How to Make a Castle Out of Cardboard Refrigerator Boxes

Recreate a castle in your backyard with refrigerator boxes.

A play castle can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars, but making your own castle from cardboard refrigerator boxes isn't just cheaper: it's much more fun. Your little knight-to-be will spend hours painting and decorating his playtime masterpiece, which you can help him put together in a couple of hours. Just make sure it's protected from the rain: the construction may keep out invaders, but it can't keep out moisture.

Things You'll Need

• 4 refrigerator boxes
• Pen
• Craft knife
• Masking tape
• String
• Plastic wall hook with a sticky back
• Acrylic paints
• Paint brush

Instructions

1. Remove the tops from the boxes by cutting along the edges with the craft knife.

2. Draw the crenellation at the top of each box. Cut them out with a craft knife and discard the cut out pieces.

3. Place the four boxes upright and together to form a square. Tape over the joints with the masking tape.

4. Draw the shape of a door on the front panel of one of the boxes. Cut out all sides of the door, except for the bottom edge, with the craft knife. This will form a flap: pull it forward and lay it down on the ground.

5. Cut a small hole in the top of the door laying on the ground. Tie one end of the string onto the door by threading through the hole and tying a large knot. Cut a hole in the door frame above the center of the door. Thread the other end of the string through this hole. Stick the hook onto the inside wall of the box and wrap the string around it. Pulling on the string will enable the door to be raised and lowered.

6. Cut three more doors inside the castle, leading from one "room" to the next. Cut through the bottoms of the doors and discard the cut outs.

7. Cut windows from each side with the craft knife. The windows should be small (but large enough to poke a bow and arrow through), about 4 inches wide by 10 inches tall.

8. Paint your creation with acrylic paints.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want a castle of uniform height, cut a foot or two from one or two of the refrigerator boxes before you start cutting the crenellation.