Working with Cardboard Boxes Made Fun

Did you know how easy it is to work your way with cardboard boxes? I am sure all of you are well acquainted with this multipurpose storing and packaging material. This is also referred to as the “carton box” by many. The best part about this box is that it is really affordable and is pretty much available everywhere. And with the right amount of creativity, you can come up with limitless ideas to make use of this amazing material.

The first thing that you need to know about cardboard boxes is their basic structure. Cardboards are made from paper but their strength is attributed to the use of flutes which may be in single row (single corrugated box), double layered (double corrugated box) or even tripled layered (triple corrugated box). The increase in the layer of flutes increases the capacity of the material to bear stress / forces both externally and internally. There is also a particular cardboard material which has large sized flutes for making it extra strong and is usually used for packing and storing heavy duty products.

Now that we are clear with the basic structure and the composite material of the Cardboard Boxes, you should be able to start working with it. You would be needing a pair of scissors, a cutting / slicing tool, adhesive tapes, liquid adhesives, paints (if needed), measuring tools and a marker. With these accessories prepared, you can start working with the box in any way you want. But hey! I think we are missing out on one key ingredient – “How to get the cardboard box?”

Surely you could not be considering buying them because in the end it would prove to be an expensive undertaking. Try and look for used boxes. I am sure there are plenty of them lying around in your house. You could ask your neighbours or anyone who has just got new stuff delivered to their house. The best place to get used boxes would be retail outlets and people who have recently relocated.

Working with cardboard boxes is pretty much similar to working with paper – only in this case, it is a bit thicker than a normal paper. You need to first undo the box. Now this means that you would have to cut and unfold the box itself till you get a sheet. Once you have the sheet, it is very easy to work with it. Usually, any creative idea would have to start with a base.

So for this, you can take the largest piece of unfolded or unblemished cardboard piece that you have with you. Then you can use cups or glasses to mark circles on smaller pieces and then use a sharp blade or cutter to carve out these shapes. You can always use simple instruments to mark shapes and then cut them out with the help of a sharp blade. But be very careful while doing so as you can harm yourself in the process.

Tapes are best for joining two pieces of cardboard along their edges. But if you wish to make a strong bond between cardboard cut-outs, then the best way to get it to work is to use adhesive glues. If you want to be creative and apply paint over it, then I would suggest getting used White Shipping Boxes. While you may not get this in perfectly white color due to the wear and tear during transit, but if you wipe it clean, you should be able to get a good surface to paint on.

So these are the basics of working with a cardboard box which is rather fun. Don’t you think? You can use the simplest of materials and used products to come up with something that could impress the world with its creativity and visual appeal. Let you creative juices flow and share with us your masterpieces. We would love to see how you worked with the boxes.