Plastic Free July x School Holidays: Transform an empty box into an upcycled craft project

Plastic Free July x School Holidays:  Transform an empty box into an upcycled craft project

We’ve all heard of recycling, but how about upcycling? Recycling involves the destruction of waste in order to create something new, whereas upcycling takes waste and creates something new from it in its current state. By upcycling at home, we can reuse household items and give them a new life. 

Before you reach for the recycling bin, how about hanging onto empty cardboard boxes for your kids’ school holiday craft projects? Give them something creative to do that is also good for the environment, and enjoy watching them complete their own original project using existing items you have around the home. 

Playing with cardboard boxes is a great starting point for creative and imaginative play. Children can have fun with cardboard boxes of any size. Our laundry detergent strips come in a paper-based box that’s the perfect size for pencils, letters, jewellery, trinkets or small nature finds. Depending on your child’s age, you may need to help them safely work on their craft project.

Ideas:

• Pencil case
• Jewellery box
• Lego sorter
• Letterbox 

Things you will need:

• An empty laundry detergent strips box (or another empty box) 
• Paint 
• Paintbrush
• (Optional) Stick-on gems or other decorative items
• (Optional) Superglue or a hot glue gun
• (Optional) Scissors

Instructions:

1. Collect all the items you will need
2. Find a flat surface to work on 
3. Cover the surface with newspaper 
4. Plan out your project - how do you want the final product to look?
5. Paint your box with a base layer (a solid colour is a good way to start)
6. Wait for the paint to dry completely
7. Paint your design or stick on your chosen decorations 
8. Allow time for glue to dry and you can start using your box! 

You can also decorate your box with lots of other things like old birthday or greeting cards, magazines, markers, paint pens, coloured paper, fabric, foil, stickers, sequins, buttons, ribbons, lace, or any other craft scraps you have around.