Empty boxes or cartons such as that of cereals, pancake, milk, juice, etc. can still be use to create all sorts of crafts for kids. There are many creative ideas and ways to use it. These houses we made was an art project that Lauren did in Brightly Beaming Resources' (Step 2: Letter of the Week) home school curriculum for the "b" sound as in "building".
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IDEA FOR OUR BOX HOUSES + LINK TO FREE PRINTABLE CUTOUTS!
I did a search for some house craft ideas and found "Recycled Milk Cartons" from auntannie.com, this is a gift box tutorial using recycled milk or juice cartons but you can adapt it into a house or building craft using all kinds of boxes. You can use their printable cutouts to make a cuckoo clock, house or church buildings.
Recycled Milk Carton Buildings (auntannie.com)
There are two cutout templates to choose from: Colored (that are ready to cut and glue into your boxes) or Black & White (that the kids can color themselves so they can create their own look for their buildings).
HOUSE DETAILS, ADDITIONAL PROPS & COVERING THE BOXES + LINK TO FREE DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES!
I created the cut out details for our houses, I used door lamp clip arts and I made the windows and doors using shape tools in WORD document. I also had bushes as additional details on the houses and trees and cars as extra props. I took small and medium sized empty boxes of computer and belt accessories that I have kept for recycling purposes. I printed roof and wall texture patterns to cover the roof and our house boxes. We took the idea of doing and cutting the upper part of our box and roof from auntannie's "Recycled Milk Cartons" tutorial.
I put the finished box houses on the grass outdoors. You can add background decorations and props around the houses such as cars, trees, animals or people. I taped toothpick at the back of these props and just stick them into the soil so they will hold up. The kids can get creative with their houses and create a village, make the props stand on a flat surface using craft sticks. Attach the stand from the back of each prop using hot glue to display them. Check out the links for some set of FREE downloadable props such as: trees, animals, people and vehicles.
ROOF & WALL TEXTURES FOR YOUR BUILDINGS
Make your buildings look like the real thing, check out the links below for some FREE downloadable roof and wall textures that you can print for personal use. Roof and wall texture thumbnails without the small "crown" icon to them can be downloaded and use for FREE, wrap printed texture to cover roof.
Choose any FREE texture you like and download to your computer. Locate image and double click on it to view in picture viewer. In picture viewer, click on "print" ; choose PAPER SIZE: 8.5" x 11" or 8.5" x 14" (it depends on the paper you will use) ; PHOTO SIZE: Full Page ; FIT: Fill Page next click on PRINT. or right-click on image then choose "print" in the side menu that pops up. In the printing setting that appears choose your PAPER SIZE: Legal or Letter (it depends on the paper you will use) ; on the right side choose FULL PAGE PHOTO and the FIT THE PICTURE TO FRAME at the bottom should be checked then click on PRINT.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN HOUSE OR BUILDING CRAFT USING ANY TYPE OF EMPTY BOX OR CARTONS & FREE IMAGES & PRINTABLES!
NOTE: Print house cut outs by visiting the page: "Recycled Milk Cartons" for the windows and doors templates. If you wish to use roof and wall textures for your buildings, check out the links above for some FREE downloadable images.
STEP #1: Cut the upper part of the box in a triangle pattern. Visit the page: "Recycled Milk Cartons" for the step by step tutorial including creating the roof!
STEP #2: Cover your roof and boxes with construction papers in any color of choice or roof and wall texture patterns if you like. You can use solid glue stick or scotch tape to secure the papers onto the cardboard or boxes.
STEP #3: Glue the cut out windows and doors at the front and sides of boxes or cartons to complete your buildings. You may glue additional shrubs, bushes or plants on your buildings if you like. Check out the links below for some FREE downloadable images.
STEP #4: Your box houses are finish! Add extra props if you like, the kids can play with them outdoors or display a village of houses on a flat surface such as shelf or on top of a table.
MATERIALS TO CREATE THIS CRAFT
Shop for materials used in this craft online @ shopee.ph by clicking on the materials highlighted in BOLD below.
GET A LOW-COST AND QUALITY PRINTER FOR HOME PRINTING
Print FREE printables for home DIYs and more! I'm using "HP Ink Tank 115" single function inkjet printer in printing templates and printables, I bought it online at shopee.ph. It is a quality and low-cost printer for home printing that uses tank for the ink. It needs a total of 4 ink bottles (CMYK) to refill the tank, you can save even more by refilling with universal ink. Just make sure the ink is compatible with the printer model before deciding on a purchase. It needs a total of 4 ink bottles (CMYK) to refill the tank, you can save even more by refilling with universal ink. Just make sure the ink is compatible with the printer model before deciding on a purchase.
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POST UPDATED: May 2024
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