Putting Cardboard Boxes to Creative Use
Cardboard is a very functional innovation. This is a generic classification of heavy duty paper. A cardboard can be a single thick sheet of paper or layers of cardboard sheets. Cardboard has many uses. And with the advances of technology, cardboard has become a main component of more unusual things such as shelves, furniture, and even bicycles.
But other than the practical purposes, cardboard can also be made into creatively made crafts and decors. Creating a toy robot for your children's pleasure would be a good creative use. That would be a great family project for the weekend.
1. Build the frame for your robot. A large empty cardboard can be utilised. Any would do, but I suggest an empty removal box. Because it is sturdy and thick, it makes for it the material of choice as a frame for the robot. Let the cardboard box stand on one of its short sides. What you need to do is create five equal-sized circles on the outside of the box. One circle should be drawn on top for the neck, two at the bottom of the box for the legs, and one on either side for the arms.
2. When drawing the circles, check the locations carefully. The circle for the neck should be placed in the middle top part of the box. The leg holes should be placed of similar distance from either sides of the box. Place the armholes directly across from each other. Cut out these holes with scissors. Smoothen the edges with a razor blade or a utility knife.
3. Create the limbs. Look for appropriately sized cardboard tubes (e.g., one that is used as a core for a roll of aluminium foil), or you can make several by rolling thin pieces of cardboard and taping the edges of each to the tube. You would need five: two for the arms, two for the legs, and one for the neck.
4. For hands, feet, and leg, get five small square boxes. Take one of the cardboard tubes and glue the box to the tube; make sure the attachment point is at the centre of the box. To add strength and stability, tape strips of packaging tape to the assembly. You can buy these tapes from establishments that specialise in moving packing materials. They also sell the cardboard tubings and other types of boxes.
5. Now comes putting your robot pieces all together. Insert the ends of the tubes (i.e., the end with no square box) an inch or two to holes you previously cut. Glue these tubes, and strengthen them by taping them to the body. Fasten the legs last, making sure that the robot won't tip over. Tape them once you find the correct balance. Let stand for several hours.
6. Give your robot a silver tint. Wait for the paint to dry completely before adding in some trimmings to it. You can examine the web or perhaps a few pictures in a toys catalogue for suggestions. The options are essentially endless.
For removal boxes, order today, conserve all of them, and make use of these for kid's homemade projects.