MILK CARTON CRAFTS FOR KIDS : Ideas for Arts & Crafts Projects and Activities with Empty Milk Cartons for Children, Teens, and Preschoolers

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Below you will find crafts with empty Milk Cartons for Kids. Here are Ideas for Cool Arts and Crafts Projects with Recycled Milk Cartons with with the following crafts ideas, instructions, patterns, and printables for Children

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How to Make Traffic Lights from Empy Milk Cartons

Here is a good toy for the kids to make, and it will be lots of fun to use in playing with their toy cars and trucks. Get a quart paper milk carton and some colored construction paper. Using a small glass or cup as a guide, draw four circles on a sheet of red paper, four on a sheet of green, and four on a sheet of yellow. Cut these out. Take a sheet of construction paper—black or some dark color—and wrap it around the carton to fit, cutting off any surplus at the bottom and fastening it firmly with clear tape. Then paste on the "lights”—red at the top, yellow in the middle, and green at the bottom. Punch a small hole in the top and run a piece of string through it. It's all ready to hang in place when they're ready to play.

Make a Milk Carton Pencil Holder for Your Desk

This is a very simple craft idea. Just clean out an empty milk carton and cut off the top of a cardboard milk or cream carton so that the lower section is about 4" high. You now have a rectangle container that is open at the top. Now you can decorate it by wrapping it with beautiful wrapping paper and attaching it with glue or tape. You can use other decorative paper or wrapping paper to cut out shapes and designs such as flowers, people, or whatever else you think would look nice on the pencil holder.

Make a Milk Carton House Trailer

You can have hours of fun with this little house trailer which you can attach to one of your toy cars. Rinse out an empty peaked-top milk container and allow it to dry thoroughly. Cut a piece of colored paper large enough to go all around the container and glue in place. You may fasten it with Scotch tape, if you prefer. Make the door, windows, and awnings of the trailer with paints or crayons. Make a hole in the center of the folded peak of the container. Pull a piece of string through the hole and "hitch" your trailer to a toy car. You may want to paint your house trailer instead of covering it with paper, if so, run your wet paint brush over a cake of soap or a piece of raw potato, before putting it into the paint. This will prevent the paint from "sliding" off the waxed surface of the milk container (you could also try putting some Elmer's glue into your paint...this works too).

Make a Toy Gas Pump with a Milk Carton

Here is a little make-believe gasoline pump to supply your toy cars and trucks with fuel before going on a trip. Rinse out an empty flat-top milk carton and allow it to dry thoroughly. Rub a wet brush on a cake of soap or on a piece of raw potato, and then dip the brush into the red paint before painting the milk carton. This will prevent the paint from "sliding" off the waxed surface of the carton. For the hose, fasten a piece of heavy cord to the side of the pump with Scotch tape. Twist a piece of tin foil around the end of the cord for the nozzle. Cut a square of white paper, and mark the sales record on it with ink. Glue it to the front of the pump. Cut 2 slits crossing each other in the middle, in the top center of the milk carton. Insert a yellow or red balloon, slightly blown up, into the slits for the trade name sign and tape it into place.

Milk Cartons Cubby Cubes

Buying a cubby cubes organizational shelf is really expensive. So don't go out and buy a new one, make one by saving your milk cartons. You might have to wait a few weeks until your family goes through enough cartons, but once they do, you won't have to work veyr hard to make one. Just glue all the milk cartons side by side, top to bottom. You can do as many rows or columns as you want. Wrap it in decorative paper or paint it by putting some glue into the paint (so that it will stick on the waxy surface. Now measure the cubicles and then cut out cardboard the same width and height . Cover wtih decorative paper or paint it. Then tape the cardboard to the top of the box so that the hinge opens and closes as you see in the picture. Lable every cube, depending on what you need to organize. You can have a latch on the cubicles by placing a loop and button or by putting magnets on there. It is up to you.

Milk Carton Flower Vase Planters

To maket his milk carton planter, you will need 1 empty milk carton, decorative paper or wallpaper, sandy soil, and a plant. Cut off carton 3" above bottom and discard top portion. Now cover outside of carton with paper, folding it inside at least 1". If wallpaper is used cut a 3" strip to fit around carton. Next, wet it with sponge and paste to planter. Put two rubber bands around it until dry. If wallpaper is used, shellac when dry. Now put some sandy soil in finished planter (to about 1/2" from top) and plant a succulent, pansy or other plant. Water plant.

More Carton Crafts Below

Make Toy Windmills from Milk Containers Craft Idea for Kids - You have probably seen a windmills before, whether you have seen them on TV, on a farm, or just passed by it when in the car. This is a very cool, working, toy windmill arts and crafts activity for kids.

Make a Pioneer's Well from a Spool and Milk Carton - Learn how to make a working water well with a recycled milk carton, spool, string, and a tac.

Milk Carton Elevators - Learn how to make a real, working elevator with an empty milk carton container.

Make a Pen and Pencil Holder from a Milk Carton - Make this pens and pencils organizational holder as a gift.

Milk Carton Toy Blocks - Learn how to make interlocking toy blocks with upcycled milk cartons.

Angel Milk Carton Container Craft for Kids - This makes a wonderful container to send home treats after a Christmas party at school, daycare or your home.

Big Rigs : Crafts with Milk Cartons - Gather up some recycled boxes and bottle caps. That’s almost all you need to make a tractor trailer than can zoom down the highway of your imagination!

Birthday Candle Bowling - Bowling game made from milk cartons.

Big Mardi Gras Dice - These dice might not roll with perfect randomness, but they sure are fun to play with! They are made from milk cartons.

Bird Feeder from Milk Carton : Bird Feeder Crafts for Children - Make a milk carton into a Birdhouse or a Bird Feeder.  The size of the opening will determine if it is suitable for a feeder or house.  This is an easy craft for kids.

Bat Cartons - This makes a wonderful container to send home treats after a Halloween party at school, day care or your home.

Car Cleanup Catcher - Stash your trash! Your car's back seat can be neat when kids decorate a milk carton to catch the clutter.

Cereal Box and Milk Carton Placemat - What goes better with cereal than milk? Transform their containers into this easy-weavy placemat. 

Covered Bridge - Step into the past—or the future. Make a model of an unusual type of bridge that’s inspired history, mystery, romance, and movies!

DIY Milk Carton Organizer Craft for Kids - Here's an easy tutorial for creating your own containers out of milk cartons. It's probably obvious, but I'll give you a quick walk through, just in case.

Dog House - Create a cool dog house from a small milk carton and paper.

Dog House for Teeny Bean Bag Animal - Paint the carton. Let dry. Decorate with pictures of Bean Bag Animals from magazines or printed from Ty's web site.

Dora’s Recycled Bird Feeder Craft - Help Dora provide a place for birds to have a snack! This birdfeeder, which is made from a milk carton, is easy to create. Your birdhouse can be as tall or short as you like.

Easter Bunny Container - This makes a wonderful container to hold Easter treats.  You can fill the whole thing with treats or stuff the bottom with shredded paper and add a few chocolate Easter eggs on top.

Frankenstein Windsock - How to Make a Frankenstein Monster Craft with a Milk Carton.

Garden Planters Milk Carton - Here’s a simple idea that also makes a great gift for moms and dads. Milk cartons are specially coated with wax that makes them water proof which makes them excellent for planters.

Gazebo Milk Carton Birdhouse – This is another great way to make use of discarded milk cartons! Just leave the cut-out portions to Mom or Dad to prevent accidents.

Halloween House - Edible house made up from milk cartons.

Haunted House - Create a small haunted house out of a milk carton.

Haunted House Treat Carrier Craft for Kids - This week's Craft of the Week is brought to us by Kathy Ross a noted craft creator and author. She has written a terrific book, Crafts for Halloween. It includes instructions for ghost necklaces, party favors, and games. Kathy's crafts are simple to do using inexpensive materials and fun for children of ALL ages. Her other craft books include Crafts for Valentine's Day, Crafts for Thanksgiving, and many, many more!

Indian Pottery - To make this craft project you will need an empty milk container.

Milk Carton House - Here's a project for your class party. Save snack time milk containers and ask parents to send in candy, frosting, and graham crackers and let the kids create!

Milk Carton Bird Feeder : Milk Carton Crafts Activities - Recycle a milk carton and make new feathered friends with this creative nature craft for kids.

Milk Carton Log Cabin - Many pioneers grew up in log cabins way back when, including some of the United States' former presidents!

Milk Carton Bird Feeder - Recycle a milk carton to make a bird feeder our feathered friends will flock to.

Milk Carton Pirate Ship - Fun pirate ship made from recycled milk cartons.

Milk Carton Traffic Light - You can turn this simple project into a stand up traffic light or a basket. 

Milk Carton Space Shuttle - Soar into space and beyond with this space shuttle created from a milk carton and other every day materials! Lots of fun! A great craft for the space enthusiast.

Milk Carton Pen Pot - Teach your kids the value of tidiness by helping them make this pen pot made out of milk carton and some old magazine cut-out.

Milk Carton Paper Model Craft - Print out and fold up your own miniature milk carton.

Milk Carton Boats - These cute boats are a fun and easy summer project even for a group of kids.

Milk Carton Dreidal - Easy to make dreidel with small milk cartons!

Milk Carton Galleon - Spanish galleon made from milk cartons.

Milk Carton Bunny - Create an adorable Easter Bunny basket from a milk carton.

Milk Carton Buildings - Create any type of building you want out of milk cartons!

Milk Carton Traffic Lights - Create a simple traffic light using a milk carton and colored construction paper.

Milk Carton Noah's Ark - This is a fun way to explore the story of Noah.  Not only does it use a common recyclable material but it will float too!

Milk Carton Cabin Craft - Build some really affordable housing!

Milk Jug Lanterns - Adults and children of all ages can find entertainment from taking old empty milk cartons and turning them into decorative lanterns.

Milk Carton House - This craft works well for a "my family", "my neighbourhood" or Little Red Riding hood (Grandma's house) theme.

Pioneer Covered Wagon - Make this miniature version of a covered wagon driven by pioneers many years ago with a milk carton.

Pumpkin Carton - This makes a wonderful container to send home treats after a Halloween party at school, day care or your home.

Reindeer Milk Carton - This makes a wonderful container to send home treats after a Christmas party at school, day care or your home.

School Bus Craft - Make this school bus out of a milk carton.

Snow Mobile - Showcase your favorite winter sports with this one-of-a-kind Snow Mobile. Recycle cardboard tubes and milk cartons into heart-warming art projects!

Simple Boats - Use a milk carton to create this sailing wonder!

Simple Bird Feeder - Welcome Feathered Friends to a real feast with this simple Bird Feeder!

Thanksgiving Blessing Boxes Craft - Creating blessing boxes to show what you are thankful for on Thanksgiving Day.

Treasure Box - This sparkling treasure box is the perfect place for you to keep your jewels.

Three Pigs House - Make this craft from the tops of milk cartons and other materials.

Up With Periscopes - "Up periscope!" You’re deep under the ocean surface in a submarine. What’s going on above you? Make your own periscope and find out!

Build A Bus - Make a bus from a milk carton.

Bike Helmet Craft - Make this pretend Bike Helmet decoration out of a milk carton.

Birdhouse - Now your kids can enjoy not only what is in the milk carton, but the carton too.

Craft Ideas Using Half Pint Milk Cartons - Answers to the question, "Does anyone have any craft ideas using those half pint milk cartons?"

Crayon Candles - Instructions to make a candle out of crayons and a milk carton, submitted by Nicki.

Fire Truck Craft - Make this Fire Truck out of a milk carton.

Milk Carton Bird House - Here is a arts and crafts project for you and your child to do that is out of a paper milk carton to create a bird house.

Milk Carton Buildings - Use milk cartons to make your own cardboard town.

Milk Carton Party Bags - Easy party bag craft made from milk cartons.

Milk Carton Pirate Ship - This is a really cool pirate ship made from milk cartons.

Milk Carton Spanish Galleon - This is also a really cool ship.

Milk Carton Birdhouse - Make a birdhouse from milk cartons.

Milk Carton Bowling - Now you can sharpen your bowling skills at home with your own bowling practice set made from milk cartons.

Milk Carton Turkey Basket - Make a turkey basket from milk cartons.

Paper Dreidel Crafts - This paper dreidel is great to use as a Hanukkah decoration or a holiday toy. The rules for playing dreidel are listed below.

Simple Spinning Dreidels Crafts Project - Create these fun spinning dreidels with ease. To make these dreidels you will need pencils, glue, paint and paintbrushes, and small clean milk cartons.

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