How to Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard castles are as simple or as complex as you want to make them, and either way a cardboard castle makes a cool project for all ages. Moreover, this won't cost the Earth as it's based on recycling unwanted cardboard boxes and turning them into something useful and fun.

1. Find suitable cardboard boxes. Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls, and the like will do fine. Just make sure you have enough cardboard, depending on how big you want the castle to be.
   
   
2. Create templates. You don't have to do this step, but it can help you to get accurate measurements, a refined design and to have something to cut out. Check photos or illustrations of real castles for inspiration and create templates and a design on paper. Cut out any templates made so that you can trace around them onto the cardboard. In the case of this article, it's going to be kept so simply that there's no need for complex design, just four walls and four rolls to act as turrets. If you do design the castle with more complexity, consider:
   • Creating turret templates that are cut out separately and can stand alone (use small cardboard pieces to slide through slits made at the base of each turret piece).
   • Creating walls with the traditional rampart design.
   • Adding a moat around the castle.
   • Making one central tall tower for the prince or princess to be stuck in, with a window for the unfortunate royal to stare through.
3. Set the cardboard pieces in place. In the case of the simple design used here, this is simply a case of attaching the four long rolls to each corner of the photocopy paper box (don't physically attach them yet––this gets done later.)
   
   
   • At this stage, also cut the ramparts (defensive wall layout). It's usually as simple as cutting evenly spaced squares right the way around the top of the box (which will be the top of the castle's walls). It's recommended that you use a ruler and measure the square spaces evenly to avoid a lopsided wall look (unless your castle owner happens to be a bit drunk or a pirate).
4. Cover the entire castle and pieces to be attached in foil. This will get rid of the cardboard look and it will create the smooth, shiny surface underneath the wall board you'll add next. At this stage, the castle should be feeling very solid.
   
   
5. Cover each wall of the box with Bristol board in suitable castle colors. The best choices for a castle tend to be gray or silver, as this gives the impression of weathering stone typically seen on castles. Of course, if you'd prefer a pink castle, that's your prerogative!
   • Once you've measured and cut out each wall shape, draw some old fashioned stone- and brickwork on each wall using a black marker (such as a Sharpie) to increase the effect of dimension and castle-ness.
   • Then, glue on the front wall (the side you'll see) to the base, followed by the other walls.
     
     
6. Attach any pieces to the walls that haven't yet formed part of the castle. In the case of this simple castle, this means gluing or taping the turrets on each corner onto the castle walls. You may need to cut slits in items such as turrets, to make sure they fit well. If inserting pieces into the middle of the box, be sure to attach them firmly to the base of the box so that they don't lean or tip out when the castle is moved.
   
   
7. Cut a piece of blue Bristol board into a square-ish shape that is larger than the castle and gives the appearance of a lake or moat surrounding the castle. This will provide the water effect for the castle.
   
   
8. Build the castle bridge. Use a small piece of black cardboard for the appearance of space going into the castle and glue it to the front wall. Then cut another piece in exactly the same shape as the door piece but in a different color (here brown was used) that will form the bridge. Place this flat down in front of the door space. Then, attach a piece of string to each side of the door and glue to just underneath the bridge on each side, to give the effect of the chains used to draw up the bridge.
   
   
9. Add anything else that you think completes the castle's overall appearance. In this case, the turrets have been finished with roofs and flags and some banners have been hung from the ramparts.
   
   
   • To make turret roofs, simply make cones from paper in the correct width and glue into place over the top of each turret tube.

• When wrapping the boxes in tinfoil, use very large pieces, not tiny little pieces. This will make it much easier to achieve the needed evenness. You might need someone to assist you at this stage.
• You don't need to use a hot glue gun––just use really good glue or strong tape.
• If making a cardboard castle with a little child, have him or her decorate the castle once you've done most of the hard work assembling it. Your child will get a lot of amusement out of making the castle look better.
• Recycle everything––this project should be easy to make from stuff around the house or things not wanted in the office.

• If you have any raw pieces of cardboard (i.e., not covered in foil), it's not recommended to paint them as they risk turning soggy––only use markers on such pieces.
• Young children must be supervised when using sharp items such as scissors.

• Scrap cardboard box
• Scrap cardboard pieces
• Scrap paper
• Bristol board or strong cardboard, in suitable colors
• Scissors or craft knife
• Glue and/or tape
• Markers
• Any other decorative items you can find in your bits and pieces box, for example, rhinestones, sequins, buttons, rick-rack, etc.