Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
“It moves like the real thing!” “It’s just like an arcade!” Want to try making cardboard crafts that will amaze your family and friends?In fact, with a bit of ingenuity in assembling cardboard, you can create all kinds of fun projects like a claw machine, a basketball game, and even a cardboard car.Besides cardboard, most of the materials you’ll need are everyday items, along with a utility knife and glue.Why not take on the challenge of creating your own original project without fear of failure?In this article, we’ll share cardboard craft ideas that both kids and adults can enjoy!
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Toys you can make with cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with (31–40)
Marble coaster
A marble rolls down a slanted track.
The materials are cardboard and a marble.
First, make a track out of cardboard that’s wide enough for the marble to roll through.
Make it about 2 cm deep, and attach it to cardboard pillars.
You can secure it not only with tape but also with toothpicks! Fix it at an angle so the marble rolls gently.
Stand it upright and it’s done.
Feel free to decorate it however you like.
It will become your very own wonderful “marble coaster!”
Tokotoko Animals
Cardboard crafts hold infinite possibilities, so they really spark kids’ creativity.
The little walking animals we’re introducing this time actually move, making them adorably lifelike.
The materials are cardboard, toothpicks, glue, masking tape, a utility knife, a compass, and so on.
Since you just cut and paste the shaped pieces of cardboard, they’re very easy to make.
It’s also fun to let your imagination run wild wondering what you’ll end up creating.
These are great for kids not only to look at when they’re finished, but also to play with.
Multipurpose cardboard table
Some elementary school students may even have their own dedicated study desks.
Even if you don’t go as far as a full desk, it would be handy to have a versatile table you can keep in your room, right? When you think about making a table, wood might come to mind, but with a bit of ingenuity you can make one out of cardboard, too.
Using cardboard for the tabletop and long paper tubes for the legs lets you gather all the materials easily.
The key is to stack layers of cardboard to increase strength.
Try customizing the tabletop to your liking by cutting slots for inserting a tablet or adding small storage compartments.
If the table is practical, you’ll enjoy using it even after it’s finished.
cardboard helmet
Just looking at a cool helmet isn’t enough! For kids who feel that way, here’s a wearable cardboard helmet.
Prepare a piece of cardboard large enough to cover from the head to the neck.
Lightly score along the existing corrugation lines, then roll it into a tube and secure it with kraft tape.
Make vertical slits about 8 cm wide around the bottom half, and cut out just the face opening.
On the top half, make even finer slits, gather them toward the center, and shape it like a hat.
Finally, attach parts like horns made from other pieces of cardboard, and decorate with markers or aluminum foil—your impressive helmet is complete!
Japanese taiko drum
Taiko drums are indispensable at festivals.
Their sound is pleasant to the ear, so it’s probably a familiar sound for children as well.
This time, let’s make a taiko drum out of cardboard.
First, make the drumhead—the surface you strike.
Make it a type that can be played from both sides, and punch holes around the edge for threading a cord.
Next, make the drum body and combine it with the drumhead.
Thread a cord through the holes in the drumhead, and you’re done! Give it a try for taiko practice, too!
Toys you can make with cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with (41–50)
An escalator that can keep running
Escalators might seem like a mysterious ride to many children.
How does that endlessly looping mechanism work? Curious kids are sure to wonder.
This time, let’s try making an escalator out of cardboard.
First, cut the cardboard to make 24 stair pieces.
Then cut bamboo skewers and straws to the necessary sizes and prepare 24 of each.
Connect each part and assemble them.
Attach everything to the base, and it’s complete! There are some tricky steps along the way, but you’ll be amazed by how impressive the finished piece is.
Give it a try!
Easy with cardboard! Handmade puzzle
Puzzles made from cardboard can be created using scrap materials, so they cost nothing and are fun from the crafting stage onward.
Except for the illustration part, you can make everything—from the puzzle pieces to the frame—out of cardboard, so it’s easy to create a new one whenever you get bored.
Both the crafting process and the puzzle itself help with learning and brain training, making them perfect not only for children but also for older adults.
Plus, it teaches the idea that toys can be made from everyday materials, so give it a try!
