We have been unpacking boxes like crazy (from our recent move from Colorado to Oklahoma)! And the pile of perfectly good boxes is growing into a mountain out in the garage. We are most likely going to post “free boxes” on Craiglist really soon to get rid of them all (have you posted free to Craigslist before…it’s magical!) but before we do that, I have been thinking I would love to make the kids a few things from the boxes. Maybe some villages, play houses, cars, musical instruments, etc. And then, I decided to peek around online for other ideas. And holy smokes, my mind is on FIRE! I can’t wait to get the utility knife out and start cutting up some really cool things for the kiddos. So, Craigslist will have to hold tight for their free boxes — because we have some projects to make!
Check all these great ideas out (with a few of my oldies sprinkled in)!
DIY Paper Snowball Launcher by All For The Boys
DIY Modular Dollhouse by Scandinavian Deko
DIY Riding Pony and Dragon by MoodKids (this site is in another language and it seems as if this is a cutout that you put together…but just think how fun this would be if you cut your own pieces of cardboard and put it together)
DIY Cardboard Guitars by Make It and Love It
DIY Cardboard Washing Machine by Estefi Machado
DIY Cardboard Camper by The Merry Thought
DIY Cardboard Axe (and DIY Lumberjack Beard) by Make It and Love It
DIY Cardboard Flip Car by Cardboard Collective
DIY Cardboard Warrior Helmet by All For The Boys
DIY Cardboard Monster Feet by A Happy Wanderer
DIY Cardboard Gas Pump by Parents
DIY Cardboard Kaleidoscope by Handmade Charlotte
DIY Cardboard Pumpkin Stamp by Tidbits
DIY Cardboard Box Chalkboard Skyscraper by Catch My Party
DIY Cardboard City by Vicky Knysh
DIY Cardboard Ships by ikat bag
DIY Cardboard Storage Boxes by Make It and Love It
DIY Cardboard Furniture by Whimsy Love
DIY Cardboard Slide by The Contemplative Creative
Ashley Johnson is a DIY sewist, crafter, costume maker and home interior designer.
Ashley appears to have inserted cardboard into her cheek bones- this is why im never getting plastic surgery
When my boy was 2-3 yr old we made him a Kyle Mall out of a refrigerator box. His older sisters and I marker-ed all the details and colored it. It had doors with lock holes (because he LOVED keys), service windows that opened and different shops with their own little doors. He loved that thing to death and we so enjoyed watching him play for hours in it.
The ideas are cute and I know children will love all the creations! You can also recycle your boxes at FreeCycle. It’s a great website to offer and accept items that people are getting rid of at no cost!
Nice blog! I like your idea’s!! The site from the dragon and Pony is Dutch, my language haha, and that blog says that you can buy that DIY project, but I think that you can make it without that project ;-)
You. Are. A. Genius. Fun way to take the sting out of unpacking!
Welcome to the Midwest! You seem to move as often as we do! It’s crazy, isn’t it?
Wishing you peace and joy in the process.
Oh yes, we can’t seem to stay in one place! And thanks Winter…..we’re really liking it so far! :)
welcome to OKLAHOMA I have been here about 3 1/2 yrs moved here to be near my sons after my husband passed.
I saw this cardboard fun time ideas and I gotta tell ya it’s awesome. spring break will be this coming fro and into
next week, then summer vacation will be a few months after so I have a bit of time to collect boxes. the grands are big enuff to be able to make some of these on their own.
thanks for the ideas.
I do make some magazine holders from postal boxes, my youngest son gets mail when he is on the road so when he gets home I grab the empties, then I either spray paint them, cover with cloth or paper. I hate to toss them
out in the trash when they can be reused,
I also make my dtr in law holders for school papers with cereal boxes, I bet you could use those with the cardboard boxes.
Thanks so much! My kids are on spring break and this is exactly what we’re doing! :)
oh yeah, this is going to be so much fun. Of course my son would DIE for the launcher, and something tells me I’m going to regret it but it looks so awesome!
Hahaha……my thoughts exactly!
When my son was 4, we remodeled our kitchen. All of the cabinets and appliances came in huge cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes. We used them to make a “tunnel system” that he and his friends (and, yes, me too) could crawl thru, sit in and read or play cars, and best of all create “wall art” all over the boxes. We would make a game of trying to find each others pictures.
We also carved a rowboat out of a large box, complete with cardboard oars. We made a moat and painted round cardboard circles with numbers, letters, colors and made a game like hopscotch on cardboard “bolders”, where we could learn colors, letters or numbers. We ended up keeping the boxes up for 2 years. Yep, no kidding. The kids would not let me tear down our tunnels. :)
Ha…..that is AWESOME!! And even cooler that you left it up for so long! Cool mom points for sure! :)
Great round up. There are quite a few fun projects included. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes, Darlene
Great List!! I love making things with cardboard! Here’s one of my creations–a cardboard barbie carrying case/house! https://www.snugglebuguniversity.com/2014/01/a-vintage-inspired-cardboard-barbie.html
ohhhh i think i will go in my attic and get some boxes out later!!! haha great list