You can also successfully recycle various sized jugs together to form larger containers.
Visit Sew Many Ways to learn how to create storage containers effortlessly.
4. Rainbow Windsocks – Old Milk Can Decorating Ideas
A windsock helps you make your own kite at home, making it a fun activity for your kids. You can use a windsock on any outdoor day, but it’s especially useful during the summer. It lets you know what direction the wind is blowing from so that you know where to fly your homemade kite.
If you already have some empty milk jugs around the house, then you’re ready to create a rainbow windsock. For this old milk can decorating idea, you need a clean and dry milk container, various ribbons, a kitchen knife, a pair of scissors, and a stapler.
Go to Kid’s Craft Room to get step-by-step instructions on how to make your own rainbow windsock.
5. Milk Jug Skeleton
A milk jug makes a great skeleton for your Halloween decorations. You can use this basic design to create a skeleton from milk jugs of any size.
To start working on a plastic milk carton skeleton, you need 8 empty milk jugs, a marker, a hole punch, a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun, a string or fishing line, a paintbrush, and glow-in-the-dark paint.
If you want to learn more about building a spooky skeleton using old milk containers, head over to eHow and check out their complete instructions.
6. Art Supply Organizer – Milk Carton Crafts
You can use an old milk jug to easily organize your art supplies without having to spend money on expensive products. For example, you can use it to fit your paintbrushes, pencils, markers, acrylic paints, and crayons.
Factory Direct Craft has some great instructions on how to make an organizer for your art supplies, so be sure to check out this amazing milk carton craft idea.
All you need is a milk jug, chalkboard paint, acrylic paint, a paintbrush, chalk, a ribbon, a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun with glue sticks, a plastic cup, and a permanent marker.
7. Empty Milk Jug Suncatchers
Milk jugs are very easy to cut, so your kids will love this activity. Using bright colors of milk jug plastic, you can help your young ones create unique suncatchers for Christmas or other special events.
If you’re looking for an interesting way to recycle old milk containers into something new, then have a look at Happy Hooligans‘ instructions on how to cut out colorful shapes and paste them together into gorgeous suncatchers.
And, if you have standard white milk jugs, you can just use colorful Sharpie markers to obtain the same effect for these empty milk jug suncatchers.
8. Milk Jug Greenhouse
For those who are into gardening, old milk jugs can serve as miniature greenhouses. If you want to try winter sowing with your children, then you’ll need a few empty plastic milk jugs that are free of cracks.
For this greenhouse milk can idea, you just have to cut the containers in half while leaving only one side uncut, and then punch some holes in the sides.
In the following steps, you can fill the containers with potting soil and moisten it before adding seeds. Afterward, place the jugs in bright windowsills or outside during summertime, depending on what kind of seeds they are. You might also consider using other types of bottles to create similar mini-greenhouses for this project.
Visit Gardening Know-How to find out how to create seedling domes from recycled milk jugs and place plants in milk jugs.
9. Catcher Game – Milk Jug Crafts
Turning empty plastic milk jugs into a fun catcher game is an excellent crafting and entertaining activity for your kids. Besides, there are several ways in which you can use it, as detailed by Childhood 101.
You can start working on this awesome milk jug craft project after gathering the necessary supplies: a milk jug with a handle for each participant, a pair of scissors, permanent markers in various colors, yarn, socks, pom-poms, and water balloons.
10. Milk Jug Igloo
Making a life-sized igloo with milk jugs is a fun and easy project that can be completed in just a few hours. It’s the perfect hiding place for young children, especially since two or more kids can retreat to swap stories and enjoy pretending to live at the North Pole.
Before taking on this colossal project, be sure to gather as many clean recycled plastic milk jugs as possible. You will also need a cardboard base and heat glue guns with extra glue sticks.
HubPages teaches you everything you need to know about building igloos from DIY milk containers, so be sure to check out their website.
11. Snowmen – Milk Jug Crafts for Christmas
Snowmen are one of the most popular symbols of Christmas. Now you can make your own adorable snowmen with this easy milk jug craft. It’s perfect for kids and adults of all ages. You can even use them to decorate your home for Christmas.
Head over to Bee-ing Mommy to find out how to make these milk jug crafts for Christmas using multi-colored Sharpie markers.
12. Milk Jug Sandwich Container
If your kids are complaining about their sandwiches getting squished in their backpacks at school, you will love this milk jug sandwich container project fromThe Hiland Home.
It teaches you how to cut the sides and bend them to make a little sandwich box that folds shut and fastens with a button. The harder plastic of the box will protect the sandwich better than a plastic bag.
13. Milk Jug Whale
Perhaps you’ve been looking for crafting options that you can make with your kids and you’d prefer to make them something they can use in the water because they just can’t get enough of the idea of bath tub toys lately? In that case, we have a feeling your kids will appreciate this sparkly blue whale made by cutting a crescent shape out of one bottom corner to look like a mouth and drawing on some eyes and fins.Crafty Morning shows you how it’s done.
14. Spooky Milk Jug Ghosts with Lights
Suppose you’re the kind of crafter who collects ideas all the time to prepare for holidays. Then you might adore these spooky little milk jug ghosts with string lights in them.
Eighteen 25 shows you how to make them and set them up along your garden path leading to your house.
15. Milk Jug Owl
Here’s a guide for making an adorable owl using kitchen supplies and containers, like mason jar lids, paper plates, and plastic forks. Instructables shows you how to build it step by step and how to draw in the details.
16. Plastic Trinkets Box
You can craft a trinket box from a milk jug to store small items inside. Check out this easy tutorial from Guide Central for a box that folds and fastens with a button and a piece of elastic. It’s like doing origami but with harder materials.
17. DIY Lunch Box
Here’s an alternative tutorial for making a lunch box that’s slightly bigger than the previous one. Just head over to Goods Home Designand use big milk jugs.
18. Milk Jug Bird Feeder
Here’s a charming project that your kids can help you build: a hand-painted bird feeder milk jug project. Great Stems shows you how to cut the sides out, let your kids paint it, and fill it with birdseed.
Then you can hang up this birdhouse milk jug and watch the birds flutter in for a quick bite. You might also be interested in homemade bird feeders.
19. Milk Jug Stormtrooper Helmet
If you’re a Star Wars fan, you will absolutely love this idea of crafting a stormtrooper helmet from milk jugs.Macyverisms walks you step by step through the entire process.
20. Elephant Milk Jug Craft
Elephants are one of the world’s largest and most majestic creatures. They’re also one of the easiest animals to make out of milk jugs. Just askDoodle and Stitch.
21. DIY Watering Can – Milk Jug Gardening Ideas
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to water your plants, you can craft a handy dandy watering from recycled milk jugs. Just follow the simple tutorial provided by Journey to A Dream.
22. Milk Jug Toss Game
You can make a toss game from old milk jugs to liven up your next party or family gathering. This simple yet addictive game is sure to provide hours of entertainment for all ages. Plus, it’s easy to make using just a few common household items. Check out Creative Connections for Kids for more details.
23. Easter Bunny Milk Jug
This Easter, ditch the store-bought bunny and give your kids a homemade one they’ll love. With just a few simple materials, you can create an adorable Easter bunny out of recycled milk jugs. Plus, it’s a great activity to do together as a family. Check outShe Savedfor the complete instructions.
24. Totem Pole – Crafts from Milk Jugs
You can add a little extra flair to your home decor by trying your hand at making a totem pole from milk jugs. This fun and easy project is perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of character to their living space.
Plus, it’s eco-friendly, too. Visit Instructables for more info.
25. Angel Ornament – Crafts for Milk Jugs
This tutorial will show you how to make a beautiful and sentimental angel ornament from a milk jug. It’s a fantastic project for Christmas but which can be made any time of year. It’s easy to follow, and the results are stunning. Check out Crack of Dawn Crafts for more info.
Final Thoughts on DIY Milk Jug Crafts
These crafting ideas demonstrate just how versatile and useful milk jug crafts can be, whether you want to create something fun, practical, or both. Besides, these containers are durable and easy to store. You can keep them in the garage, attic, or any other dry and well-ventilated area.
The best part about milk jugs is that they’re really cheap. So if you only need a few supplies for your craft projects, the investment will be minimal. There’s no telling when they might come in handy, so make sure to keep hanging to used milk containers since the possibilities are endless.
What are your favorite ways of reusing old milk jugs? Let us know in the comment section below.