Your cardboard box projects won’t last forever but they can turn a weekend into a grand adventure or make a rainy day stuck inside into the highlight of the week. And when they are all finished playing with it just add it to your recycle bin!

Fashion Doll Dream House/Action Figure Fortress

What You'll Need:

• Glue Sticks and/or Magic Tape

• Duct Tape or Packing Tape

• Scrapbook or Construction Paper

• Scissors (with adult supervision)

• Scraps of fabric (optional)

Starting with a large rectangle box an adult should fold the sides of the lid back and trim them off with scissors or a box cutter. Keeping the pieces use them so build floors or levels in the now open box. Attach the floors to the inside of the box with either Duct Tape or packing Tape at both the top and bottom. You can further divide the newly created floors with your extra cardboard and create rooms and even add windows if you like. The charm of this project for children is often the part that leaves the grown ups frustrated. It's not perfect. It's not meant to be to your eye. To them it looks awesome. Let the child decorate the rooms. Let them select the papers and attach them with either tape or glue sticks. It will over lap, it won’t be straight and that’s okay! If you don’t point it out the child will not see it. When it’s finished it may not look Pinterest worthy but that’s okay! Just allow them to enjoy the process. You can use scraps of fabric for carpets or curtains. Use your fashion doll furniture, or if you have a creative spirit on your hands raid the recycle bin and let them craft furniture from macaroni boxes and bottles. This fun project can stretch for days or weeks. You can allow them to paint instead of cover in paper and you can let it become as elaborate as their attention span permits. Then, get out the dolls or the heroes and play till your heart’s content

Drive - In Movie Car

What You'll Need:

• Scissors or Box Cutter (with adult supervision)

• Markers or Paint

• Stickers

• Paper Plate

Laying the box on the longest side, trace an opening so your child can sit inside. It’s best not to cut the entire top off but rather a large oval out of the top will suffice. Tape the remaining sections together on the inside to fortify it and hold it in place. Using a paper plate trace four wheels on the outside corners. Turn the project over to the driver and allow them to decorate their new car with markers, paint and stickers. It’s a good idea to have your child do some practice designs on scrap paper so they can plan how they want it to look. This helps keep them focused. Add a pillow and a blanket and they are ready to watch a movie tonight – Drive-in Style! Don’t’ forget to visit the concession stand for snacks!

Puppet Theater

What You'll Need:

• Scissors or Box Cutter with Adult Supervision

• Markers or Paint

• Duct Tape

• Stickers

• Tension Rod or Twine

• Small Section of Fabric

• Old Socks

Puppet theaters inspire imagination and creativity. The best box for hand puppets is a large refrigerator box. A smaller box works well for finger puppets though! Your local home supply stores have them abundance. Give them a call and find out the best time to come collect one. For my local store it’s early in the morning. If I call and let them know I’m on my way they hold them for me. The cardboard on these isn’t always the strongest so it’s good to reinforce the box with duct tape before beginning. You are going to need two openings. One cut into the shape of a square for the “stage” window. And the other opening as doors in the bottom at the back for the actors to slip inside. Decorating the Puppet Theater is super fun and coming up with the name of your very own theater is very important. You’ll want to attach a simple curtain at the back section of the box directly behind the stage opening. You can stretch a piece of twine across and poke it through a small hole, securing it with tape to the outside of the box or you can use a tension rod. You can make a plain, single color backdrop from scrap fabric or a pillow case or use butcher block paper to create a colorful scene. Take all the lost sock mates left lonely from the dryer and create some fun socks puppets. If your kiddos are slow to get started have them retell stories they already know or act out songs they love.

Cozy Reading Corner

What You'll Need:

• Scissors or Box Cutter (with adult supervision)

• Markers

• Blanket or Beach Towel

• Books

The bigger the better on this box! Appliance boxes are awesome. Cut the box flaps so that one entire side is open. Attach a blanket or beach towel for privacy with clothespins across the top. Let your child decorate the sides with markers. Encourage them to draw their favorite scenes and characters from their favorite stories. The real magic for this secret nook is a special opening made with a box cutter in the shape of an X. In the opening fit a flashlight. If you make the X slightly smaller than the diameter of the flashlight it should fit snuggly. Some children like it overhead. Others prefer it behind them or beside them, have your child try it before you decide on placement. Add a blanket, pillow and snuggly stuffed friend and you have a fun little Reading Corner! Boxes provide infinite possibilities have fun with them before you recycle them.