When it comes to crafting, one supply always saves the day in our house: the cardboard box. They’re free, easy to find, and can be turned into just about any shape your kids can dream up.
For playtime, that means amazing cars, creative towns, and even a whole pizza parlor. The best part? Cardboard crafts don’t require tons of prep or expensive supplies: just a little creativity and a lot of imagination.
In our house, getting a big delivery is a huge deal, because my kids love transforming the boxes into silly creations that double as new favorite toys.
1. DIY Food Truck For Kids
Image Source/Tutorial: Make Zine
Create a DIY food truck for your kids right from a cardboard box! I love this project because it lets children design their very own mobile kitchen, which is a total spark for imaginative play.
It’s a fantastic choice for boosting creativity and strengthening those little hands’ fine motor skills. This toy is ideal for a home crafting afternoon or a school project and will get your young chefs excited about culinary adventures!
2. Making a Laptop with a Cardboard Box
Image Source/Tutorial: Millie And Ubu
Let’s make a laptop from a cardboard box for some kid-friendly play! My daughter loves pretending to work like me, so this was a huge hit.
This creative project allows kids to design their own computers, which really gets their imaginative play going. It’s perfect for developing fine motor skills and creativity.
This is an ideal craft for home or school that will keep young minds engaged in some fun learning!
3. Beautiful Small Cardboard Guitar
Image Source/Tutorial: Make It-Love It
You can create a beautiful little cardboard guitar with this craft idea! This fun project is all about letting kids design their own musical instruments, which does wonders for enhancing their creativity and fine motor skills.
It’s a perfect fit for a home crafting day or any music themed activities. This guitar craft is sure to inspire your young musicians and give them hours of imaginative play!
4. Upcycled Radio from Cardboard Boxes
Image Source/Tutorial: Craft Gawker
Craft an upcycled radio using cardboard boxes! This is such a fun and eco friendly project that teaches kids about recycling while sparking their creativity.
Children can have a blast designing their own radios, which is great for improving fine motor skills and imaginative play. This is a perfect craft for home or classroom activities and will definitely inspire young inventors to get creating!
5. Mini Golf Court Craft Activities
Image Source/Tutorial: My Window Mere
Why not create a mini golf court with this awesome craft activity for kids! This fun project encourages creativity and helps with fine motor skills as children get to design their very own golf course.
It’s a perfect activity for groups or some family fun. This craft is set to provide endless entertainment and help kids develop their hand eye coordination!
6. Step-By-Step Pirate Ship from Cardboard
Image Source/Tutorial: Mommo Design
You can follow this step by step guide to create a pirate ship for preschoolers using cardboard! This is such a fun craft that gives kids a chance to explore their creativity while they learn about pirates.
It’s perfect for building up fine motor skills and imaginative play. This project is ideal for group activities or a family crafting session and is sure to spark a real adventure!
7. Creative Idea For Making a Cardboard Airplane
Image Source/Tutorial: Ellis Down Home
Explore a really creative idea for making a cardboard airplane! We made these once before a trip and my kids loved it. This fun craft allows kids to design their planes using simple materials.
It helps enhance creativity and fine motor skills while giving them hours of imaginative play. Ideal for home projects or school activities, this airplane craft will inspire your young aviators!
8. Amazing Toilet Paper Carton Car
Image Source/Tutorial: Manual Ida Desyre Tales
You can craft an amazing car with a carton from a toilet paper roll! This engaging project lets kids create their very own vehicles, which is fantastic for enhancing creativity and fine motor skills.
It is perfect for playtime or classroom activities. This fun car craft will inspire young builders to explore their imaginations!
9. DIY Cardboard Drive-In Cars for Toddlers
Image Source/Tutorial: The Metz Gars
Create some DIY cardboard drive in cars for your toddlers! This is such a fun and engaging project that allows young children to design their own cars for tons of imaginative play.
It’s also a great way to enhance creativity and fine motor skills. Perfect for playdates or a family crafting session, these cars will provide endless entertainment for your little ones!
10. Cardboard Toy Car Track with Elevator
Image Source/Tutorial: Reuse And Play
Build a cardboard toy car track that has an elevator and parking! This exciting craft lets kids create a super fun play area for all their toy cars.
It enhances creativity and fine motor skills while providing hours of entertainment. This track is ideal for home projects or classroom activities and will get your young racers inspired!
11. Kids Pizza Parlor Role Play Center
Image Source/Tutorial: Belara By Apps
Transform cardboard boxes into a kids’ pizza parlor for some dramatic role play! This imaginative project is a great way to encourage creative play and social skills as children pretend to serve pizza.
It’s a perfect project for group activities and enhances teamwork. Ideal for your home or a classroom setting, this will keep kids entertained for hours!
12. Fun Cardboard Box Tunnel for Preschoolers
Image Source/Tutorial: Pinterest
Create a fun to make cardboard box tunnel for preschoolers! My kids have always loved crawling through things.
This engaging project encourages imaginative play and physical activity as kids crawl through their new tunnel. It is perfect for enhancing creativity and social skills.
Ideal for playdates or classroom activities, this tunnel will give young children hours of entertainment!
13. Easy Cardboard Camera For Kids
Image Source/Tutorial: Gary Hegedus
Make an easy cardboard camera for kids to play with! This simple craft encourages imaginative photography and some fun role playing.
Using just basic materials, children can create their own cameras, which is great for enhancing creativity and fine motor skills. It’s a perfect craft for home or classroom activities that will delight any young photographer!
14. Old Model Phone Toy for Kids
Image Source/Tutorial: I Kat Bag
Learn how to make an old model phone toy for your kids! This easy craft uses simple materials to create a nostalgic toy that really sparks the imagination.
It’s a perfect way to enhance creativity and fine motor skills. This toy is great for DIY projects at home or in the classroom and is sure to delight children!
15. Unique Town Craft Project
Image Source/Tutorial: Life And Style. Alexandalexa
Create a unique town craft project with cardboard boxes for your kids! This imaginative activity allows children to design their very own towns, enhancing their creativity and social skills.
It’s perfect for group activities or family crafting and will provide endless entertainment. This project is sure to inspire young builders to explore their community!
16. Adorable Airplanes from a Toilet Paper Roll
Image Source/Tutorial: Pink Stripey Socks
Make some adorable airplanes using toilet paper rolls! This is a fun and easy craft that encourages creativity as kids get to design their own flying machines.
Perfect for enhancing fine motor skills and imaginative play, these airplanes are ideal for home projects or classroom activities. This one will spark any young aviator’s imagination!
17. Mini Wonder In A Box Toy Car
Image Source/Tutorial: Pinterest
Discover a mini wonder in a box with a toy car made from cardboard! This fun craft allows kids to create their own cars using simple materials.
It’s great for enhancing creativity and fine motor skills while providing hours of imaginative play. It is ideal for home projects or school activities!
18. Recycled Cardboard Boat Design
Image Source/Tutorial: Kool-Aid Days
Make a recycled cardboard boat design for your kids! This fun craft encourages creativity and environmental awareness as children get to use recycled materials.
It’s perfect for enhancing fine motor skills and imaginative play. This boat project is ideal for home or classroom activities and will inspire young sailors to set sail on new adventures!
19. Christmas Creations Projects for Kids
Image Source/Tutorial: Can Ton Rep
Explore some Christmas creation projects for kids to play with! These festive crafts are great for encouraging creativity and holiday spirit, allowing children to make their own decorations and gifts.
Perfect for the classroom or home activities, these projects will keep kids engaged and excited about the holiday season while enhancing their crafting skills!
20. Easy & Simple Monster Jaws Craft
Image source/tutorial: It’s Always Autumn
Try this easy and simple craft idea for monster jaws using a cereal box! This fun project allows kids to create colorful monster jaws, which is great for enhancing creativity and fine motor skills.
It’s perfect for Halloween or just some imaginative play. This craft is ideal for home or classroom activities and will inspire your young artists!
21. Creative Parking Garage from a Cardboard Box
Image Source/Tutorial: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
Make a creative parking garage from a cardboard box! This fun project lets kids design a multi level garage for all their toy cars.
It enhances creativity and fine motor skills while giving them hours of imaginative play. Ideal for home projects or classroom activities, this craft will inspire your young builders!
22. DIY Cardboard School Projects for Kids
Image Source/Tutorial: Pinterest
Explore DIY cardboard toys as school projects for kids! These fun and creative activities are wonderful for encouraging imagination while teaching about recycling.
Children can create all sorts of toys from cardboard, enhancing their fine motor skills and creativity. Perfect for classrooms or home crafting, these projects will inspire young crafters to innovate!