Michele Made Me

One birdie's attempt to figure things out. Oh, and crafts.

House of Card…Board Boxes

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This is a little house made of cardboard boxes. I made it 4 years ago as a Christmas gift for my little one and I’m always surprised at how well it’s holding up and how long it’s been kicking around.
I remember being quite proud of the little Victorian house design (and I still am!) and the fact that I used only stuff from around the house to build it. I chose not to put a door on it for safety’s sake (he was two when I built it) and also because I didn’t want to deal with hinges. Lazy…
My main construction material: a couple of large cardboard boxes of course. And I recall using LOADS of my husband’s good carpenter’s glue as an adhesive. I worked in steps over the course of a week, taking my time with all the measurements. Whenever I glued on pieces, I clamped them together with painter’s masking tape – you know the kind that’s not too sticky – to let the glue set and then removed the “clamps” once the glue was dry.
I used old house paint with an eggshell finish to paint the thing so I can actually wash the walls which is pretty neat. And yes, I’ve actually washed the walls.

To make the house sturdy I did a couple of things. One: I glued “mouldings” at every joint (even in the attic). And two: I faced both the outside and the inside of the window frames with a window cut-out.
I used a thrifted piece of aqua-coloured vinyl for the floor. The leftover pieces of vinyl I cut into curlicues and glued to the walls for a decorative touch.
I used craft paper (you know the brown stuff used for covering packages), rolled it up into thin rolls and then flattened out the rolls to make a thin moulding for the outer edge of the roof peak.

The boy doesn’t play in it anymore but it still resides in his room. He now uses it as a lovely place to store his beloved stuffed animals.
I think the animals are happy in their colourful little home. It’s a nice place they’ve got there!
P.S. Here is a link with plans for an alternative cardboard house at Make Baby Stuff.

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Comments

  5. Amy says

    I can't believe that it has survived so well! That's amazing! I have never made one that was reinforced though. It's fabulous! My kids love cardboard box creations.

  8. Poppyprint says

    Holy, you make the coolest stuff! That is an amazing house. My kids were lucky if I could carve out a door and a window from a cardboard box.

  11. Catherine says

    What amazing detail you put into this cute little house! Puts my effort to shame whichb was to cut 2 windows and a door into a large box that our new washing machine came in when my eldest was 3 years. She loved it though especially as I let her draw all over it.

  17. Melissa says

    Holy Buckets – that is absolutely out of this world. I am glad you shared all the details of how you made it that made it sturdier.

  20. Jenny @ Embellishing Life says

    Wow! You are creative!! I never would have thought that was made of cardboard!!! It's so nicely made and pretty! I would love plans for this if you ever have them available…my munchkins would love it.

  21. PEACHES says

    UNBELIEVABLE!! I can hardly believe that came from a cardboard box. WOW. OH WOW.

    We used to make forts out of boxes but they sure as heck never came out anywhere near as impressive as this. I need to try making one on a small scale for my cat. She will love it!

  30. Abbi says

    That is adorable! Several years ago my sons and I made a cardboard barbie house for my daughter and we used similiar methods in reinforcing it and it is still holding up great too though it has been well played with. Cardboard really works well.

  34. ≼mE aNd mY tℎrIfTy IdEaS≽ says

    I have been reading your blog for over an hour now so there is no way that I could leave without telling you that I am so incredibly inspired after seeing all your crafty goodness and out of the box ideas. I am your newest follower and am so happy I found you today. You are awesome. Period. 🙂

  35. Anonymous says

    I am very interested in a printable plan for the little house! My grandaughter will be coming for a visit from Germany soon, and I know she will absolutely love this.
    Thank you so much!

    treskat428@hotmail.com