Home » Self Decoration

Recycle and Upcycle Happy Meal Toys

Author: Amber Renée 10 November 2009

Eh, so sometimes when my husband and I are running late or feeling really nasty we’ll grab happy meals — mainly just when the toys are cute… but what the hell do you do with the little plastic toys after you eat your meal?

Make something out of them!

My plan was to attach gems and glitter all over my lovely ponies and headbands with sweet unicorn emblems. Every headband is on it’s way to a special home for fun and whimsy instead of being chewed up in Wanwan’s bed or thrown in the garbage. ;) Perhaps soon we’ll do some more silly DIY with all the plastic junk we always come across! ha

(go ahead and keep the box too for silly gifts to friends — haha)

Show me the plastic flash


Unconditional Kisses


Eating the food is like eating the box


You want dis?



Photos by Benjamin Amick <3
Dress: Manoush; Headband: DIY; Shoes: Russe & Rilakuma

Miseducated Inspired Love




Ariel: The Forest




About the author

Amber Renée

Artist & designer with an obsession for whimsy and color.



12 Comments »

  • Joseph H said:

    Ohhh, so cool! (@twinkiechan tweeted the link.)

  • Aimee said:

    I <3 My Little Pony! Happy Meals, not so much. :)

  • athinalabella said:

    You are soooo cute ;-) and I still love collecting and playing with toys too. I say they are for my daughter, but they are for me too, :lol: . Love this very much.

  • amberrenee (author) said:

    hehe, yeah happy meals are gross! but cute! <3 the little box excites me when it has my favorite characters — haha Hello Kitty and 80s toys! i just can’t say no! ack!

  • kimi said:

    you know what would be cute? those sanrio happy meal watches in the hair!! random thought XD xxx

  • amberrenee (author) said:

    Oh thank you so much.. and Kimi, the watches are a great idea! I sense a kimi&amber watches shoot soon. <3 Recycling is funnn haha.

  • Capture Targeted Traffic With Joint Venture Marketing | Garmin GPS said:

    [...] Recycling Happy Meal Toys | Miseducated [...]

  • Kim Bishop said:

    This is a super cute idea and I love the pictures.

  • Ariel Grimm said:

    I absolutely love this idea! I have found many My Little Ponies in the Thrift Store Dumpster and brought them home for decoration. I was eying some small ponies at my local thrift store but didn’t get them because I didn’t know what I would do with them…then I saw this! I rode my purple bicycle down to the store and bought them for 50 cents. Then I made the headband… Check it out here http://queercat.webs.com/apps/blog/show/2292779-daily-outfit-high-in-the-sky-with-my-little-pony

  • amberrenee (author) said:

    Oh Ariel.. you are SO getting featured here. <3 That’s amazing.

  • Ariel Grimm said:

    Oh my goddess, thanks!

  • athinalabella said:

    Cute headband Ariel, I love it. ;-)

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