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How to Make a Cardboard Play Camper
Turn cardboard scraps into a fun play area for the kids.
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Take the kids camping without leaving your home. Transform spare carboard into a vintage camper that will provide hours of fun for little ones.
Materials
- cardboard boxes
- box cutter
- hot glue
- paint
- hook and loop tape
Gather Materials
Gather large pieces of cardboard to make the body of the camper (Image A). Use smaller pieces of scrap cardboard to make the accessory pieces (Image B).
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image A
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image B
Cut It Out
Cut off the side flaps of a large piece of cardboard. Draw a large oval shape onto the remaining cardboard. Then, carefully cut around the oval shape with a box cutter and remove the excess.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Draw a square on one end of the camper body. This will be the window. Then, draw a door shape in the middle of the camper. Cut out the window with a box cutter.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Next, cut out the door, leaving the left side of it connected to the main body frame (Image A). Lift up the door and fold towards the left edge still attached to the body of the camper (Image B).
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image A
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image B
On the inside of the door, lay a bowl or place on the top, center of the door and trace (Image A). This will be the door's window. Use a box cutter to cut out the window in the door (Image B).
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image A
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image B
Trace a circle around a bowl onto some of the space cardboard to make the wheel of the camper. You will need three different circle sizes for the wheel. When you're finished tracing, cut the wheel out with a box cutter.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Draw a scalloped edge that will go on the bottom edge of the camper.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Use spare cardboard to cut out window accent pieces. These details will make all the difference in the end.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Use the body of the camper to trace the door frame and window onto another larger piece of cardboard. This will be the frame that the front of the camper will attach to later.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Paint + Glue
Paint the cardboard cutouts.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Use a hot glue gun to attach the cardboard pieces. Add a liberal amount of hot glue to the bottom edge of the camper and secure the blue scallop detail.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Add panes to the window of the camper. Glue the larger rectangle window frame to the outside of the window on the camper.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Glue on the window box and don't forget the flowers.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Attach the extra door cutout to the door attached to the camper. Reinforce the "hinge" with a long piece of cardboard and glue.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Attach the wheel base to the play camper.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Assembly
Add velcro tape to frame (Image A). Attach the front of the camper to the main frame of the camper (Image B) as well as the decorative pendant (Image C).
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image A
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image B
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Image C
Accessorize
Little camp accessories like a lantern adds to the ambience.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Your little campers will enjoy the fun of the great outdoors from the comfort of home.
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
