Website Exclusive: Craft Kit
by Robyn Coburn

Recycled Cardboard Village

Kids will have fun making this play village using recycled cardboard cereal boxes.

If you print these templates on to card stock, they will be more durable. Alternatively you can trace or glue them on to card to use as your main template. Templates can be printed or copied larger or smaller for other cardboard. Printed at 100% they are sized to fit letter-szied paper for standard 14-oz cereal boxes.
Transfer the shape on to your recycled cereal box. The insides will usually take paint better than the shiny outside. One simple way is to trace around the outlined shape and use a ruler to draw on the fold lines. Tip: Make a small notch at the intersections of your templates to mark where to draw lines.
Cut out the buildings with scissors. Use a straight edge or ruler to score or bend the fold lines forward and then towards the inside. Tip: It is easier to fold the roof first then fold the walls around, and finally attach the roof tabs to the walls.
Some people prefer to paint the building while it is flat, others once it is constructed. For very young kids it may be easier if an adult pre-builds the structure for them, and they then paint it.
Masking tape on the outside can easily be painted over with acrylic paints. Hot glue also works very well to hold the boxes together, and works fast. Tacky glue or craft glue tends to take longer to dry and the cardboard has to be held (or clamped with clothespins or rubber bands) during the drying time.
Add details once your base colors are dry. Use paint, glitter glue, stickers or paint pens.

Download the Templates:

House 1

House 2