Looking for things to make with cardboard boxes? Check out this variety of cardboard crafts you can make with kids that don’t require a trip to the craft store! We have the best ideas for recycling and upcycling cardboard boxes into fun cardboard crafts, arts and DIY toys you can make at home or in the classroom.

collage of cardboard crafts to do with kids with 12 different finished cardboard crafts that are colorful and creative like a cactus, puzzle, letter and playhouse
50 creative things to make with cardboard

Cardboard Crafts and Activities for Kids

We buy a TON online, especially in recent months – and this means we have TONS of boxes  Don’t throw away your cardboard – before you recycle it, play-cycle. From a cereal box aquarium to Christmas scenes, we have gathered a ton of fun craft ideas for you to try. The best part is, these are all great ways to spend time together with your kids.

Grab your empty cardboard boxes, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, cardboard tubes, rubber bands and whatever other supplies you have on hand for fun craft projects! We have gathered super cool cardboard crafts that are perfect for kids of all ages.

Plus many of these are great ways to promote pretend play in a clever way, and these creative crafts are also great fine motor skills practice. Whether it is a rainy day or a good day these are the best things. Here are 50 things you can do with a Card Board Box!!

Cardboard crafts Your Kids WilL Love

These fun crafts are not only fun, but great ideas on how to recycle and reuse boxes at home. Whether they’re big boxes or small cereal boxes these fun crafts have step by step tutorial to help you make our favorite crafts.

1. Make A Cardboard Puss In Boots Craft

Make a paper puss-n-boots. Bring life to your cardboard boxes by cutting them into storybook characters. at Kids Activities Blog

2. No Water Needed Aquarium Craft

Make a no-water-needed aquarium – the fish are cardboard. Love how bright this version is from Made by Joel

3. DIY Cardboard Finger Puppets Craft

Finger puppets are so fun, and easy to create. Cut holes into your “people” for the fingers. via The Pink Doormat(link no longer available)

4. Make Cardboard Animal Face Craft

There are no instructions from this post from Cargo Collective, but the concepts are terrific – LOTS of cardboard animal face ideas you can wear!

5. Homemade Cardboard Animal Drop Box Craft

Create an animal “dropbox” – if your kids are like mine they will love dropping animals (or cars) through the slots. via Meri Cherry

6. Fun Cardboard Coloring Activity 

Your kids will disappear for an hour – all you need is a big box and a handful of crayons! via Berry Sweet Baby(link no longer available)

Cardboard toys 

text, 50 cardboard toys - collage of cardboard toys projects for kids including an aquarium, coloring in the box and a cardboard cat
Cardboard toys are fun to make

7. Cardboard Self Portrait Craft

Bring your self-portraits to life and “make a twin.” Color a picture of yourself and transfer it to cardboard, add brads for movement and you have a paper puppet. at Kids Activities Blog

8. Cardboard Minecraft Creeper Craft

Minecraft is huge at our house, if it is at yours too, try making these cardboard “creepers” from Ambrosia Girl

9. Build and Paint Cardboard Towers Activity and Craft

What a fun play date and a great way to enjoy all your Amazon boxes! Build and paint box towers in your yard. via Meri Cherry

10. Make A Foldable Cardboard Play House

Take your playhouse with you – this foldable cardboard house is perfect for trips to the park or a playdate at Grams. via This Heart of Mine

Things to make out of cardboard

11. Cardboard Pendulum Art

Make pendulum art using a diaper wipe dipped in paint, suspended, and swung onto a cardboard box. Have a hose nearby for easy clean-up. at Kids Activities Blog

12. Cardboard Sword And Shield Craft

Get ready for battle, create swords and a shield with cardboard and paper mache. via Red Ted Art

13. Cardboard Music Instruments Craft

Create musical instruments with your leftover boxes. This one uses rubber bands from Minieco

14. Create A Cardboard Playscape

A large box can be the perfect playscape. Draw roads and scenery for your small world toys to explore. via The Imagination Tree

Cardboard box ideas

Text: 50 creative ways to use cardboard boxes: man wear cardboard box robot
You can use a cardboard box so many different ways!

15. Make A Cardboard Loom

You can create a working loom using cardboard boxes and sturdy yarn. Super nifty! via Craft Leftovers

16. Create A Cardboard Pitched Roof Play Home

Take off one side of a box and tape the tops together as a “pitched roof” for these fun crawl-in homes. via Loft in Soho(link no longer available)

17. Make A Cardboard Stacker Toy

Get building. You can cut cardboard into shapes to create a set of stackers. These are a great disposable toy, put a baggie-full in your bag. via Meaningful Mama

18. Make Cardboard Organizing Cubbies For Toys

Cubbies are fun. Make a collection of box-holes to organize small toys. via Top Tips

19. Cardboard Doll House Craft

This is a nifty pattern, worth the funds!! It shows you how to transform a box into a multi-story doll home. Available on Etsy.

20. Check Out This Fun Animal Face Craft

Use circles, paint and googly eyes, along with magnetic tape to create some fun animal faces. via Meri Cherry

Cardboard projects 

50 ways to create with cardboard (text) collage of 4 photos showing kids playing with creations made from a box
Let’s play with a cardboard box!

21. DIY Cardboard Town Craft 

This cardboard town is so cute for riding cars and trucks around the playhouses from non-toy gifts

22. Homemade Cardboard Watermelon Puzzle Craft

Teach your preschoolers fraction using this watermelon puzzle from Happy Tot shelf

23. Make A Cardboard Roller Coaster

You only need few supplies to make this Cardboard Roller coaster car inspired by The wonder park via Kids activities blog.

24. Try Making A Cardboard Skeeball Game

You don’t want to go to an arcade to play skeeball. Make your own using cardboard boxes craft. Via purposeful mommy 

25. DIY Cardboard Box Lap Tray Craft

After seeing this Cardboard box lap tray, I immediately wanted to make one for me via The centisble life 

Cardboard crafts for kids

26. Fun DIY Cardboard Cash Register Craft

If your kids are all about playing grocery shop, then you need to make this DIY Cardboard cash register. Via Handmade charlotte

27. Try These Cardboard Giraffe Crafts

Make your own Giraffe crafts for a Sophie fan in the house via Kids activities blog. 

28. Cardboard Camper Playhouse Craft

Make your own camper playhouse when you can’t camp outside via The Merry thought 

29. Cardboard Box Elevator Craft

The cardboard box elevator is so much fun for someone who loves pushing buttons. Via Repeat crafter me

30. DIY Cardboard Kitchen

Rotating knobs, drawer, refrigerator- this cardboard kitchen looks fun! Via Vikalpah 

Easy cardboard crafts

31. Homemade Grocery Shop

Wondering what to do with a large cardboard box? Make this DIY grocery shop via Ikat bag

32. Wearable Cardboard Car

This wearable cardboard car will look so cute on your kids via Homemaker’s habitat

33. DIY Cardboard Marble Craft

This marble craft will be an entertaining project to make and play via Kids activities blog.

34. Homemade Cardboard Classic Bricks Puzzle Game

No-screen version of classic bricks puzzle game helps your kids in problem-solving & logical thinking. Via Instructables

35. Cardboard 3D Faux Metal Letters

You wouldn’t believe this is cardboard. 3D faux metal letters from Grillo Designs

DIY Cardboard projects

DIY cardboard projects for kids collage of cardboard puzzle, box maze, fruit stand made out of a cardboard box, costume made from box and big letters hanging on wall that say "eat"
Let’s make some cool stuff out of cardboard!

36. Cardboard Shelving Craft

Put your cardboard boxes together for instant shelving using cardboard boxes like Remodelista

37. Upcycling Cardboard Crafts

You will love this take on upcycling a cardboard box with felt and wooden handles from Lily Ardor

38. DIY Cardboard Storage Boxes

Some spray adhesive and a yard of fabric are all you want to make your own storage boxes. Via The crazy craft lady

39. Make A Beautiful Cardboard Lantern

Make a beautiful lantern using vellum paper and cardboard via Etsy

40. Cardboard Basket Craft

Turn your Amazon shipping boxes into DIY Baskets for storing everything around your house. Via Vikalpah

Easy Cardboard crafts

41. Cardboard Reindeer Craft

Create your own one-of-a-kind cardboard reindeer decor for holidays this year. Via Kids activities blog.

42. Cardboard Puzzle Game Craft

Puzzles are a fun way to keep kids occupied, make your own cardboard puzzle game via Mixi studio

43. Cardboard Round Weaving Craft

Circle or round weaving is so much fun to do! You can make trivets or wall art via Happy Hooligans

44. Gingerbread Tissue Box Craft

This Gingerbread tissue box will be a conversation starter. Via the tiny funnel

45. Cardboard Beaded Letters Craft

If your kids like stringing beads, this beaded letters from Kid made modern will be an interesting one to make for their room. 

Cardboard box projects

collage of projects using cardboard box ideas
So many fun things to make out of a cardboard box!

46. 2D Cardboard Vase Craft

Artificial flowers will look wonderful in this 2D cardboard vase compared to the plain glass ones. Via Lars

47. Cardboard Cactus Craft

Don’t have a green thumb? Try making this Cardboard Cactus to beautify your tabletop. Via Jennifer Perkins

48. DIY Cardboard Play Food Craft

This cardboard play food is perfect for playing pretend bakery. Via Handmade Charlotte

49. Homemade Cardboard Hair Tie Organizer

Do you always lose your hair-ties? Make a hair-tie organizer from a cardboard box to keep track of them. Via Fancy Momma

50. Make Your Own Cardboard Dry Erase Board

Make your own Dry erase board using clear contact paper/plastic bag and few other supplies. Via Curly made

51. DIY Cardboard Playhouse Craft For Kid

The cardboard playhouse is super fun to make and play inside! Via A Girl and A glue gun

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO KEEP KIDS BUSY

Which cardboard craft did you try? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.



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