How to Decorate Cardboard Boxes

Just done with a move, looking for inexpensive storage options, or looking for something to do with the kids or a young classroom on a rainy day? Cardboard boxes can be decorated in many ways to camouflage a plain, brown exterior and turn it into a bright and personalized container.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper
• Colored construction paper
• Elmer's glue
• Masking tape
• Markers
• Finger paint
• Paper plate

Instructions

1. Wrap the four sides of the box with leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper and tape the paper together where it joins. If there is excess paper, trim the top with scissors until there is about an inch of paper above the rim of the box. Fold the excess paper down onto the inner wall of the box and glue or tape it down.

2. Cut circles, squares, stars or hearts out of construction paper. Create designs or patterns on the sides, or decorate the border of the box with the construction paper, and glue it with Elmer's glue.

3. Draw on the outside of the box with marker. Try drawing the shapes that you glued onto the box, write your name, or draw whatever pictures come to mind---be creative.

4. Pour some finger paint onto a paper plate, and lightly press your hands into the paint. Press your painted hands onto the box, leaving finger and hand prints behind in your favorite color.