cardboard box boat

Activities & Days Out / 17 November, 2021 / Nanny Anita

Cardboard Box Boat

It has been a really long time since I made a cardboard box creation for my charges. I think the last one I made was a jail! EC loved to play cops and robbers when he was younger, this gave him a place to lock his prisoners, a.k.a me. Recently my nanny family went to the Galápagos Islands and as a welcome home present I made them a cardboard box boat, aptly christened the HMS Beagle.

Make sure you follow my junk modelling board on Pinterest for more ideas. Don’t forget to save the pin for later.

To make your own cardboard box boat you will need:

  • A cardboard box
  • Paint
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Duct tape
  • Split pins (optional)
  • Paintbrush
  • Wrapping paper inner tube
  • Fabric

Start by cutting off the top flaps to the box. Save these for later.

cardboard box boat

On the bottom part of the sides paint the sea. I added a shark fin just for fun. Well more because BB loves the baby shark song.

I did think about painting the top part of the box a darker brown colour, then realised that would be a total waste of paint and time. So I simply left it the light colour it was.

cardboard box boat

On one of the flaps that had been cut off, I made 4 port holes. After painting them I added some gold split pins. This part is optional. I just happened to have some lying around. Then glue them onto the box.

Finally use the liner tube, fabric, and glue gun to make the mast and sail. Then attach it to the ship using duct tape.

cardboard box boat

Just before he asked me to drag him all the way to the kitchen, while singing row row row your boat!

BB has been in and out of his cardboard box boat for the last few days. He likes to be pulled around in it. As it was a really big box, I have also been able to get in there with him until he pushes me out.

If you enjoyed this cardboard box boat be sure to check out my cardboard box airplane and cardboard box oven.

Pin for later:

Turn your old boxes into a cardboard box boat to use in children's imaginative play.

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