Organized 31

Ideas from a Military Mom

Recycled Laundry Scoop

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Each time I share my obsession with repurposing my trash into crafts, I become just a bit less embarrassed about it (and it now embarrasses me that I’m not embarrassed any more).  I’ve been hoarding laundry scoops for years.  I’d build up a big stack while trying to figure out what in the world to do with them.  I have used them in organizing, but I’d never figured out that perfect craft for them, so usually I just threw my scoop stack in the recycle bin…and then start collecting them again.  Finally, I’ve figured out my perfect and so fun craft for a recycled laundry scoop and I can’t wait to share it with you.

5 decorated for Christmas plastic laundry scoops


When I scheduled a craft date with my friend, J., I knew that I wanted us to craft with these recycled laundry scoops.  In preparation for our craft day, I popped over to the craft store and bought some miniatures.  If you grab your craft store coupons, these miniatures are reasonably priced. (Pay no attention to the plastic lid and gum container in the photo.  We couldn’t figure out what to do with them.  Plus, we were having plenty of fun decorating the laundry scoops)

Recycled Laundry Scoop

Supplies

Laundry Detergent Scoops

Quilt Batting

Hot Glue Gun

Miniatures or Decorative Buttons – Be sure to check the measurements of your laundry scoops compared to the minatures. 

Scissors

Ribbon

overhead view of plastic laundry scoops, packages of mini Christmas decorations and quilt batting
blue plastic laundry scoop, white quilt batting and blue glue gun

We started by hot gluing batting to the bottom of the laundry scoop.  J. figured out that pulling apart the batting gives a more wispy, snowy look.  We ended up making some of the scoops with regular batting in the far back of the scoop and some with wispy batting. The wispy batting works best towards the front of the scoop to help hide the hot glue when you attach the miniatures.

close up of handle of blue plastic laundry scoop and scissors

If you want to turn your laundry scoop into a Christmas tree ornament, carefully poke a hole into the top of the scoop handle.  Then thread a piece of ribbon or baker’s twine through to make a hanger for the ornament.

2 blue plastic laundry scoops standing up on white table and decorated with mini Christmas decorations

We used hot glue to attach the miniatures to the scoop and then carefully added the wispy batting to the scoop in front of the miniatures. You’ll need to be careful and hold the deer in place while adding the wispy batting since they only have small glue contact areas on each little hoof. 

green plastic laundry scoop decorated with mini nativity figures

I found these adorable Nativity buttons.  I had thought I’d have to clip the button loop off the back, but I ended up leaving the loops on the buttons.  The loops made it easier to glue the buttons into place.

2 blue laundry scoops decorated with mini Christmas trees, gifts and a snowman

We added bows to these 2 scoops because these miniatures are so much smaller and needed a bit more to balance the space out vertically.  I’d recommend taking a recycled laundry scoop to the store to shop for your miniatures so you can judge the size of the miniatures as they’ll look in the scoop.

5 plastic laundry scoops decorated with different Christmas scenes made from tiny decorations

Are these not just the cutest little decorations?!  My kids were even oohing and ahhing over them when they came home from school. Who knew that an upcycled laundry scoop could look this good?

close up of red bow attached to laundry scoop handle

It amuses me that I was able to use a recycled bow from a bag of candy, even using the twist tie that came with the bow,

close up of laundry scoop with red bow and decorated with miniature Christmas tree and gifts

And look at how cute the recycled laundry scoop looks with the recycled bow.

close up of miniature gold deer and Christmas tree inside laundry scoop

Shhh, don’t tell the other scoops, but this one is my favorite.   It’s such a nostalgic scene and somehow still looks so charming in recycled laundry scoop. (The juxtaposition of the charming scene and the recycled trash scoop amuses me.)

Use a recycled laundry scoop to create a fun holiday scene or Christmas decoration with text overaly

I already told J. that as soon as I collect some more recycled laundry scoops, we’ll have another craft day and make a bunch more of these little cuties.  Do you have a recycled laundry scoop I can have?

More of my repurposed Christmas projects:

Christmas wreath made from book pages with red bow

You can make this sophisticated Upcycled Book Page Wreath using repurposed book pages.

blocks decorated with red and green paper and letters spelling "believe"

Make personalized Christmas Decor from repurposed game blocks.

overhead view of cups filled with treats and decorated with Christmas paper

Make a charming DIY Advent Calendar from repurposed yogurt cups that’s perfect for deployed military or college students.

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  1. Cynthia L says

    Oh my gosh, I just love these! Especially the Nativity scene. I think the angel hovering over baby Jesus is too cute! I save these scoops too, but never knew what to do with them! Great idea.

    Reply

    • susan says

      Thank you, Glennis. They were so much fun to make. I’m now collecting more scoops to make more ornaments as soon as possible.

      Reply

  13. salguero hélène says

    bonjours Susan
    J ‘habite en France dans une petit village qui s appelle St André de la roche dans les alpes maritimes et je suis tombée en admiration devant les “Laundry Scoop” recycled .Je trouve l idée géniale.Ils sont adorables .J aimerais savoir ou vous avez acheté les miniatures que vous avez mis dans les scoops blanchisserie car je n en trouve pas en France.Si vous avez un cite ou je pourrez m en proccurer ou l.adresse mail du magasin ou vouez lés avez acheté ,car moi aussi j aime faire des choses avec des objets de réccupérations(recycled).Car cet année je fais le marché de noel de mon village .voila MERCI D avange Hélène

    Reply

    • susan says

      Thank you, Helene. I’m so happy you enjoy my recycled laundry scoops. Every time I get them out for Christmas I smile. They’re so simple and yet so charming. I found the miniatures in my local sewing and craft stores. I used miniatures intended for doll houses and decorative buttons. I will look for online sites and add the links to this post. Best of luck and enjoy crafting. Also, I’ve visited Metz, Strasbourg, Paris and the Alps. We adored every place we visited.

      Reply

    • susan says

      Love the idea of a mini Christmas tree in the laundry room, Shirley! Though I must say that I’m a bit jealous of how large your laundry room must be even for a mini tree. 🙂

      Reply

  15. Charlene LaFontaine says

    I do love these repurposed laundry scoops into cute Christmas miniatures or ornaments. I too have plenty of left over laundry scoops. I can start on these to have ready for next year at Christmas. The Crèche would also look cute with a Star at the beginning of the handle. Thanks for a great idea. I also repurpose my Keurig coffee pods after I clean them. They too make cute little Christmas ornaments.

    Reply

    • susan says

      Thanks, Charlene. I had fun making them and displaying them each year. Lo-ove your idea of adding a star at the top of the handle (and guess what?! I just happen to have some left over stars from… who knows what. 🙂 )

      Reply

    • susan says

      That’s a great question, Betty. The scoops come in powder laundry detergent. I bet if you asked friends and neighbors or put a request up on Freecycle or Craigslist you could collect some.

      Reply

  19. Sage says

    Thank You Susan! These are the Best!! They can be for any season according to how you decorate them…red, white and blue, fall colors or pastels for Spring. You can also make your own figures from air dry clay and then paint them to look like people or pets you know! Great idea, now I need some people to save their scoops for me. Or at the laundry mat take them outta the trash. Yes I do things like that when I need something. 🙂

    Reply

    • Susan says

      Lol, Sage, I’d take them at the laundry mat, too (if they were “clean dirty”)! Adding clay figures is a great idea! I know you’re going to have as much fun creating with scoops as I do.

      Reply

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