Grab all your boxes because today we have 30 cardboard projects- all kid’s craft! Children will love creating and playing with all these fun ideas!
According to a recent survey, 80% of children consider cardboard to be their favorite crafting material. With endless possibilities and a low-cost option, it’s no surprise that cardboard projects have remained a beloved pastime for generations. In this article, we’ll explore the wonders of cardboard and discover how it can be used to ignite creativity in children of all ages. Get ready to be inspired and learn tips on how to turn ordinary cardboard into extraordinary works of art.
Let me tell you about cardboard. It is AMAZING and can be transformed into almost anything that you could make with wood. (for way cheaper…and way lighter!) and since I have an Amazon obsession, I have cardboard coming out my…
Ears. I was going to say ears.
So I’ve compiled a fun week of things you can do with cardboard boxes/shoeboxes! (basically, anything you would normally cacll junk or throw away) The list is at the bottom.
Cardboard zoo and farm
Today is kid’s crafts! Give kids some tape, markers, and cardboard and they will be out of your hair for hours.
Hours.
Whether wearing it on the head to be a spaceman, or sitting in it like it’s a car– the power of cardboard is amazing.
With a little scissors and hot glue power, we ended up making a cardboard farm.
and a zoo
We cut the basic shapes and taped (and hot glued) some of the pieces together. The kids could color or decorate how they wanted.
The trees and alike are held together by cutting notches and making an x with other cardboard pieces.
The barn has a top that you can lift up one side–(that’s where we store all the pieces). You can see that we used a coke box and a popsicle box!
The doors also open.
The silo also doubles as a princess tower.
It only took us an hour to create it…and the kids are still playing with it 3 hours later. So it was a total win!
Cardboard crafts for kids
To get your creative juices flowing, I’ve compiled so many fun cardboard crafts that I’m sure your kids will love!!!!
Edited to add: This post was originally published in 2015! Since then, a lot of websites have become inactive. I’ve left the images but removed the broken links because sometimes you can get creative with just seeing an example picture!
Make sure to click on the title to take you to the link!
1.Suncatchers
Cut out any fun shapes and add cellophane in different colors to create such a fun thing to play with on sunny days!
2. Nail Salon
Kids will love to use this a fun play activity! They can even trace their own hands! You can use real nailpolish, paint, or markers.
3. Trash Robots
You could just give them a pile of “trash” and let your kids create whatever they want!
4. Cardboard cake
My kids love to decorate cakes- So they would love this! Such a cool idea!
5. Nature walk activity
Pop a hole in some cardboard and draw a vase and have your kiddos fill it with flowers as they walk around!
6. Cardboard Fort
Poke some holes in a larger box and add Christmas lights as Cheri did! It makes the coolest fort!!!
7. Cardboard Sandwich
Cut out all the ingredients to make a darling fake sandwich! A little marker and paint and the kids can play restaurant for hours!
8. Stair village
Adding this cardboard to the stairs makes this extra fun! Cars can roll down and park on each level!
9. Cereal box village
Remind me why we even buy toys at this point? Especially when you can recreate a whole time darling village with some boxes!
10. Cardboard animals
Adding in some slots for the legs makes it so these animals can stand up! Such a fun element!
11. Target Golf game
You could play this so many ways! Roll a ball in, Hit a ball in, Roll a matchbox car in- Play with what you have in your toy stash!
12. Hidden letters
I seriously want to try this! It’s a fun learning game but I love that you can reuse the looking glass time and time again!
13. Rainbow mobile
This craft involves cardboard and found objects in the correct colors to help decorate it!
14. Cardboard lacing sheets
Punch holes and grab some yarn and let your kids learn some fine motor skills! This can be a great church/quiet activity to keep in your bag!
15. Cardboard box maze
You need lots of boxes and lots of space. Keep the flaps open and tape the boxes together to create a giant tunnel!
16. Beading fine motor activity
Make a fun face and loop through some pipe cleaners. You can add in some beads to make some “hair”
17. Knight costume
Need a sword and a shield! No worries- CARDBOARD!
18. Epic Marble Race
Open up a bigger box and add in some popsicle sticks! You could do prizes at the bottom for a fun classroom game idea!
19. Doll bed
You can make all the doll furniture with some boxes! Paint, hot glue, and fabric! Let that creativity flow!
20. Cardboard town
I love that it’s still has the flaps up- makes it seem like a fort and will keep the kiddos inside.
21. Monster Jaws
This one is so cool! Kids will have a blast playing with this!
22. Magic Wallet
This one is such a cool magic trick! And it just involves duct tape and cardboard!
23. Nature color hunt
Add some color chips and clothespins and as you take a walk you can add in anything that matches the color! Great camping activity as well!
24. Spinner craft
This one is super fun! We made these camping and it was fun to swirl and swirl!
25. Cardboard Guitars
These make noise! Kids will love it!
26. Playhouse
You need a BIG box to pull off this playhouse! I went to Home Depot and got a big dishwasher box they had laying around! Then it was just a matter of painting and adding some fun details!
27. Cardboard tent
OR instead of a playhouse, make a darling tent for kids to “camp in!”
27. ABC Parking lot
Love that this one is disguised as fun! Match the letters to the car to their parking spots!
28. Bracelet weaving with cardboard
Cardboard circles and you weave embroidery floss or yarn around it to create the darling bracelet!
29. Stair slide with cardboard
Anyone would love this! Just gather up some large boxes and set it up! If you are kids are little- just do a the few bottom steps!
30. Basketball Hoop
What kid wouldn’t love to have their own little basketball set up! You could even make this right above the garbage can so kids can throw their trash away!
31. Dinosaur feet
Kids can design and decorate their own set of dinosaur feet!
32. Butterfly wings
We created peacock and butterfly wings as Halloween costumes one year. Such an inexpensive costume!
33. Doorway entry
Who wouldn’t want to go into their bedroom in style! You can make it look like a princess castle like the picture or even make it look like a cave or a tunnel to crawl into!
34. DIY sensory board
Piece of cardboard and you can add in all different textures.
35. Cardboard Camera
Kids can help make these and THEN go around and snap some pictures!
36. cardboard lacing shapes
I know I already shared lacing cards- but I love that this one has two rows of holes. A little more advanced!
37. Mini Foosball table1
A kid-sized foosball table! Looks like an old shoe box and some dowels will result in hours of play time!
38. Giant Dice
Kids will love rolling this big dice! You could even have some chores assigned to each number!
39. Cardboard easel
I love easels growing up! It made me feel like a real artist! So Im sure kids would adore this DIY version.
1. aquarium 2. ships 3. puppet theater 4. crowns. 5. mailbox 6. parking garage 7. cardboard guitars 8. castle (i also saw one covered in tin foil! so cool) 9. car mat
10. doll bed 11. cars, stoplights and road signs 12. reading car 13. cardboard playhouse 14.laptop 15. kitchen 16.spaceship  17. ball maze. 18. fruit stand
19. interlocking castle 20. pirate swords 21. clock  22.basket and cardboard food 23. car wash 24.stove 25. viking ship 26. build with cardboard 27. barbie house