Don't Toss Your Egg Cartons: Turn Them Into Adorable Bee Decor For Your Patio

You may not see egg cartons as being more than just disposable caddies, piling up each week from your trip to the grocery store. But there are lots of fun ways to sustainably use these food containers in an eco-friendly yet creative way. With a little imagination, you might start picturing buzzing bees! As crafters have demonstrated, the little egg cups can be cut apart and transformed into DIY bee creatures, using nothing more than simple art supplies. It gets even cuter, though. The final steps involve attaching them by cords to a base, turning into hangable patio decor. Plus, if you end up loving the project, you could always upcycle egg cartons into a whimsical fairy house so the bees have company.

Needless to say, buying patio decor isn't in everyone's budget. One of the benefits of this DIY is that it might not cost you an extra dime if you have things like scissors, paint, glue, twine, and cardboard. It also saves an item from the trash, similar to reusing a plastic bottle to make a porch wind chime. Note that you're going to need an egg carton that's made of cardboard, not plastic or Styrofoam. It takes two egg cups to produce a singular bee, meaning one standard carton will get you six. Grab an additional cardboard holder if you wish to create a swarm. If you don't have any paint, there are bottles of yellow and black Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint on Amazon for less than a dollar each.

Start by cutting the egg cups apart, trimming their tops. Now, cut strands of twine at various lengths. Picture the end result to almost look like a baby mobile, so having the bees staggered can add to the appearance. Sandwich a piece of twine in between two cups and glue them together, creating a round, insect-looking body. Repeat the steps until you have as many hanging bees as you like. Next, grab the paint and decorate each one with the typical bee details: yellow with black stripes. Keep the stripes to just half of the egg piece, though, as the other side will be its head.

Here's where you really bring the bees to life. Firstly, they need facial features like eyes and mouths. Paint them on, or create the features out of paper, then attach them using glue. Craft a set of wings from cardboard. Make tiny stingers and antennas out of materials like rolled-up paper, cotton swab ends, or cut-up skewers. Paint them black as well so they blend. These are just suggestions — you could also get creative with other items you find in your home.

You're now going to need a base to attach your bees to. One option is to cut out a ring from thick cardboard, then wrap it in jute twine. You can then tie your bees around the ring. Another option is to attach three or four small branches together using twine, forming a hangable base. Similarly, tie the bees onto different areas of the branches. If you have a wooden hoop, like these 6-inch Kemcatui Bamboo Floral Hoops, 6 piece for $9 on Amazon, that would work, too. Create a hanger for the base by tying on a few pieces of rope, connecting them together near their tops.

Although you can hang your bee decoration at this point, don't hesitate to give it extra flair. Mist the bees with a clear glitter spray, like Krylon Glitter Blast 5.75oz for $16 on Amazon, so they sparkle in the sun. Give the piece sound by attaching a miniature jingle bell to each insect. It won't be the same as buzzing, but it'll add even more charm! You could also glue faux flowers to a handful of twine strands. Tie them around the base as well, so the bees and flowers intermingle. Another idea is to wrap a strand of battery-operated fairy lights around the base so it can be glowing decor at night.

Hang your egg carton creation from a hook or nail on your patio, preferably somewhere it'll stay covered. Simply take it down on days where it seems like the elements could possibly damage it. The bees will be fun to watch as they move on the piece, almost as if they're in flight. Place a flower planter below it to help complete the look. Alternatively, you could create floral decor using pool noodles that'd also pair well with the adorable bees. Can't get enough of Mother Nature's creatures? Use the DIY's basic steps to make different versions of the craft, swapping out the bees for other insects like butterflies or ladybugs.