Fun Crafts to Do with Leftover Christmas Boxes

The holiday season often leaves us with a delightful abundance of leftover Christmas boxes. Instead of tossing them away, why not transform these boxes into creative and entertaining crafts for you and your kids?

These projects are a perfect way to spend quality time together, unleash your family’s creativity, and upcycle materials.

Get our free mobile app

Here are some fun ideas to get you started:

1. Cardboard Castles

Turn those sturdy Christmas boxes into whimsical castles!

What You’ll Need:

• Large cardboard boxes
• Scissors or a craft knife (for adult use only)
• Markers, paint, or crayons
• Tape or glue
• Stickers and other decorative items

Instructions:

• Help your child sketch out castle walls, turrets, and windows on the box.
• Carefully cut out the shapes.
• Let your child decorate the castle with paint, markers, or stickers.
• Assemble the pieces with tape or glue to create a magical fortress for their toys.

2. DIY Dollhouses

Design a custom dollhouse that’s as unique as your kids’ imaginations.

What You’ll Need:

• Medium-sized cardboard boxes
• Craft paper or wrapping paper remnants
• Glue
• Markers or paint
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Use the box’s compartments to create rooms.
• Decorate each room with craft paper or wrapping paper as wallpaper.
• Add furniture made from smaller pieces of cardboard or household items.

3. Holiday-Themed Picture Frames

Craft keepsake picture frames from box lids to display your favorite holiday memories.

What You’ll Need:

• Box lids
• Scissors
• Paint, glitter, and markers
• Family photos
• Glue

Instructions:

• Cut a rectangular opening in the center of the box lid.
• Decorate the frame with paint, glitter, or holiday stickers.
• Glue a photo to the back of the frame.
• Add a ribbon loop to hang it on the wall.

4. Robot Costumes

Turn large boxes into wearable robot costumes for a day of imaginative play.

What You’ll Need:

• Large cardboard boxes
• Aluminum foil
• Tape
• Markers or paint
• Bottle caps and other small items for buttons

Instructions:

• Cut out armholes, a neck hole, and leg openings in the box.
• Cover the box with aluminum foil for a metallic robot look.
• Add details like buttons and screens using markers, bottle caps, and other materials.
• Let your child wear the costume and get ready for robot adventures!

5. Animal Masks

Use smaller pieces of cardboard to create fun animal masks.

What You’ll Need:

• Cardboard
• Paint or markers
• String or elastic
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Draw an animal face shape on the cardboard and cut it out.
• Paint or color the mask with your child’s chosen design.
• Attach string or elastic to hold the mask in place.
• Pretend to be zoo animals or favorite storybook characters!

6. Cardboard Mazes

Create an interactive game by designing a cardboard maze.

What You’ll Need:

• A shallow cardboard box
• Straws or strips of cardboard
• Tape or glue
• A small ball or marble

Instructions:

• Plan out a maze design inside the box.
• Attach straws or cardboard strips to form maze walls.
• Let your kids guide a ball through the maze using tilting motions.

7. Holiday Scrapbook

Transform box panels into the foundation for a holiday scrapbook.

What You’ll Need:

• Box panels
• Photos
• Wrapping paper scraps
• Glue
• Markers and stickers

Instructions:

• Cut box panels into pages.
• Glue photos and decorate each page with paper scraps and stickers.
• Punch holes and tie pages together with string for a homemade scrapbook.

Wrapping It Up

These crafts are not only a fun way to spend time with your kids but also a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of recycling and reusing materials. With a little imagination, those leftover Christmas boxes can become cherished creations that keep the holiday spirit alive. Gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and let the crafting adventure begin.