For most parents, it's hard to keep coming up with fun and new ideas for activities for kids. They quickly lose interest in the typical art projects and games, and we don't always have hours and hours to spend searching Pinterest for something new to do. The problem only gets worse around school breaks, like holiday and summer vacations or on those dreaded things we know as snow days. Suddenly, the kids are all at home waiting to be entertained, and what have parents got? Nothing. That is, until parents head to the recycling bin. There, they might just find the key ingredient to an amazing, easy, and environmentally friendly afternoon of crafting that kids will totally love.
The secret is cardboard! Whether it's an empty cereal box, some leftover Amazon packaging, or all those boxes from things they opened during holidays and birthdays, most of us have tons of cardboard scraps hanging around, and they never get used. Well, not anymore. Here, we've gathered 40 seriously fun and adorable crafts that can be made by upcycling old cardboard, and we're not kidding when we say that, even as adults, we would totally play with this stuff.
Most of these crafts are inexpensive to make and use things most parents already have around the house. And they're so innovative that kids will be super into the entire process. The best part is, once they're done with the craft, they'll have something fun to play with that they just created. From play food to play houses and even a functioning Skee Ball game (for real!) these are the 40 most brilliant crafts that can be made with old cardboard boxes, scraps, tubes, and more.
DIY Fancy Purse
Make cardboard into couture with this adorable DIY purse. It's perfect for a snow day tea party, runway show, or make-believe shopping trip. Check out the how-to at Ikat Bag.
DIY Skee-Ball
Skip the arcade and play Skee-Ball at home with a DIY version that upcycles any old box that's lying around.
Cereal Box Notebooks
Who knew old cereal boxes could be used to make the most adorable DIY notebooks? Kids love journals and diaries and thanks to this tutorial by Molly Moo Crafts, they can make them all day long.
Dome Play Fort
Cardboard, hot glue, and paint combine forces to make this incredible play dome from Instructables that's a whole lot easier than it looks.
Cereal Box Seed Starters
Get those spring seeds started on dreary snow days with this easy seed starter box tutorial from Whimsy-Love.
Cardboard Guitars
Cereal boxes, leftover Amazon boxes, wrapping paper rolls — they can all be used to make some rockin' guitars fit for a snow day karaoke session.
Mini Pinatas
The folks at Oh Happy Day came up with the cutest idea to make miniature pinatas. Kids can fill them with any surprises they like or just keep them on a desk or dresser as a cute knickknack.
Cardboard Box Washing Machine
How cute is this? And so much cheaper than the plastic play ones at toy stores. This one comes from the brilliant parents on Craftster.
DIY Play Grocery Store
Combine a bunch of leftover boxes to make this cute storefront where kids can practice buying fresh food and learning all about money.
Masquerade Masks
Make it a masquerade with some DIY masks. Kids will love getting creative with paint, sequins, buttons, and glitter to design the mask of their dreams.
Cardboard Lego Town
Kids can let their imaginations run wild with this idea from Picklebums to turn a cardboard box into a custom town for Lego bricks, toy cars, or other toys.
Paper Dolls
Classic paper dolls make a perfect craft for future fashionistas.
Cardboard Box Dollhouse
Cardboard boxes already come in the shape of a room, so why not make a dollhouse? Kids can customize with stickers, paint, glitter — anything they want!
Cardboard Lego Skate Park
Make loops, ramps, and a half pipe for a fun Lego skate park to occupy kids, no matter the weather.
Cardboard Play Picnic
This cardboard picnic from Handy With Scissors helps kids create everything needed for an afternoon of imaginative play.
Marble Run
This fun marble run is easy to build with things and around the house will keep older kids entertained for hours.
Old-School Phone
Kids get a play phone and a history lesson all in one with this adorable old-school phone from Ikat Bag.
Lacing Cards
Lacing cards are a good way to teach fine motor skills and this DIY version is inexpensive and easy to make.
DIY Toy Train
For the truly ambitious, Curious Crafter has a how-to on not only making a train, but also making a functioning train with a motor.
Cardboard Puzzle
Layer two pieces of cardboard to make a DIY puzzle. Kids can choose what shape they want, cut the pieces, and decorate them.
Night Sky Banner
Make a stunning night star banner to hang in a kid's room. The kiddos can decorate the stars however they choose or even add planets.
Fake Cellphone
Kids begging for an iPhone? Give them the cardboard alternative. They'll love it and it can't be broken!
Wearable Cardboard Airplane
Make some wearable planes for zooming around the house. To make the crafting portion of the project last longer, add some paint and stickers!
DIY Robot Costume
A quick robot costume requires little transformation, Just stack boxes, glue or tape, decorate, and go!
Pretend Fireplace
Check out Little Ones Activity Cupboard to see how to make this surprisingly cozy pretend fireplace.
Cardboard Wings
Wings are so easy to make with cardboard pieces and a few pieces of string. Kids can even paint them to customize them.
Dinosaur Mask
What kid doesn't want to design her own dinosaur mask? A dinosaur head can be made with any scrap cardboard and materials from around the house. So easy and fun!
Easy Ball Game
An easy game gives kids a cool craft to make and then a fun activity to pass the time later on.
DIY Camper
Kids will really be going places in this adorable DIY camper from The Merrythought that's super simple to make.
Play Pizza
Cardboard is the perfect ingredient in play food and can be made into so many different kitchen items.
Pirate Ship
Feeling ambitious? Have a ton of boxes? Spend the afternoon building a kid-sized pirate ship!
Pretend Kitchen Stove
Play kitchens are expensive. Make this adorable cardboard stove instead! It uses old CDs, and knobs and it's totally cute!
Tiny House
Make a cute little fairy, doll, or gingerbread house — depending on the season — using cardboard box scraps and craft supplies.
Fishing Game
How cute is this? Use cardboard pieces for the fish and fish bowl, then add paper clips to allow kids to "fish" for the pieces using a magnet on a string.
Car Mat
Those rugs for playing with toy cars can be kind of pricey. Cardboard makes an awesome substitute and lets kids lay out the town however they like.
Minecraft Sword
Cardboard plus tape equals a Minecraft sword. It doesn't get easier and the kids will be amazed.
Pretend Cash Register
This mom used old Amazon boxes to make a simple cash box and pull-out drawer for her son's lemonade stand. For imaginative play, use fake money.
Self-Portrait
Challenge kids to make creative self-portraits using pieces of cardboard. The results actually look amazingly cool!
Tiny Furniture
Got a doll house that needs furnishing? Cardboard is the answer.
DIY Pretend Traffic Light
This mom at Ikat Bag made a traffic signal out of cardboard, and she shared how she actually got it to work!
