How to Make a Cardboard Doghouse for a Kid's Birthday

Craft a homemade doghouse that looks similar to this one.

A doghouse at a child's birthday party is useful for an animal-, zoo- or canine-themed party. Dog-related games, such as "Doggie Doggie, Where's Your Bone?" are played using a doghouse. Creating a doghouse at home requires a large rectangular box; these boxes are attainable at local furniture or grocery stores if you call ahead.

Things You'll Need

• Large rectangular box
• Scissors
• Knife
• Duct tape
• Marker
• Paint (optional)
• Balloons, stickers, other birthday decorations (optional)

Instructions

1. Label the sides of the box. The bottom will be labeled, "Bottom." The longer sides of the box will be labeled "Side 1" and "Side 2." Label the shorter sides "Front" and "Back."

2. Remove the flaps from the top of the box on Side 1 and Side 2. Set these flaps aside.

3. Draw a door near the bottom of the Front side that's tall enough for the birthday child to crawl through. Then draw an inverted V onto the flap above the door. Repeat the inverted V on the Back flap.

4. Retrieve the two top flaps that were set aside earlier and tape them together to look like an inverted V. Use duct tape down the inside center of the flaps to form a 90-degree angle.

5. Reinforce the Front and Back flaps with duct tape so that they stand up, then cut along the V lines. The result will be a house with two triangles on top and no roof. Reinforce each box corner inside the house with duct tape.

6. Line the triangles on the Front and Back with wood glue. Place the roof (the inverted V formed from the top flaps) onto the wood glue and press tightly so that the glue adheres.

7. Cut out the door and remove any excess cardboard pieces. Practice using the doghouse by allowing a child to climb inside. Cut the door wider if it is not wide enough for the birthday child to use.

8. Decorate the doghouse with paint, stickers or other birthday-themed decorations. Tape balloons to the edges of the roof if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtain two boxes and use one for practice before cutting the actual doghouse.