Plastic drinking straws have become a common household item, often discarded without a second thought. However, these simple, colourful tubes can be transformed into an array of creative and practical projects. Whether you’re looking to engage in some fun DIY crafts with your kids, add a quirky touch to your home décor, or find new ways to repurpose everyday items, plastic straws offer endless possibilities. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten exciting and innovative things you can make and do with plastic drinking straws. Get ready to unleash your creativity and give new life to those forgotten straws!
Drinking Straws turned into paper plane
Often called a ‘Hoop Glider” it turns just about any straw into a glider that goes further and higher than any normal paper plane. A good idea for something to do a summers day when the kids are off school.
Drinking Straws turned into sculptures
When we all see a drinking straw we think about tasting a nice cold drink, maybe a crazy flavour of coke-cola(or any other drink) through it. But when artist Annie Boyden Varnot sees them she thinks about all the breathtaking sculptures she could make with them! It’s not something you can copy, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Drinking Straws turned into Light
I never thought I would see something this beautiful made from drinking straws, but here we are! Made from over 1500 drinking straws this lamp is one very creative idea, but you will need an awful lot of straws
Baskets Make With Drinking Straws
In much the same way people make paper baskets these are all made with the art of weaving drinking straws! This fun little craft is only limited by your own imagination on what to make!
Flip-flops Made From Drinking Straws
Looking for some fun flip-flop slippers to wear around the house and decorate anyhow you want? This footwear craft is more fan than you might think and dare I say they look fabulous!
Drinking Straws turned into Kitchen Tool
Why fiddle around with knives and various other kitchen gadgets when all you have to do it Insert a straw into the end of the strawberry and push through to the stem! Having tried this myself I can tell you that it isn’t as easy as you think, but at least it works!
Maze Made From Drinking Straws
This fun little maze isn’t hard to make at all and can be a real challenge if you use more straws! You can use it as a marble run or even as a blind maze game where the ‘maze runner’ is blindfolded and needs to get through the maze as fast as possible. Who knew drinking straws could be so much fun!
Bicycle Made From Drinking Straws
OK, so you are not going to be able to ride off to a picnic on one, but if you enjoy making little sculptures or things you will find this idea a good challenge. The good news is, it doesn’t look like you need may straws for this idea, unlike many of the others.
Drinking Straws turned into a chair
Looking for a nice reading seat that will keep you aired in the hot summer sun? This idea could well keep you cool as well as make a good recycling idea. But I dread to think how many straws you are gonna need to make one.
Drinking Straws used to make jellyworms
Looking for something fun to make with the kids over summer? These jelly straws not only look great they also taste great! The more colours you use, the crazier the worm you make!
We’ve journeyed through ten fantastic ways to transform ordinary plastic drinking straws into unique and functional creations. From delightful crafts to practical hacks, these projects demonstrate that with a little imagination, even the most mundane items can find a new purpose. We hope these ideas have inspired you to look at plastic straws—and perhaps other household items—in a new light.
Now it’s your turn! Grab those straws and start creating. We’d love to see what you come up with, so be sure to share your projects in the comments or tag us on social media with your straw-inspired creations. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more fun and eco-friendly DIY ideas. Happy crafting!