Whether it’s a Jurassic park viewing party or a drive in movie in the backyard, these cute little cardboard jeeps are perfect to keep the littles entertained.
Here’s how to make a few for your next party.
How to Make a Car Out of a Cardboard Box
Ingredients
- Pencil
- Box Knife / Exacto Knife
- Paint
- Foam brushes
- Black Paint Pen
- Gold Paint Pen
- Paper plates
Instructions
- Start with a 20x20x15 cardboard box. Using something circular (I used a roll of ducktape, trace two circles in the top left and top right sides of the box. Make sure the circles are about 2 inches away from the edges.
- Next, draw a straight line from one circle to the other with a one inch gap from the end of the line to where each circle is. Then, continue your line around the top edge of the circle (staying about 1 inch parallel from the circle) and then continuing the straight line on the other side.
- After this, you’re going to draw the grill of the jeep. You’ll draw 5 (one inch wide) lines about 6 inches straight down the middle of the box. There will also be two lines of the same width about half as long.
- The bumper is next. Draw a 1 inch thick line almost all the way across the box (under the grill) and the little rectangular supporting brackets as well. It’s okay of this part isn’t perfect, you’re going to paint over it anyway.
- Cut out the top edge of the car, along with the other box flaps on that side.
- Next, choose your main acrylic paint color, and paint everywhere on the box (all sides) except for where the circles are.
- Now, using a white acrylic paint, paint inside the circles.
- Next, using a black paint marker, draw the outline of the white circles – creating a clean line between the white and your base color.
- Then, use a gold or silver metallic paint pen and draw 2 curved lines (one longer and one shorter) inside the white area. This is what gives the headlights some character and makes them look like they’ve got some depth.
- Using a 1 inch wide foam roller, you’re going to paint in your grill now. Each grill lines should be about 1 inch wide, so it’s just a simple downward stroke with the foam brush to make it a nice looking line. Paint in the bumper as well.
- Next up, time for the tail lights. Using some of that cardboard you trimmed off earlier, cut a rectanglular piece about 2 inches by 4 inches in size. Cut the tips of each point so they’re more rounded instead of having a hard edge on them.
- These rectangular pieces are going to help you make your taillights. On the opposite side of the box car from the headlights and grill is the back of your car. Line your headlight template (the 2x4 piece of cardboard) a few inches from the bottom and each side and trace the outline using your black paint marker.
- If the car isn’t red, you’ll need to also paint your tail lights red at this point as well.
- Next, you’ll be making the spare tire for the back. This is a great step for kiddos because they can’t mess it up. Just give them a foam brush, black acrylic paint, and tell them to paint all over the front of that plate. Using ducktape, glue, or whatever you have on hand, attach the spare tire to the back of the jeep.
Video
Notes
If you wanted to do even more, you could add a personalized license plate on the back, doors, etc. Make it your own!
And that’s it! The kids at our party had an absolute blast and loved having their own little cars!
Items Needed:
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