Crafts You Can Make with Cardboard

Published:
September 11, 2020

Annette Breedlove

Contributor:
Annette Breedlove

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If your kids are like mine, they love gifts but the crafts you can make with cardboard boxes ended up being more fun than many of their toys! I remember when we got a new stove, they built a fort out of the giant box. They had passwords to enter and everything. Our kids have also built cars for an in-home, drive-in movie night, castles, forts, and everything in between with large, leftover boxes.

My daughters have built entire dollhouses, including beds and furniture with boxes we have leftover from groceries. They could probably build an entire city of creations if we had the room. For now, I’ve let them keep several beds or “sleeping quarters” and their make-shift basketball hoop for indoor fun.

Crafts You Can Make with Cardboard text with image example of a cardboard house replica

Gather some cardboard boxes and tubes and allow your children to use their imaginations to create whatever their heart desires! Or use these craft ideas as inspiration!

Cardboard Shape Toddler Activity | My Bored Toddler

DIY Bunny Lacing Card | Kids Activities Blog

DIY Dollhouse | Molly Moo

Cardboard Stackers | Meaningful Mama

Make Spinning Tops with Cardboard and Marbles | Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

5 Cereal Box Crafts for Kids and Adults | Whimsy Roo

Yarn Wrapped Cardboard Letters | ArtBar

Cardboard Heart String Art | Happy Hooligans

How to make cute recycled cardboard animals | Recycled Crafts

Shoebox School for Pretend Play | MollyMoo Crafts

DIY Mini Foosball Table | U Create Crafts

DIY Cardboard Bed | HelloBee

Interlocking Cardboard Castle DIY | Mer Mag

Seashell Art Projects | Fantastic Fun and Learning

shimmering seashells summer art project

DIY Play Horse Stable | Mer Mag

DIY Cardboard Cash Register | Pink Stripey Socks

DIY Shoebox Pizza Oven | Made by Joel

Cardboard Dino Craft for Kids | The Imagination Tree

Build a Cardboard Box Marble Labyrinth | Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

Princess Crown Craft | Pint-Sized Treasures

Craft a DIY Cactus From Cardboard | Jennifer Perkins

DIY Cardboard Tetris Game | hello, Wonderful

Cardboard Cookies | Creative Family Fun

 

Cardboard Tube Crafts

Simple Cardboard Tube Flower Craft | My Joy-Filled Life

Cardboard Tube Family Craft | Fantastic Fun and Learning

cardboard tube family craft

Cardboard Tube Snowman Craft | Penny Pinchin’ Mom

DIY Upcycled Birdhouse Craft | Rhythms of Play

Simple Cars Craft Inspired by the Movie | There’s Just One Mommy

Cardboard Tube Binoculars | Crafts by Amanda

Cardboard Tube Unicorn Craft | Kids Craft Room

Find more Toilet Paper Roll Crafts here!

used toilet paper rolls with overlay "Preschool Craft Series: Toilet Paper Rolls"

 

Small to Medium Cardboard Box Crafts

Knights Shield and Sword | Red Ted Art

Make Aliens & Monsters From Carboard Boxes | Woo Jr.

Doll in a Box | Red Ted Art

A Little Red Cardboard Barn | Joyfully Weary

Viking Ship | iKat Bag

DIY Magazine Storage Holder | Craft Corners

Winter Snowflakes from Cardboard and Yarn for Kids | Creative Jewish Mom

Recycled Cityscape Tutorial | Alisa Burke

Cardboard Dinosaur – Recycled Craft DIY Toy for Kids | Chalk Academy

Space Rocket Craft | Mas and Pas

Cardboard Airplane | Small Fry

DIY Kids Car for Under $10 | Childhood 101

Cardboard Guitars | Make it & Love it

Cardboard Box Elevator with Push Buttons | Repeat Crafter Me

Cardboard Box Magnetic Pac-Man Game | Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

Cardboard Box Noah’s Ark | The Craft Train

 

Want more? Check out these Recycled Crafts for Kids!

craft supplies spread out on table with overlay - 70 Recycled Crafts for Kids

 

Big Cardboard Box Crafts

Go Big or Go Home is a favorite saying in our home. Whenever you get a new appliance put the box to good use with one of these fun ideas.

Cardboard Pirate Ship (Photo Booth & Play Ship) | Red Ted Art

DIY LEGO Costume | Kids Activities Blog

Cardboard Grocery Store Front | iKat Bag

Cardboard Cafe | Inner Child Fun

How to Make a Cardboard Dolls House | Red Ted Art

DIY Cardboard Pirate Boat | Red Ted Art

Mailbox from a Cardboard Box | iKat Bag

Train Tunnel and Cars DIY Project | Celebrate Everyday With Me

Pretend Play Hair Salon from a Cardboard Box | Childhood 101

Hot Wheels Parking Garage with Ramps from a Cardboard Box | Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

Cardboard Cars for Drive-In Movie Night | Not Just a Housewife

DIY Light Cave | Kendall Rayburn

Cardboard Rocket Ship | Lemon Lime Adventures

Cardboard Skeeball | Beau Baby

DIY Cardboard Camper Playhouse | The Merry Thought

Check out these creative crafts from cardboard boxes over at Parents.com

 

Find more homeschool resources on my Pinterest boards!

 

cardboard house craft with overlay - Crafts You Can Make with Cardboard