When you think of Earth Day, you probably think of gardening, litter cleanup, and other activities that keep our planet healthy.

But did you know that around 71% of the Earth's surface is covered in water? However you celebrate Earth Day or Earth Month in your community, don't forget that our planet's oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams need just as much love and care as the soil, trees, and all the natural wonders found on land.

So what does Nellie's do for our planet? Well, you may have noticed that our eggs are packaged in 100% recycled plastic. This plastic comes from items like water bottles and soda bottles that are already in circulation. In fact, a lot of said plastic is headed for our oceans, where it runs the risk of damaging marine habitats and ecosystems. By diverting it from the waste stream rather than creating new plastic, Nellie's helps keep plastic out of our oceans all year round.

DIY upcycled egg carton jellyfish

Recycling your empty Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons ensures that they'll have a chance to serve another purpose. But if you're looking to have some fun, upcycling is another great option! Upcycling means transforming an item you might otherwise discard into something new, like in the case of these egg carton jellyfish. Jellyish are some of the most remarkle, fascinating creatures on planet Earth: for example, they're made almost entirely of water! So grab an empty egg carton and get ready to have fun while celebrating our wonderful planet and all its inhabitants.

Supplies:

• Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons
• Metallic acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Glitter
• Googly eyes
• Ribbon (in various sizes and styles)
• Bead necklaces, optional
• Mini rubber bands
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Hot glue

Directions:

• Cut out individual egg carton cups. Paint them in the colors of your choice. Immediately add glitter, then let them dry completely.
• Using a pair of scissors, poke a hole in the center of the egg carton cup.
• Cut a piece of thin ribbon (about 5" in length). Loop it and tie the two ends together into a knot. Then pull the top of the loop through the hole to create a hanger for your jellyfish.
• Glue googly eyes to the front of the egg cup.
• Cut ribbons in a variety of sizes and styles (about 12" long). If using, cut bead necklaces to roughly the same length. Bind the ends of 6-10 ribbons and/or bead strings together with a mini rubber band.
• Hot glue the rubber band bundle inside the egg cup. (Adult supervision required for this step.)
• Place your finished jellyfish around the house, create a jellyfish garland, or turn them into a mobile to hang above your bed!

Did you create your own egg carton jellyfish? Tag your photos with #nelliesfreerange so we can see! Or click here to see our other fun afternoon activites you can enjoy with the kids. And don't forget to check out Twinkle Twinkle Little Party for more inspiration.