Crafting for Christmas doesn’t have to mean expensive trips to the craft store. It’s amazing what you can make from what you already have. Here is a collection of cardboard Christmas crafts and decorations made from cardboard boxes.
Upcycling and repurposing are my favourite ways of crafting, as they are both affordable and green. And basically, I just hate waste!
I already have lots of Christmas nature craft ideas on the blog. They use the free stuff in the natural world, such as pinecones, acorns and twigs. This time I have turned my attention to what I can make for Christmas out of cardboard boxes.
What Cardboard Boxes To Use
For Christmas crafts that need thin and flexible cardboard, cereal and other food boxes are great for this.
For larger decorations that need stronger cardboard, I find Amazon packaging and other larger corrugated cardboard boxes work well.
Shoe boxes are a good source of non-corrugated cardboard that is stiffer than cereal boxes. You can also make fun shoebox suitcases to store your Christmas decorations for the following year.
Round strong tubes are good for decorating and using as gift boxes for cookies and other treats.
The Cardboard Christmas Craft Ideas
Making Christmas decorations doesn't have to involve an expensive trip to the craft store, you can often make decorations with the stuff around you. This is a collection of wonderful repurposed cardboard Christmas crafts.
How To Make Giant Cardboard Christmas Ornaments
A fabulous decoration for big white walls, an affordable way to get a great festive look. I love how the ornaments are painted to look like old concave glass baubles.
Christmas Pasta Ornaments Craft
Decorate cardboard shapes with pasta to create unique textured Christmas ornaments.
Make a Stunningly Simple Bauble and Light Filled Star
A cool and stylish decoration for the mantle. I love that it is illuminated.
Upcycle Packaging Into A Gingerbread Garland
The lights in the gingerbread house windows add to the fun with this easy garland. There is a colourful paper version in this collection of Christmas paper crafts.
Reindeer Sleigh Gift Wrap Idea - Red Ted Art - Make crafting with kids easy & fun
I'd love to fill these sleighs with Christmas treats and have them as a tabletop decoration.
How To Make Fun DIY Cardboard Penguin Christmas Decorations
Another fun tabletop cardboard Christmas decoration, with this cute penguin family. I love the snowman too.
Repurpose a Cardboard Box into a Concrete Light Ring
Michelle always has the most creative upcycles. I love this light ring.
DIY Cardboard Christmas Decorations with Old Postage Stamps
Cardboard Christmas decorations can also be made 3D. All these shapes are from Christmas cookie cutters.
Hand-Drawn Recycled Cardboard Stars
The simplicity of these cardboard stars, makes them look like Scandinavian Christmas decorations.
Christmas Tree Cereal Box Craft
Make some table top Christmas trees out of old cereal boxes.
Cardboard Snowman Ornaments
Corrugated cardboard was used to make these cute snowmen.
Giant Cardboard Christmas Trees
If you've got any of those large cardboard packaging boxes this is a fun thing to make with them for Christmas.
DIY Santa Mailbox from Cereal Boxes
A Santa Mailbox is a fun thing to make out of cardboard boxes. And the step by step instructions is very good.
Make: A Cardboard Christmas Tree Craft for Kids
I love the colourful paper scraps decorating this fun tabletop cardboard Christmas tree.
Cardboard Christmas Tree Craft
The buttons make really cute decorations on these cardboard Christmas trees.
DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments // Little White Houses
You can make your own repurposed cardboard Christmas village.
DIY Christmas Wreath
A great way to repurpose cardboard for Christmas is to use it as a base for your Christmas wreath, like this one.
Glitter Cardboard Star Ornaments for Christmas
Use corrugated cardboard and glitter to make some gorgeous star Christmas decorations.
Make a Faux Fireplace for Christmas
Now, this is fun, making sure you have a chimney place for Santa!
Cereal Box Gift Bag Christmas Craft
Combine gift wrap and cereal boxes to make handy gift bags for Christmas.
Pringles Potato Chip Cookie Recipe
Old pringle tubes are a perfect gift container for Christmas cookies.
DIY Santa Napkin Ring
Repurpose cardboard tubes into cute Santa themed napkin rings.
Chalkboard Christmas Trees From Cardboard
Using chalkboard paint on these repurposed cardboard Christmas trees gives them a unique look.
Easy DIY Cone Christmas Trees - You Can Make Today
It's easy to make a cardboard cone from a quarter square and then decorate it to make cone Christmas trees. There are 21 different ideas for decorating Christmas tree cones here.
Christmas Cardboard Decorations
Christmas cookie cutters would be good to use to get the shapes for these fun cardboard Christmas decorations.
How To Make Map Paper Angel Wings Wall Decor
Map feathers are stuck onto cardboard angel wings for this unique Christmas decoration.
Make: A Stand-Up Cereal Box Reindeer
Another fun cardboard reindeer. I love the use of twigs with this one.
How to Make a Fun Art Project with Old Christmas Cards
Remember all those Christmas cards you've collected over the years? We've got the perfect solution to give them new life! Dive into our latest guide and learn how to transform these tokens of love into captivating wall art.
Cardboard Robin Ornament DIY: A Cute and Eco-Friendly Craft
Learn how to craft an adorable embroidered robin ornament from scrap cardboard. A perfect upcycled Christmas DIY!
Check out these repurposed old Christmas card crafts for cardboard festive ideas.
Before you start your Christmas crafts, ensure that your craft cupboard is stocked with the basic crafting essentials. Also, check out these cool ideas for more waste material crafts, upcycled Christmas ornaments and these cool Christmas crafts for adults.
Paper is also fun to craft with, check out these paper doily crafts.
Michelle Leslie
Friday 26th of November 2021
If there's one thing we always have loads of, it's cardboard in some form or another. Now I can't wait for my Christmas holiday to start so I can play around with some of these ideas.
Claire Armstrong
Sunday 28th of November 2021
Yes we seem to have a constant supply of deliveries arriving in cardboard boxes to this household too.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Friday 19th of November 2021
Love posts and projects like this! Recycling is so important to me and I appreciate that you share the same interest. Thanks for linking up each week. #HomeMattersParty
Claire Armstrong
Friday 19th of November 2021
Thank you, Donna. There are so many decorations you can make from the stuff you already have and it's so much better for the environment too.
Cecilia
Saturday 13th of November 2021
Great ideas for fun & thrifty Christmas projects, Claire! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Sunday 14th of November 2021
Thank you so much, Cecilia.
Linda Kilsdonk
Thursday 11th of November 2021
Adorable ideas!
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 11th of November 2021
Thank you so much.