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Every year I build a Halloween themed cardboard structure for the kids. It started originally because we had just moved into our previous house and we had cardb
by strictnein 8y ago
Every year I build a Halloween themed cardboard structure for the kids. It started originally because we had just moved into our previous house and we had cardboard boxes everywhere. I was bored one night so I stayed up way too late and built a "Haunted Mansion". Kids loved it, so I've done it the last 5 years now.
It was a lot easier when the kids were 4 and 2, since the size of the structure could be significantly smaller, and therefore cost a lot less.
Last year I built a "Haunted Volcano" (imagine a large box structure covered in black fabric) complete with "lava" (orange lights flowing down the side), internal lighting, and a second level (used some of those little Ikea tables). It was over 6ft tall and probably something like 50sqft all told. I honestly probably spent close to $200 on it, so it's somewhat of a waste of money, but at least you can reuse some of the materials and recycle most of the rest when you're done.
Home Depot and other similar places sell cardboard boxes that are pretty reasonable and reasonably strong. The "medium" sized boxes are good for small kids. The large and XL boxes are better for big kids and, uhmm, adults who think they're still kids :). You'll quickly figure out good ways to combine and attach boxes to each other.
Grab a bunch of those, a big pack of quality packing tape (3M, not the knock off stuff), a tape gun, and a box cutter or two, and you're all set.
- overcast 8y agoThat's pretty awesome! Though I'm surprised a 9 year old cares enough to play with that still. Maybe I just forget what it's like to be a 9 year old.
- strictnein 8y agoThey definitely don't play with them as much as they originally did, but they both are still requesting that I build one. Might be the last year I do it though.
- crooked-v 8y agoSounds like it's time to get them involved building cardboard labyrinths for younger kids.
- simulate 8y agoThat's terrific! Do you have photos or videos of your structures that you can share?
- jchin 8y agoFor building large structures like this, we've found Makedo's are great. https://www.make.do/collections/all-products https://www.make.do/collections/all-products The screws and screwdriver make it super easy to connect the cardboard together, and I've found the fit to be surprisingly sturdy. It's reusable and pretty quick to remove from the cardboard once you're ready to take everything down. The saw, in my opinion, doesn't cut that well. Possibly still better than having the kids use large scissors or a box cutter though.
- xargon7 8y agoMakedo is awesome, and I agree that the saw isn't very good. We got this saw: https://www.amazon.com/Corrugated-Cardboard-Fluorine-Coating-DC-190F/dp/B008RIS0UY/ https://www.amazon.com/Corrugated-Cardboard-Fluorine-Coating... It's amazing! It cuts really well but is dull enough that I have no worries at all with my 6 year old using it as she pleases unsupervised.
- strictnein 8y agoAwesome. Just ordered one. Never knew something like that existed. I've nicked myself plenty with a box cutter.