An empty box becomes a toy! A collection of ideas for handmade toys
Don’t you find yourself surrounded by empty boxes—like tissue boxes or candy boxes—before you know it?
It feels like such a waste to just crush them and throw them away!
This time, we’re introducing easy, handmade toys you can make using those empty boxes.
Boxes come in all kinds of shapes, so we’ve gathered a wide range of DIY toy ideas—from unique toys that make the most of each box’s shape to games you can really get absorbed in.
Take a look and see which ones you can make with the empty boxes you have at home!
Empty boxes become toys! A collection of handmade toy ideas (1–10)
A game made with a box and marbles
How about making a soccer game out of an empty box? You’ll need an empty box with a lid, wooden sticks, disposable chopsticks, round beads, and strong magnets.
You’ll need two strong magnets: one will act as the “player,” so use one with a defined shape; the other will be used to control movement inside the box, so choose a flat one.
First, make two round holes in the bottom of the box base—one for your goal and one for your opponent’s.
Next, glue a chopstick across the middle of the lid as a divider.
Then attach wooden sticks to the four corners of the lid.
That completes the base.
For the moving piece, simply attach a magnet to the tip of a chopstick and it’s done.
To play, place the controlling stick under the box and put the player magnet on top.
Place a bead on the field, and move the stick to guide the bead into your opponent’s goal.
It’s sure to be a hit!
Spinning Picture Match
Let’s make a twirling aquarium out of empty boxes! Here’s what you’ll need: two lidded cylindrical snack boxes, blue-colored construction paper, string, stickers, and colored pens.
First, take one empty box, cut off the bottom, then cut it vertically.
Overlap the edges slightly to make it a bit smaller than the original cylinder, and tape it in place.
Make several slits around the top, and fold them inward.
Next, wrap the outside with blue construction paper and secure it with tape or glue.
Use glue to attach the lid to the folded-in tabs you made earlier.
Now, cover the other empty box with colored paper as well, and use a craft knife to cut out a rectangular window.
Once you’ve joined the two boxes together, decorate the inner cylinder with fish drawings or stickers to finish.
If you punch holes in the centers of the lids on both sides, thread a string through from the inside, and tie it, it won’t come loose easily!
Elevator
Elevators are familiar vehicles, and kids love them, right? Let’s try making one out of an empty box! The steps are super simple: prepare a box-shaped empty box.
Cut out square windows from the upper halves of three sides.
To make the entrance/exit, make a single vertical cut at the bottom of the front side.
Attach a string to the top of the box, and it’s done! Hook the string onto a protruding spot like a doorknob, and when you pull the string, the box goes up just like an elevator! Try painting the box and putting dolls inside to play with it.
a toy that makes sounds
Toys that make sounds really capture babies’ attention, don’t they? This time, I’ll show you how to make a sound-making toy that babies are sure to love.
First, prepare a round empty box like the kind that cheese comes in.
Put something that makes a sound—like a bell—inside the box, then close the lid.
With the lid closed, cover the box with felt cut to fit its size.
Finally, stick on some characters or pictures that kids love, and you’re done! The round shape gives children a sense of comfort, so they’ll probably enjoy playing with it a lot!
A guitar that makes sound
Wouldn’t you be excited if you could make a guitar out of an empty box? This time, we’ll show you how to make a guitar that actually makes sound using scrap materials.
The method is very simple: stretch 3 to 5 rubber bands over the opening of an empty tissue box so they run across the hole.
Next, attach a paper tube—like a cling film core or toilet paper tubes joined together—on top of the tissue box.
This will be the guitar’s neck and head.
That’s the basic shape done, but if you use cardboard or construction paper to create a body, you can even make it look like an electric guitar or a classical guitar!
Accessory box
Don’t your accessories often go missing? This time, let’s make an accessory box using an empty box and give your precious accessories a proper home! First, prepare an empty box with a lid.
Remove the lid and punch six evenly spaced holes.
Add thickness by attaching batting (quilt wadding), then wrap it with your favorite fabric.
Attach beads to the holes you made earlier to complete a cute lid.
For the box itself, also add thickness with batting, wrap it in fabric, and glue it down.
Use felt to connect the lid and the box body, and also line the inside and the back of the box with felt to make it cute.
Take a piece of felt about half the size of the box, roll it up tightly, secure it with a glue gun, and attach it inside.
Make several rolls and glue them in—this will hold your rings! You can put necklaces or anything else you like in the remaining space.
single-lens reflex camera
Why not try making a DSLR camera out of empty boxes? The process is very simple.
First, make the camera body: cover an empty box of a convenient size with black construction paper.
For the lens, we recommend using an empty container from tube-packaged snacks! Cut it to your preferred length, wrap it in black construction paper, and attach it to the body.
If it has a clear lid, leaving it on makes it look like a cute lens.
If not, plastic wrap or colored cellophane also works well.
Finally, use buttons or stickers to create the shutter button, add your own stylish touches, and you’re done!