Imagine a world where there was no form of social media whatsoever. (Hard to imagine, huh? But hey, it used to be that way before the Internet, remember?)
Relationships wouldn’t break down because of Facebook statuses, and your aunt from oceans away will never know what you did last weekend. Instead, people would spend their time thinking of innovative ways to use whatever household items were at their disposal.
Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
One of these seemingly unimpressionable objects lying around the house is the cardboard box. Remember Caine’s arcade? I won’t suggest creating something as elaborate as that in this article, but, of course, you’re free as a bird to do so if you wish. Here are a few more creative ways to use those cardboard boxes:
- Downhill ride.
You have to use strong cardboard boxes for this purpose. You or your kids can simply get inside the box and slide down a grassy hill for hours of endless fun. This also serves as motivation for you to work out, so you can shed those pounds and fit snugly inside the box.
- Diorama.
Remember when your teacher required you to make those scenes with three-dimensional figures for school? The diorama usually depicts a scene from a historical time period or from your favorite book. If you turn the box to one side, you’ll have the top which you can hang stuff from.
You can probably glue on some cotton to make clouds for your scenery. Slowly build on assembling your scene using twigs, figures molded from clay, etc.
- Kids’ playhouse.
Kids simply love making forts out of boxes, don’t they? Turn the box to its side, then cut off the top. Save this for when you make the roof. Tape all the pieces together securely to form your playhouse.
- Organizer.
You can get a medium-sized cardboard box and use it as an organizer for the stuff found inside the trunk of your car. Put those cables, plastic bottles of motor oil or brake fluid inside the box to keep them nicely in place.
- Bed for your pet.
Nothing speaks more of an owner’s love for his pet than a pet bed. Line that cardboard box with a fluffy blanket and an old pillow, and your little mutt will feel so comfy that he’ll be ever so thankful to have you for his owner. And to think that you didn’t have to break the bank just to get him that!
On those days when you feel the aching urge to go unplugged from all the social media, the unassuming cardboard box may very well just be your friend. Use it in ways it’s never been used before, and you’ll be surprised at its versatility.
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Am using empty Cardboard box
for my old clothes.. This is nice.
Hi, Reyn. Thanks for visiting and for the comment. Yes, we do use the cardboard box for old clothes, too. It’s really versatile and can save a lot of space when properly utilized, too.
I remember making transformable robots from shoe boxes. It was lots of fun because the old Transformer cartoons was still very popular back then.
R.O.M.E.L.O. recently posted…I’m Thinking Of Buying A New Android Phone
Your comment made me smile, Romelo, because I, too, remembered creating doll houses out of shoe boxes as a kid. Those were the days. 🙂
Maricel recently posted…Holly Jahangiri – Mom, Writer and Blogger Extraordinaire: An Interview
I also recycle used boxes as additional storage capacity where I place some clothes or food.
Franc Ramon recently posted…The Zombie Journals: Who’s Your Favorite Zombie?
Franc, thanks for visiting. Recycling = good for the environment + the wallet. Amazing, isn’t it?
Maricel recently posted…Guess What? I Just Made $150 With Blog Engage!
I usually used empty cardboard box in storing old books and files 🙂
traveling morion recently posted…Morion’s PhotoTravel Diaries| Falling In Love with Cantilan
Hey, Morion, yes, that’s another use for the good, old cardboard box. Thanks for visiting!
Maricel recently posted…Despite the Loss, Manny Still Rules!
Recycling used things like this cardboard box could serve many uses. In our place these boxes are used for a receptacle in transporting a fighting rooster and they cost very high.
Gil Camporazo recently posted…Glimpse of Person’s Alphabet Traits
And those, too, sir Gil. Sometimes, when I travel from the province to Manila or the other way around, I see people bringing live chickens with them in boxes with holes. 😀
Maricel recently posted…Despite the Loss, Manny Still Rules!
also, cut out your favorite photos from a magazine and glue them on the outside box for decoration, whether fashion, animals, nature, or any other them. most teen girls paste picture male models in different poses. i did that on one box.
Fifi Leigh, thanks for coming over. Thanks for the input. My little girl does that, too. And I’d say, she’s more artistically inclined than I am.
Maricel recently posted…What’s Your Number?
Your suggestions about the box brought me back to my childhood days when everything was a lot simpler but still happy.
Teresa Martinez recently posted…On the Road to Sainthood – the Salesians of Don Bosco Way
Teresa, thanks for the comment. Same here, I couldn’t help remembering my childhood days, too. Everything seemed so simple back then that even a humble cardboard box could be turned into a precious toy or storage implement. Nowadays, children’s idea of toys include computer games, iPad, iPhones, etc, stuff that can make some parents go bankrupt. 😀
Maricel recently posted…Despite the Loss, Manny Still Rules!
I just use boxes for storage. Maybe next time when I want to hide from all the hustle and bustle of life, I’ll use it as a place to store myself. 😀
che recently posted…Can a Debt Consolidation Loan Help You?
Hahaha. That was funny, Che. But you know what, I can make good use of one that will hide me from the rest of the world for at least an hour or so, too. Thanks for coming by. 😉
Maricel recently posted…Despite the Loss, Manny Still Rules!
Thanks for the memories! The cardboard box house my dad built me when I was a kid lives on in memory – it had several rooms and corridors, and even one section that was two “stories” tall.
I used a Pampers diaper box as a snow sled for my daughter, when she was very little, and she was delighted to be pushed and pulled around until the box got wet and mushy and we had to give that up and make snow angels, instead. 😉
I’m going to use my old cardboard boxes to make miniature book covers – and create ornaments for next year’s Christmas tree!
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Holly, thanks for the comment. 🙂 I’m trying to imagine your cardboard box house. Must be something a young girl would be very proud of. Kids, indeed, love to be pushed around in boxes. I remember one of mine, he really would find ways to fit in one, no matter how small. 😀
Knowing you’ve got the knack for arts and crafts, I can’t wait to see how your book covers will look like!
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My dad made it for me.
I’m pretty sure that the main part of the house involved a large box – like a wardrobe box – and the other parts involved regular sized moving boxes. All were bigger than book boxes, and there were a number of them – it took up about a quarter of my bedroom, as I recall. It was great fun, though. There were windows cut into it, flaps for doors, and probably plenty of room to drag in a pillow and a blanket and a good stack of books.
I’m not that talented at crafts, but now and then, inspiration hits. 😉
Holly Jahangiri recently posted…Inspirational: There’s That Word Again
A quarter of your bedroom? That was some cardboard box house! I don’t recall my father ever creating a cardboard box house for me. But he once created a wooden chair and table with my name engraved on each. Fathers, indeed!
Maricel recently posted…Monday Reflections: Are You Planting?
Very good info!! To buy good cardboard boxes you have to ensure that the boxes have ever been treated by heat or not. If it’s not been treated by heat then it’s most likely to damage your items with moisture.
Hi Maricel,
I have a question about “Career Mom Online!” Please email me when you get a chance.