We partnered with Paramount Pictures to share an idea we made out of a box! All opinions are our own.
Make an Adorable DIY Dog Playhouse Out of a Box! Use your imagination and create a sweet playhouse for your dog with a cardboard box!
Have you heard about the new movie Wonder Park that is coming out in theaters March 15? It looks so cute! I love that it’s all about a little girl named June who imagines and builds an out-of-this-world amusement park that magically comes to life, We are SO excited to see this movie! Here’s the Wonder Park trailer:
What Can You Make With a Box?
Ever wonder what you can do with an empty box? Paramount Pictures contacted me and asked if we would create something as a family out of an empty box in anticipation of Wonder Park, coming to theaters March15!! We were so excited to start creating!
Upcycle a Cardboard Box into a Playhouse
We decided to make a little playhouse for our dogs! My daughter sketched out the house first. She made it big enough that our dogs crate can fit inside. Hannah also made the house have an open bottom so we can easily put it over the crate when she sleeps inside, but we can lift it off and out pillows inside for when she’s awake so she can go in and out of the house. We also put two windows on the side of the house so the inside would get plenty of ventilation.
How to Make a Cardboard Playhouse out of a Box
Supplies:
Cardboard Box
Box Cutter and/or Xacto Knife
Packing Tape or Duct Tape
Pencil
Ruler
Cutting Mat or Cutting Board
Paint (optional)
Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
Sketch Out Your Playhouse
Make a sketch of the house. Figure out what size you want it to have and what features. We added a doors, windows and a little mailbox to ours.
Find a Large Box
We asked around and found a neighbor with a large wardrobe box.
Cut the Box Flat
Cut one side of the box so you can lay it flat. Flip it over so the side without words (if your box has any) is facing up.
Draw the Windows and Doors
Use a ruler and pencil, draw your windows and door or any open areas you want to cut out on the cardboard.
Cut the Openings
Put the cutting mat or cutting board under the areas that you intend to cut — windows and doors. Cut out the openings. You can leave the left side of the door attached and fold the door so it opens. We decided to cut the door completely out. We added hinges to make the door sturdier.
Reattach The Cut Side
Use hot glue or duct tape to attach the cut edge of the box together INSIDE OUT. You want the inside of the box outside, with the words or logos from the box inside.
Make the Roof Peaks
Mark the center on the box’s front side flap. Use a ruler to draw a line from the edge of that flap to the center of the flap and another back to the other side – creating a peak. Do this on both sides of the box.
Glue the flat sides to the peaks. Glue each side of the flat box tops to the sides of the peak. The flat flaps will not meet at the top of the peak, there will be a gap at the top — that is ok!
Measure the Roof
Measure the width of the box and half of the roof from the peak down to the edge of the box. Add about 6 inches to the width + length so you have an overlap. Make two of these dimensions for each side of the roof. You might need to use another box for the roof.
Glue the Roof to the Playhouse
Hot glue the roof onto the house. We reinforced our roof with flat 2 inch lengths of cardboard because the box we were using didn’t have a flat surface that was big enough and it had a bend in it. So to make the roof straight we had to lay that folded side on something straight.
Attach the Door
If you decided not to fold your door and cut it all the way out like we did, you will need to attach the door. We took two rectangular pieces of cardboard about 6″ x 8″ and folded them in half to make a 6″ long by 4″ piece of folded cardboard. Fold the cardboard and then hot glue one side to the door, the other to the edge of the doorway, creating hinges.
Embellish Your Playhouse
We painted polka dots on our house. We also added pom poms along the roof and the mailbox. We added “thicker” scrapbook letters to the mailbox that say PUPPY MAIL. And also a Welcome above the door. Then we put pillows inside for the dogs!
Let Your Dogs Enjoy Their Playhouse
It was so funny! Our puppy immediately went inside the house and made it her home. She loves it!! Our older dog likes to go in for a little bit, but our younger dog has made the playhouse her home. It’s so cute in our family room. And the nice thing is that it’s really lightweight and we can take it upstairs so we can use it with her crate too!
What Can YOU Make Out of a Box?
Now it’s YOUR turn!! What can you make out of a box? Make something and show us!! Save your boxes and show us your creations by tagging your posts on social media with #WonderBox and #WonderPark. Plus, you can upload your #WonderBox creation at WonderParkMovie.com for a chance to be 1 of 5 lucky winners of a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card!! Visit the film’s website for more details. I can’t wait to see what YOU make!!!
Be sure to take your kids to see Wonder Park in theaters. We can’t wait and maybe we will see you there on March 15th!!
WONDER PARK – IN THEATERS MARCH 15
You can find out more about Wonder Park:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #WonderPark #WonderBox
Have a Creative Day!
xoxo