Creative Cardboard Projects Made Simple
30 tutorials published
Draw one cross-shaped net, score it, fold it and glue four corner tabs to make a small 4 x 4 x 2 in box, then repeat with slightly different numbers for the lid. Includes the arithmetic for any other size.
Which tool to use on thin paperboard, corrugated board and chipboard, how to make straight cuts in several light passes, and the safer alternatives to an open blade.
Single-wall, double-wall, chipboard, thin paperboard and tubes explained: how to tell them apart, why flute direction matters, and which board to choose for each kind of project.
A plain starting map for new cardboard crafters: where to find clean boxes, the three skills every project uses, how to set up a small work surface, and which projects to make first.
Two autumn projects from recycled boxes: a 15-leaf garland cut from thin card in three freehand shapes, and a ribbed pumpkin built from four identical slotted discs with a rolled stem. Sizes and spacing included.
Three natural-looking holiday projects drawn from measurements: a slot-together tabletop tree, a layered five-point star laid out with a compass, and flat hanging ornaments with white painted accents.
Nine handmade gifts you can build from cardboard, each matched to a recipient, an occasion and an honest effort level, with the finishing steps that make them look worth giving.
Size a rigid two-piece gift box to the present, cut the base and lid from chipboard, tape the corners and wrap both in decorative paper with neat corners. Includes a worked example and the sums for any size.
Turn any idea into a pattern you drew yourself: list the faces, unfold them into a net, count the glue tabs, allow for board thickness and prove it with a paper mockup before cutting cardboard.
Learn how to work small with cardboard: choose a simple scale, use thin paperboard, glue with a toothpick and build a miniature chair and table from a few measured rectangles.
Draw a simple house as one scored wall strip with two gables and a folded roof, then change the width, height and pitch to build a village of three to five houses for a shelf or mantel.
Cut an upright magazine holder from a narrow shipping box: where to mark the angled cut, how to reinforce the base and front lip, and how to bind and cover it for a matching set.
Turn a clean shipping box into a shelf storage box: cut it to height, fold the flaps inside to double the walls, add a second base, cut reinforced oval handles and cover it.
Measure your drawer, plan a grid on paper and cut slotted cardboard strips that slide together without glue. Includes a worked example and fixes for a loose or tight fit.
Build a stepped desk organizer 9 in wide from one shipping box: a full cutting list, where to cut the steps, the assembly order and simple rules for changing the size.
Weave a 9 in wall panel from strips of thin paperboard: how many strips to cut, how to set them up, the over-under sequence, locking the edges with a frame and three pattern variations.
