Monday, January 7, 2013

Cardboard Box Washing Machine


OR . . .



Place your cape in the tub . . .


Close the lid . . .


Set the dials . . .

Wait . . .

Admire your super clean cape . . .

The other day I was browsing through Pinterest and my son noticed this cardboard washing machine I had pinned.  He thought that looked pretty cool and asked if we could make it.   Occasionally over the next few weeks he brought it up again and again until I finally realized he was serious about wanting to make this washing machine.  So we headed down to the basement and found a box.  We worked on our machine over the next two weeks, a little here, a little there. Cutting cardboard and paper, taping, cutting out dials, coloring and gluing.  It was fun.  A special project for just the two of us.  And then we were done. . . .  And the washing machine sat. . . . Apparently little boys don't really like to pretend to sit and do laundry all day.  We did have fun working together but the next time we have a box to spare we'll use it for something like a race car or a rocket ship.  I think we'll get a lot more use out of something like that.


What kinds of things have you created out of a box with your kids?




15 comments:

  1. That's adorable! My son is obsessed with boxes, but I don't think he'd understand the washing machine yet. We took the box from his basketball net and turned it into a slide and we use a beer box as a car for him. He loves it!

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  2. I saw this when we were at your house and thought it was super cute! I didn't know it was his idea though!

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  3. So cute! We love creating things out of boxes too. I have made a castle for my daughter's birthday party, cars, houses, the list goes on and on. Here are some of our favorites from this years birthday party: http://www.sugaraunts.com/2012/09/cars-candy-land-birthday-party.html

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  4. When my oldest was 2 years old, my husband took a refrigerator box and made her a house out of it - it had windows and a door that opened and closed, a peaked roof and even carpet! He used an old remnant for that. That box was so well loved it lasted until last year (6 years total) when it finally fell apart. Every kid in the neighborhood was obsessed with it!

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    1. That sounds like so much fun! What a great idea your husband had.

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  5. love it. I like the laundry basket insert, clever addition

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  6. Very creative, Cardboard box toys are the best.

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  7. What a great upcycled project! I would love for you to come link up at my weekly linky party Thrifty to Nifty Thursdays at A Jennuine Life. I'm working with a couple of bigger bloggers to feature great projects, so I'm hoping to bring fabulous exposure for participants! http://ajennuinelife.blogspot.com/2013/01/thrifty-to-nifty-thursdays-2.html

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  8. Oh bless him, that is soooo cute!

    Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

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  9. Cute idea! We would love for you to share this to our Kitchen Fun and Crafty link party! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2013/01/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link-party_10.html

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  10. Fab - really love it. He looks so completely delighted by it :-)

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  11. This is such a good idea. My kid would love this! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

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  12. Have you read that book 'not a box'?

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    1. Rachael, Yes! My son got that book for Christmas this year. He loves it.

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