Let's make toys with milk cartons! Easy and fun DIY crafts!
Did you know you can make all kinds of toys using milk cartons?
In this article, we’ll introduce milk carton toys that babies and toddlers will love!
Many households recycle milk cartons, but they’re also often reused for kids’ crafts.
You’ll frequently see toys made by teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens, too.
Milk carton toys are great for little ones who haven’t learned to control their strength yet, because if they break, you can quickly make a new one.
They’re really easy to make, so give it a try!
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Let's make toys with milk cartons! Easy and fun DIY crafts! (21–30)
vending machine
Believe it or not, you can hand-make a vending machine that dispenses properly with the push of a button! It’s a great craft for summer vacation projects, using milk cartons.
Since it doesn’t use rubber bands or springs, kids can try it easily.
Use a tissue box to make the internal mechanism and a milk carton for the vending machine body.
For the canned drinks, roll up milk cartons cut into strips.
You can even design your own can labels! Your friends will definitely be amazed and ask, “How did you make this?”—it’s a surefire crowd-pleaser.
Milk Carton Rolling Tower
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Let’s reuse empty milk cartons to make a fun rolling tower where a ping-pong ball tumbles down! Cut the milk cartons and connect two of them to create a long cylindrical base.
Make holes and slits in paper plates, attach them in a stepped arrangement, and adjust the angles so the ball rolls smoothly through.
Add slits to the side of the cylinder so the ball won’t stop midway and will drop all the way to the bottom.
If you wrap the whole thing with a tube-shaped cover made from a clear file, the ball won’t fly out and it’s safer to play with.
A bonus is that kids can learn about gravity and incline through the speed of the rolling ball and the fun sounds it makes.
It’s an eco-friendly idea that uses recycled materials to create a moving, interactive project.
Let’s make toys with milk cartons! Easy and fun DIY crafts! (31–40)
Easy Spinning Top Made from a Milk Carton
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Fuzzy Navel – Conton Candy
Here’s an idea for making a spinning top you blow on using a milk carton.
First, cut the carton about 1.5 cm up from the bottom, then make slits at the four corners and open it up.
Next, rotating the carton in a consistent direction from each corner, cut along the edges of the bottom.
Leave about 1 cm uncut at the ends.
Bend the sections you just cut inward so they gather toward the center, and decorate with masking tape or stickers to finish.
If you blow straight down from above, it will spin around and around.
Let’s make a train out of a milk carton
A must for train lovers! Let’s make a train using a milk carton.
First, cut off the bottom 5 cm of the carton.
Open up the remaining part and cut it into four large panels.
Accordion-fold each of the four panels and pack them into the bottom section.
Secure them firmly with tape so nothing comes out.
Next, tape magnets to both sides so the trains can couple together.
Finally, decorate the train with construction paper and seal it with packing tape to finish.
Try making trains in various colors and designs and connect them freely as you play!
Target game made from a milk carton
Let’s make a target at home with things you already have! Here’s an idea for a target game using a milk carton.
Milk cartons are a great material because, with a bit of creativity, you can turn them into all kinds of homemade toys.
This time, we’ll make a shuriken (throwing star) target using a milk carton.
You’ll need a milk carton, scissors, and a motif made from drawings or construction paper.
Just cut the milk carton and set the pieces down, and they transform into a target! It’s also fun that you can attach your favorite illustrations or motifs.
Milk Carton Bowling
Let’s make bowling pins using milk cartons! It doesn’t have to be milk—any type of drink carton is fine.
Once the carton is empty, rinse the inside and reassemble it back into its original shape.
Before sealing the top, add a marble or a small amount of water as a weight.
Then decorate it however you like with construction paper, origami paper, or stickers, and you’re done! For the ball, crumpled newspaper or flyers, or a plastic play ball, are great options.
Milk carton puzzle
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Puzzles are fun for children.
They aren’t just enjoyable—they’re also educational toys.
Using their hands to put puzzles together helps develop fine motor skills.
Puzzles also foster concentration and memory.
In particular, for early intervention and infants/toddlers, they can help organize sensory input and strengthen communication skills.
You can make original puzzles using everyday materials like milk cartons, so try crafting your own with a bit of creativity.
Enjoy them together with the children!
