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Today I am sharing 25 new things made with DIY cardboard box that are useful and creative. Cardboard boxes can be used to craft projects for kids, home or even organizers. These DIY cardboard box projects are easy, durable and safe to have around the house for kids. Some of these projects are unusual and extraordinary to create to be used for outdoor ease and decoration at home. The best thing about these cardboard crafts is that they are cheap and excite kids during the creation time and playtime till their little hearts are filled. As we know, they get excited and bored too quick so these ideas are just what every cardboard box collector parent wants to know!
Cardboard Crafts
DIY Cardboard Box
You will find the following DIY cardboard box projects in this post:
- Lighted buildings
- cardboard boxes playhouse
- puppet show
- clock
- cardboard box organizer
- planter
- cardboard box play kitchen
- slide
- easel
- race ramps
- lantern
- cardboard box furniture
- floral wagon
- cardboard box decoration
- projector
- foosball
- shelf
- marble labyrinth game
- cardboard box car
- tree
- guitar
- cardboard box basket
- DIY light box
- cardboard box photo box
- room
- Suncatcher
I made these light boxes for my son’s superhero birthday party. Make these for summer backyard night fun or kid’s tent.
It’s also fun to make these for a party surprise or for a festive cake entrance in the room with only the building’s light.
On my to-do-list for this summer. Easy, safe and fun to make DIY cardboard box playhouse.
Kids love to present a show. So many possibilities using this easy idea!
Cardboard box clock and more class cardboard box ideas from a book “Cardboard Creatures”.
DIY Cardboard City
Make a stunning piece of art by constructing cardboard city.
DIY cardboard organizers
DIY thread spool organizer out of cardboard box and nails via murmur shop.
Cardboard box farmhouse planter via too much time
Cardboard boxes playhouse for kids
Constructing an epic cardboard box kitchen
All the little details made me fall in love with this one.
Cardboard box slide
Make a cardboard box easel that is easy to stand using duct tape and velcro.
Best part about this easel is that is can be flatten down and stored.
Cardboard box furniture tutorial
This project is great for parks, beach and so much more.
DIY Cardboard Floral Wagon
Unknown Source
Beautiful containers made with cardboard box, decorated with stickers and lace pieces. And spray painted for final touch.
What a magnificence piece of art! I can hardly believe it’s cardboard!
How to make cardboard box projector
Mini foosball table made with cardboard box is a fun project for kids.
I love this idea especially for kid’s room. It is safe and easy to construct.
Add in some crafty details with paint or decoupaged fabric and it will become a part of kid’s space beautifully.
DIY cardboard marble labyrinth game
Make guitars with cardboard box
Great for kid’s school project or fun time.
DIY kids car with cardboard box via krokotak.
DIY far away tree idea made from cardboard.
Cardboard box basket and more great ideas to make bins, baskets and boxes for less than five dollars.
DIY light box for photography at night
Cardboard photo box
An easy tutorial to make a light box out of cardboard to take better pictures with good LED light at any time during the day or night.
DIY cardboard light box made with card stock box, string lights and plastic sheet with vinyl lettering.
Cardboard box room great for people who are always on the move.
Empty Matchbox Dioramas:
I included these matchbox dioramas in the cardboard boxes crafts because they align with the theme. If you would like to make these into larger dioramas you can use cardboard to shape them into boxes or even shoe boxes. These are inspired by daydream flowers.
These are made with a variety of paper and cardstock cutouts glued together to form small miniature individual parts which are then assembled together to create a scene. Some paint markers and powder hues are used to give soft colorful touches. Each box is a miniature shadow box that uses layered paper to create depth.
1. Prep the Background
- Measure the inside of the matchbox tray and cut a piece of paper to fit perfectly.
- Paint the Scene: Lightly watercolor a sky, meadow, or pond on this base layer.
- Glue it down: This sits flat against the bottom of the box to set the stage.
2. Design and Cut Your Layers
- To get the 3D effect seen in the sunflower or bird boxes, you need multiple versions of the same image.
- Middle Ground: Cut out the main subject (e.g., the bird on the branch).
- Foreground: Cut out just the closest details (e.g., the bird’s wing or the front-most petals of a flower).
- The Shadow Effect: Color the edges of your cutouts with a dark marker so you don’t see white paper edges from the side.
3. Assembly (The Lift)
- This is the secret to the depth!
- Apply a foam adhesive square to the back of your middle-ground piece and press it onto the background.
- Apply another foam square to the foreground piece and stack it on top of the middle ground.
- Make sure your layers aren’t so tall that the matchbox cover won’t slide back on!
4. Add Mixed Media Details
- Referencing the image for inspiration:
- Texture: Glue small bits of pulled-apart cotton for clouds or use a real twig for a bird to sit on.
- Dimension: For the hydrangeas, use a collection of small paper circles cut unevenly or quilling technique to create tiny individual paper petals for a bunchy, realistic look.
Tips for Miniatures
- Tweezers are mandatory: Handling a tiny paper ladybug or a flower petal is nearly impossible with fingers alone.
- Curving the Paper: Before gluing, gently rub the back of a paper petal with a rounded pen cap to cup it. This makes the flowers look organic rather than flat.
- Display: You can glue these boxes onto a large canvas to create a collector’s cabinet of miniature garden scenes or travel memoires.
Nature lovers diorama collection
Travel memories diorama collection
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I hope you liked these DIY cardboard box ideas, be sure to leave a comment and let me know. Some links were missing original source, if you come across them leave them in the comment for us to add.
Just wondering where I could get so many boxes. I was thinking Ikea have them pretty cheap, but have you had any luck going to a local shop and asking there? I suppose they throw away a lot everyday
I think using a good coupon at Michaels can help you with a unique set of boxes, also rarely I’ve seen nice boxes at dollarama. I have seen them at wholesale craft stores too. I hope this helps!
What paint is best when painting card board boxes? Helping my niece make cardboard large cars for a party.
Thanks
Acrylic paints or poster paints would work best. However, any water base paints works good as cardboard can soak up the extra water and working with kids these paints are easily washable without leaving any stains behind. I hope this helps!
Good idea children will love it especially the sea animals ooh I love love it. But they are to hard to make please share some easier crafts next time . Thank You
Such a Very Informative and useful… Keep it up the great work.
I loved this blog post! The DIY ideas using cardboard boxes are so creative and easy to follow. I can’t wait to try making the cardboard organizer for my desk—such a great way to recycle and declutter at the same time! Thanks for the inspiration!