Cardboard Project Ideas

Project 1: Cardboard dinosaur

Create a standing dinosaur with a box-shaped head, hinged jaw, body, feet, tail, eyes, and teeth.

Choose several boxes or folded rectangular cardboard sections for the head and body.
Score and fold a broad rectangular panel to form the top and sides of the head.
Cut a second folded panel for the lower jaw. Cut circular eye openings or separate circular eye pieces.
Connect the head panels and jaw with build bolts through pre-punched holes.
Cut a long tapered tail, two or more foot pieces, small triangular teeth, and eye discs from flat cardboard.
Fasten the head to the body, then attach the tail, feet, teeth, and eyes. Check that every connection is secure without overtightening.

Build four open-front room boxes, stack them in a two-by-two arrangement, and add a pitched roof.

Prepare four similar boxes. Open one side of each box so the interior becomes a room.
Mark and cut door openings in the interior or side walls before assembly.
Place two rooms side by side and two above them, then connect neighboring panels with build bolts.
Cut two broad roof panels and make a narrow ridge connector with holes along both long edges.
Bolt the roof panels to the ridge connector, position the roof over the upper rooms, and secure it to the house.

Turn a large box into a friendly robot or creature with flexible cardboard features.

Use a sturdy closed box as the body.
Cut two rounded ear or horn shapes, score each near its straight edge, and fold the tabs for attachment.
Cut a long narrow strip and roll it into a spiral tail. Leave a short flat tab for fastening.
Cut four limb strips. Score a fold near one end and make a V-shaped notch at the other end for a foot or hand shape.
Cut circular eyes and an oval or rounded rectangular mouth panel.
Punch holes in the tabs and matching places on the box, then connect all features with build bolts.

Assemble a many-sided tower with a door, windows, side fins, and a pointed roof.

Cut six tall wall panels and score a narrow fastening flap along each vertical edge.
Mark three wall panels with round windows and make one arched doorway. Cut the openings before assembly.
Bolt the wall flaps together to form a six-sided tower.
Cut six small side-fin pieces, score their fastening tabs, and attach them around the lower wall edges if desired.
Cut six matching triangular roof panels with fastening flaps along their sides.
Connect the triangles into a pointed roof, then fasten the roof to the top of the tower.

Combine a box body, door and window panels, an optional side extension, and a simple pitched roof.

Select one main box, a smaller box or folded panel, and two flat roof pieces.
Mark and cut the door and window openings before connecting the body pieces.
Join the main box and extension with build bolts through pre-punched holes.
Make a narrow ridge connector with evenly spaced holes and attach one roof panel to each side.
Place the roof on the body, bolt it in position, and add shutters or other optional details.