With crafty kids, there are so many creative ideas that you can make just from things that would have been thrown away or put into the recycling bin. Shoe boxes are a great example of this. They are super versatile and are just perfect for making cute crafts and DIY games!
Here are a few shoe box craft ideas that I love. Click on each of the links to get the full tutorial and instructions for each craft.
22 Creative Ideas to Make with Cardboard Shoe Boxes
- Let's recycle! Here are 22 fun and easy cardboard crafts for kids to make using shoe boxes
Everyone loves treasure! Make your own glittery pirate treasure chest filled with jewels, using a cardboard box
Make your own cardboard fish tank craft or diorama with this simple cardboard craft idea from Nurture Store
Use a cardboard shoe box to make this fun and simple yellow school bus craft for kids, from Craftulate
Let's learn with this matching and sorting counting box which is perfect for preschoolers, from the imagination tree
Build some cardboard shelves to show off your collectables - whether it's moshi monsters, pokemon, shopkins or something else, your kids toy collection deserves these cool diy cardboard shelves!
Make your own wall art using recycled shoe box lids. This idea is so creative!
Use shoe boxes to create your own nature shadow box craft, this idea is perfect for preschoolers to get outdoors and connect with nature.
DIY instruments are always a lot of fun, and these cardboard shoe box guitars are no different. Let's get crafting and make some noise!
Build your own marble run with craft sticks and cardboard shoe boxes for stem learning and fun
Or you could get some magnets involved and make this magnetic version of a cardboard marble run
Make your own table football game using a shoe box
Make your own pizza oven for pretend play, using cardboard boxes. This recycled craft will be a great addition to any kitchen play area
Make your own simple catapult craft for lots of silly playful fun for kids of all ages
Play some foosball with this cardboard shoe box craft
Make your own castle fit for a princess. This cardboard castle craft is fun to decorate and easy to make,
Make your own shoe box doll houses with the kids, these ones even nest together.
This cute and sweet doll in a box craft makes a thoughful gift for a young child.
We all love Anna, Elsa and our favorite snowman Olaf, so let's make a Frozen small world craft using a cardboard shoe box
This My Little Pony small world is filled with rainbows and magic!
Make your own puppet theatre craft from a cardboard box, and this one is even portable for take along fun.
Tell a story with this shoe box story box activity, retelling the story of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
Here are the crafts split by category
Cardboard Box Crafts for Small Worlds and Story Time
Shoe Boxes for Dolls
Toilet Roll and Shoe Box Castle
Shoe Box DIY Toys and Games
Shoe Box Art and Displays
Cardboard Shoe Box Learning Ideas
Simple Shoe Box Crafts
More Fun Recycled Kids Crafts
You might also like these recycled craft ideas made from simple house hold materials like plastic bottles, egg cartons, cardboard, sticks and more.
There is plenty of treasure to be found in the trash, that we can reuse and recycle!
12 Fun Things to Make and Do with Sticks
10 fun crafts to make with toilet paper rolls
Cardboard Tube Bumble Bee Craft
Easy and Cute Cardboard Tube Tiger Craft for Kids
Recycled Jar Pencil Holder Earth Day Craft
Earth Day for Kids
You might also like these Earth Day Ideas for kids
- 50+ of The Best Funny Earth Day Jokes for Kids
- Earth Day Coloring Pages and Printable Activities for Kids
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Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Some fab ideas
These are such wonderful ideas, I have a couple shoe boxes laying around that I will make the sorting box and wall art with.
Oh my! Looks like I will need to spare EVEN more shoe boxes! So many amazing ideas!
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