Kids love to make things out of big cardboard boxes. They provide a way for imagination and fun. Here are some neat projects that you can make with your child.
Making cardboard box crafts is a lot of fun, and much easier than you think. The biggest supply needed in making the projects below is your child's imagination. Once you do the cutting and bending, your child gets to have fun with the decorating. You can generally find large cardboard boxes at grocery stores, if you just ask for them at the customer service desk.
Cardboard Jewelry Box
Materials:
- Small cardboard box with a flap (a dryer sheet box adds a special scent to the project)
- Pieces of felt
- Decorated napkins or tissue paper
- Decorative items such as foam stickers, sequins, beads, etc.
- Glue
Directions:
- Cut napkin pieces to fit the outside of the box that you are working with. Also cut napkin pieces to fit the inside flap of the box.
- Apply glue to a section of the box and lay napkin pieces over top of the glue. Repeat until the entire outside of the box is covered with the napkin pieces, and the inside flap as well. Let dry.
- Re-apply another layer of glue and napkin pieces to the entire box. Let dry.
- Measure and cut felt pieces that will fit into the inside bottom and sides of the box. Glue the felt pieces down. Let dry.
- Once the entire box is dry, add decorative pieces to your box. You may want to use foam stickers, sequins, or other items to decorate.
Cardboard Box Car
Materials:
- Large cardboard box that your child can sit in comfortably
- Butcher paper
- Clear packing tape
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers
- Crepe paper, paper plates, aluminum foil, paper cups, etc.
- Box cutter knife
- Pillow and blanket (optional)
Directions:
- An adult is to use the box cutter knife to cut a hole in the box where the child will sit, making sure it is big enough that the child can get in and out of the box easily.
- Cover the entire outside of the box with butcher paper.
- Now the fun begins when the child can decorate the car. Here are some suggestions:
- Paper plates for wheels and steering wheel
- Paper cups for headlights and rear lights
- Construction paper for racing stripes
- Scrap cardboard pieces to make a spoiler
Watch a movie at the drive-in when the car is done!
Cardboard Box Oven
Materials:
- Large square cardboard box
- Large cardboard flap from a different box, as well as a scrap piece of cardboard
- White butcher paper
- Markers
- Black construction paper (red construction paper, optional)
- Heavy duty glue
- Packing tape
- Brads (optional)
Directions:
- Cover the entire cardboard box with white butcher paper.
- An adult is to cut a flap into one side of the box to create an oven door that can open and shut.
- Take a cardboard flap from another box that will slide into the door to make a rack. Glue the rack in place with strong glue and reinforce with strong tape.
- Cut circles out of black construction to be the burners on top of the oven. You can cut red circles to place on top of the black circles to show that the burners are hot, if you like.
- Tape a scrap piece of cardboard to the top back of the oven to be the control panel. Draw on buttons and knobs or use construction paper to create them. You may even want to punch tiny holes and use brads so that you can actually turn the knobs.
- Now you just need play cooking equipment and your child is ready to get cooking!
The copyright of the article Cardboard Box Crafts in Kids Crafts is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Cardboard Box Crafts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
