How to Make a Dinosaur Out of Recyclables

Select a box you can turn into the body of your dinosaur. A shoebox, empty pasta box, cereal box or other small package will work well for this feature. Make sure it has flat surfaces on all sides. You may need to tape its lid down to hold it in place.

Find a neck for the dinosaur, such as a wrapping paper tube. Use scissors to slit a small hole in the top of the body box that's just big enough to slip this neck inside, leaving the rest sticking up into the air. Secure it in place with masking tape.

Make a head for the dinosaur that can sit atop the neck you've just created. Find a recyclable that looks like a head, such as a plastic milk jug, tissue box or margarine container. Cut a hole in the item to help it sit on the neck, or tape it securely on top.

Add a tail to the back side of the dinosaur's box body. Use any recyclable you have that you think will fit the look. Small soda bottles and paper towel holders will work well as tails. Attach the dinosaur tail either by slicing a hole in the box body or taping it in place.

Create the legs of the dinosaur to attach to the body box. These can be made from soda cans, paper towel holders or toilet rolls. Place two in the front of the bottom of the box, and two in the back. Play with the angle of each paper towel holder to find which way best balances and supports the structure. Hold them in place with masking tape.

Add details to your dinosaur using the materials you have. For example, glue old buttons on the head to make eyes. Make a mouth with pieces of scrap yarn. Create scales along its back and tail by cutting out the individual cups of an egg carton and gluing them on upside-down.

Paint your dinosaur in blue, green or any other color you want it to be. This will blend all the different recycled materials you used to showcase one complete dinosaur.