C.J. Braden • 2 Minute Read
Creative Things to Do with Cardboard Boxes
Most of us have a bunch of cardboard boxes hanging around (anyone else have a mound of Amazon boxes in their house like me?) that we will either keep in the garage until we possibly need them again or that we will end up recycling once they have served their purpose.
Why not, put those numerous cross country moving boxes or Amazon packaging collections to more creative use, by turning them into all manner of wonderful creations instead? Below are some of the most fun and creative things to do with those cardboard boxes you have amassed.
Cover a cardboard box and turn it into a disposable food tray
1. Turn them into pretty storage boxes
We could all do with some more storage in our homes, and storage does not come much cheaper than cardboard boxes. Of course, cardboard boxes are not very pretty, but they can be. Simply use Mod Podge and leftover wallpaper, tissues, or origami paper to transform plain brown boxes into colorful decoupage creations that will be ideal for storing your sheets, books, toting around food or anything else you can think of for that matter.
Kids can get creative with cardboard boxes
2. Transform them into doll’s houses
If you have a big cardboard box, then it is really easy to turn it into a doll house or superhero headquarters by simply painting it up to look like a house, adding additional cardboard shelves, which will act as floors of the home, and populating it with lots of handmade cardboard furniture and people too.
It’s a cheap alternative to those big fancy doll houses you can buy, but it’s also more fun than them because you get to be creative and make everything yourselves, so the kids will really love it! They especially love turning large boxes into play houses.
If you are feeling extra creative today, try turning a washcloth into a teddy bear with my easy YouTube tutorial below or via my channel @carolynjbraden:
Turn a tissue box into a easy guitar
3. Create a tissue box guitar
If you have lots of cardboard tissue boxes lying around, then you are only a few steps away from being able to create your own band! Simply attach a cardboard tube, like the tubes that you get inside aluminum foil, to the tissue box using strong glue, add some elastic band strings across the hole in the tissue box and you and the kids can have tons of fun playing in your own imaginary folk band.
Cats love small dark places to hide in
3. Give your dog or cat a place to sleep
Large cardboard boxes can also be repurposed into a fun kennel for your dog or a hideaway cubby for your cat. Simply turn the box on its side so that the entrance to the box is at the front, place a pet bed or cushion inside, and then use a second cardboard box to construct a roof for the house. You can then paint it and make it pretty if you prefer.
Use a simple design to creative a cardboard birdhouse
4. Or make a house for the birds
It is also possible to turn a cardboard box into a birdhouse, and as long as you coat it with clear acrylic paint, you will even be able to use it outdoors for actual birds to nest in, which makes it a nice way to repurpose an old tree.
As you can see, there are lots of fun ways you can transform your cardboard boxes and give them a second life instead of simply tossing them in the recycling or hoarding them for the next move.
So, get your creative juices flowing and see what you can come up with. Share your cardboard box ideas in the comments section below!
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C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.