I love making the most of what we have and that is what Fabulously Frugal is all about for me this week. Making the most of the things that we already have in the home and recycling or upcycling them to make playsets.

Often the best play materials come from our recycling box. Using recycled materials in crafts is a great way to create while using items that are in the home making for an inexpensive material, but also great for the health of the planet. It also goes to show that you do not need to buy expensive toys for your children. These recycled playsets are fun to make and even more fun to play with long term .
10 Recycled Playsets
Many of the playsets below are made using recycled materials you probably have in your recycling bin right now (egg cartons, plastic containers, used water bottles, newspapers, and paper). Recycled materials are perfect for crafts and activity and build skills.
Now is the perfect time to dig through the recycling bin and make some seriously fun and creative recycled crafts with kids.
- Portable recycled marble run by Milk, Crafts and Honesty
- DIY Dinosaur Playset by Sunny Day Family
- Paper plate Thor Helmet by Crafts on Sea
- Lolly stick harmonica by Mum in the Mad House
- Cereal Box Robot by Kids Activities Blog
- DIY Raincatcher by Mum in the Mad House
- Milk Bottle Rackets by Laughing Kids Learn
- Kindness postcards by Growing book by book
- DIY Lightsaber from In Lieu of Preschool
- Milk Jug Toss by Creative Connections for Kids

Thanks for sharing these DIY toys! My son would love the lightsaber 🙂
Some great ideas, we recycle everything but don’t tend to make many things, we don’t seem to have time to do much crafting but I should try and find the time
We recycle everything but don’t make anything with it either. Ant’s always trying to get me to save stuff for crafting and I do occasionally but then we never get round to making anything and I get fed up of it lying around and end up throwing it in the recycle bin!
What brilliant ideas, wish I’d seen them before half term finished lol oh well next weekend will have to do.
Some great suggestions, I will have to investigate the marble run
Some great ideas there – I really should make a marble run with my son!
Some great ideas of the usual junk we would through away. Although in this house thise swords would not last they are so destructive
This is so clever to make stuff out of used items very cool .
I love love love the Thor helmet, would it be weird to wear this myself??
great ideas here Jen!
Jen some of these are amazing, even the uncrafty me wants to have a go at some of them! 🙂
So many great ideas, I just wish I was as creative!
That marble run looks brilliant! Great ideas and even better that they’re using recycled products.
What a great idea for a linky. I love the light sabre. I will join in once we’ve moved, I have cardboard boxes coming out of my ears begging to be made into something more exciting x
Lots of fabulous ideas! I love DIY Robot and Dinosaur set 🙂
What a great idea! I think I might have something in my archive for this, will have a look…
We don’t tend to recycle our toys as they tend to get handed down, but some fab ideas to try when Sebby gets bigger
Some fab ideas there and I love how many have linked up this week.
Wow, this box robot looks amazing!
Thank you for the inspiration
That box robot is really nice. Thanks for hosting this linkup.
That marble run is so fun. Who would have thought and it doesn’t cost a thing either. That is perfect for a snow day. Thank you for sharing at Motivational Monday Link Party! I would love to have you again Sunday night. Have a great weekend!
Love Bethany from The Southern Couture
These are such fabulous ideas for frugal play! It just goes to show you don’t need to spend a bunch of money to have fun with your kids.
Some lovely posts linked up this week in the Parenting Pin it Party as always, Jen – thanks so much. Sorry I am a bit late – manic week! Cheers, Helen
Great ideas here! Wish I was more crafty (lol)…. I never seem to find the time!
We love using recycled items for creating different engineered projects. Thanks for sharing on my facebook page.