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74 Ultimate Cardboard Play Ideas for Frugal and Creative Fun

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March 1 by Cassie 1 Comment

74-ultimate-cardboard-diy-play-creation-ideas-boxesCardboard play is the ultimate frugal play. It is also a super stellar creative, hands-on way to let children learn and grow. I have such vivid memories as a child with my parents grabbing appliance boxes from the appliance store every summer for years and we would make, build, pretend, play and enjoy life in our backyard with our cardboard creations. It was some of the best playtime memories.

And now we try and do the same for our kids. They have made obstacle courses, playhouses, ships, airplanes and dozens more ideas. They have even made a crawling course for their baby brother. They love to pull out the boxes and have the ultimate play time.

For us parents, we all love it because it lends itself to hours of play that is frugal, gets the creative mind rolling and you can just throw it away when it’s all done!

So, we wanted to provide you and your kids an inspirational guide to the best and ultimate list of ideas to help you get the cardboard ball rolling.

cardboard-box-weaving-loom

DIY Cardboard Box Weaving Loom @tinkerlab

wall-submarine

DIY Cardboard Wall Submarine @patternmemommy

puppet-theatre-1

DIY Cardboard Puppet Theater @letsplaykidsmusic

us-mail-box-made-from-cardboard

DIY Cardboard Mailbox @littleredwindow

cardboard-traffic-light

DIY Cardboard Stoplight @ikatbag

diy-cardboard-skisDIY Cardboard Floor Skis @playtivities
cardboard-submarine

DIY Cardboard Submarine @pintrest

cardboard-television-diy-idea

DIY Cardboard TV @estefimachado

cardboard-skeeball-diy-game

DIY Cardboard Skeeball @mybeaubaby

cardboard-playhouses-town

DIY Cardboard Houses @abeautifulmess

cardboard-playhouse-toy-size-diy-idea

DIY Cardboard House @diy-is-fun

cardboard-playhouse

DIY Cardboard Playhouse @nestofposies

cardboard-light-cave

DIY Cardboard Light Cave @kendallrayburn

cardboard-pizza-oven

DIY Shoebox Pizza Oven @madebyjoel

cardboard-shape-sorter

DIY Shape Sorter Box Toy @parents

cardboard-kitchen-sink

DIY Cardboard Sink @parents

cardboard-kitchen-stove

DIY Cardboard Stove @parents

cardboard-hair-salon

DIY Cardboard Salon @Childhood101

cardboard-ice-cream-truck

DIY Cardboard Box Ice Cream Truck @celebrate-always

cardboard-fridge

DIY Cardboard Fridge @parents

cardboard-gas-pump

DIY Cardboard Gas Pump @parents

cardboard-doll-house

DIY Cardboard Doll House @littleredwindow

cardboard-dome

DIY Cardboard Dome @instructables

cardboard-castle

DIY Cardboard Toy Castle @Increations

cardboard-doll-bed

DIY Cardboard Doll Bed @parents

cardboard-castle-diy-idea-full-size

DIY Cardboard Life-Sized Castle @brandontran

cardboard-castle-with-drawbridge

DIY Cardboard Castle @cornerstoneconfessions

cardboard-airplane

DIY Cardboard Airplane @salsapieproductions

cardboard-barn-house

DIY Cardboard Barn @livinglocurto

44_-_sweet_paul_mag_-_cardboard_rocket

DIY Cardboard Rocket @sweetpaulmag
42_-_makezine_-_cardboard_wheelbarrow

DIY Cardboard Wheelbarrow @makezine

43_-_filth_wizardry_-_cardboard_carwashDIY Cardboard Car Wash @filthwizardry
40_-_play_and_grow_-_cardboard_see_saw

DIY Cardboard Box Seesaw @playandgrow

41_-_mood_kids_-_cardboard_play_horses

DIY Cardboard Stick Horses @moodkids

38_-_origami_mommy_-_cardboard_bike_dollseat

DIY Cardboard Bike Doll Seat @origamimommy

39_-_made_by_joel_-_cardboard_box_aquarium

DIY Hanging Cardboard Box Aquarium @madebyjoel

37_-_make_it_love_it_-_cardbaord_guitars

DIY Cardboard Guitars @makeit-loveit

35_-_cardboard_tool_bench

DIY Cardboard Workbench @estefimachado

 

33_-_repeat_crafter_me_-_cardboard_elevator

DIY Cardboard Elevator @repeatcrafterme

34_-_apartment_therapy_-_cardboard_puppet_theater

DIY Cardboard Puppet Stage @apartmenttherapy

31_-_childhood_101_-_kids_cars

DIY Cardboard Car @childhood101

32_-_45_wall_design_-_cardboard_coffee_shop

DIY Cardboard Coffee Shop @45walldesign

29_-_dos_family_-_cardboard_castle

DIY Cardboard Castle Fort @dosfamily

30_-_handmade_charlotte_-_cardboard_cash_register

DIY Cardboard Cash Register @handmadecharlotte

27_-_a_happy_wanderer_-_cardboard_ball_maze

DIY Cardboard Ball Maze @ahappywanderer

28_-_ikat_bag_-_cardboard_tree_house

DIY Cardboard Dollhouse @ikatbag

25_-_sean_walker_-_cardboard_train

DIY Cardboard Train @seanwalkerphotography

SONY DSC DIY Cardboard Parking Garage  @lafactoriaplastica

24_-_black_eiffel_-_cardboard_ship

DIY Cardboard Boat @blackeiffel

22_-_living_green_with_baby_-_cardboard_labyrinth

DIY Cardboard Maze @livinggreenwithbaby

23_-_little_red_window_-_cardboard_box_sewing_machine

DIY Cardboard Play Sewing Machine @littleredwindow

20_-_hello_bee_-_cardboard_doll_bed

DIY Cardboard Bed @hellobee

21_-_pickle_bums_-_cardboard_box_town

DIY Cardboard Box Town @picklebums

18_-_craftster_-_cardboard_washer

DIY Cardboard Play Washing Machine @craftster

19_-_ikat_bag_-_cardboard_grocery

DIY Cardboard Store @ikatbag

16_-_nap-time_creations_-_cardboard_kitchen

DIY Cardboard Kitchen @nap-timecreations

14_-_all_for_the_boys_-_cardboard_fort

DIY Cardboard Playhouse @allfortheboys

15_-_messes_to_memories_-_cardboard_box_cars

DIY Cardboard Car @messestomemories

12_-_the_merry_thought_-_diy_cardboard_camper_playhouse

DIY Cardboard Camper @themerrythought

13_-_small_fry_-_cardboard_airplane

DIY Cardboard Airplane @smallfryblog

11_-_ikat_bag_-_cardboard_granny_purse

DIY Cardboard Purse @ikatbag

09_-_clo_by_clau_-_cardboard_car_track

DIY Cardboard Car Track @clobyclau

10_-_ikat_bag_-_cardboard_barbie_house

DIY Cardboard Dollhouse @ikatbag

07_-_all_for_the_boys_-_cardboard_building_with_revolving_door

 DIY Cardboard Building With Revolving Door @allfortheboys

08_-_martha_stewart_-_cardboard_box_oven

DIY Cardboard Oven @marthastewart

05_-_crafts_by_amanda_-_cardboard_binoculars

DIY Cardboard Binoculars @craftsbyamanda

06 - All for the Boys - Cardboard Skate Park-toy-size

DIY Cardboard Skate Park @allfortheboys

03_-_milk_and_cuddles_-_cardboard_stair_slide

DIY Cardboard Slide @milkandcuddles

04_-_she_knows_-_collapsible_cardboard_playhouse

DIY Cardboard House @sheknows

01_-_all_for_the_boys_-_cardboard_warrior_helmets

DIY Cardboard Helmets @allfortheboys

02_-_30_minute_crafts_-_cardboard_sword_and_shield

DIY Cardboard Sword And Shield @30minutecrafts

Plus, here’s a few more that we have featured on our site before:

rubber-band-guitar-for-baby

Rubber Band Guitar using a box

finished-gingerbread-house-after

DIY Lifesize Gingerbread House 

faux-fireplace-made-from-cardboard-boxes

DIY Cardboard Fireplace 

So now you have these 74 homegrown DIY cardboard play ideas – give the kids a box or two and recreate one of these or see what creative ideas they have after they see the list.

If you just want an easy solution, you can also grab a cardboard kit that they kids can assemble and decorate themselves. Look at just a handful of the options, but you can head to Amazon HERE to see dozens more!

Click on any of these pictures below to see a bigger picture of the cardboard play items below!



There you have it! TONS of cardboard inspiration! Which one of these have your kids already made or which do you plan to make next?

See more DIY Ideas

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Kids

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim~madeinaday

    What a huge round-up of great ideas for rainy days! Stopping by to let you know you are being featured on Friday’s P3 Party post! Have a great week! Thanks for pinning!
    Best,
    Kim

    Reply

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