Home > Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids > Crafts with Boxes > Oatmeal Boxes Crafts for Children
I love a good bowl of oatmeal...the kind with brown sugar and raisins it. Mmm...mmm...Yum. You can get oatmeal in packets...the kind that you need to pour boiling hot water in to. Or you can buy oatmeal in a cylinder box...the brand known for this is Quaker Oat, but they also sell it as Quick Oats if you buy the generic brand. The cardboard oatmeal containers are what we will be using for the crafts that are found on this page. You can use these to make lots of different things, such as purses, tall hats, drums, planetariums, baby doll cradles, and much much more. Find some creative ideas below have have a great time crafting!
This pretend fish tank makes a nice toy for the little ones, and it is a good project for 7 and 8 year olds to make. Take an empty Quaker Oats Oatmeal box. Cut out a section as shown in the picture above...making sure to ask your parents to help if it is too difficult to cut yourself. Color or paint the inside of the box a sea-green to resemble water. Cover the outside with construction paper, cut to fit, and fasten on with clear tape.
Draw a fish about 2 inches long on heavy cardboard. Color this and cut it out. Punch a tiny hole on the top of your fish—in the middle of his back. Run a piece of string through this hole. Punch another hole in the center of the lid of the tank. Run the string up through this hole and tie it around a small stick—a wooden matchstick or a toothpick. The string should be long enough so that the fish hangs about 2 inches from the bottom of the tank. Cover the section that was cut out with clear cellophane (from packaging of napkins or other packaging cellophane), plastic, or saran wrap. Cut it the right size to cover the opening and fasten it down on both sides with clear tape. Put on the lid, and Mr. Fish can swim happily in his tank. He can be moved up and down by grasping the little stick on top.
Drums are a lot of fun and so is pretending being a drummer boy in a marching band. Take an empty rolled oats, oatmeal box. Then have your Mom or Dad tie a string in the top and bottom of the container so that it can go over your head. It should be long enough that it is at about your waist level. You can decorate the drum with red, white, and blue...or any style that you want. Use wooden spoons to beat each side of the drum while you march.
Get an oatmeal container and take off of its lid. Wrap and glue decorative paper around the box. Do the same for the lid. Have one of your parents help you poke holes in the plastic cap. Cut drinking straws in different lengths. Get colored paper and cut out flower shapes, as pictured above. Glue these to the tops of the straws. Fill the box with cookies or candies. Put the lid on and then stick the straw flowers into the holes. Now you have a candy or cookie bok flower garden gift to give somebody special.
This is an interesting as well as educational project, that will teach you something about the wonders of astronomy. Remove the cover from the oatmeal box. On the outside of the cover in the center, sketch some of the common constellations with a pencil. Make sure to keep the sketch in the center of the cover; otherwise it will not work. Punch out the various "stars" in the system, as in illustration A. Cut out the bottom of the oatmeal box. Replace the cover on the box. To see the planetary system, place a flashlight at a slant inside the box, and point the box at the ceiling, in a darkened room, as in illustration B. The stars will be projected on the ceiling, as in illustration C.
Gather the following items ... a rolled oats box, wallpaper or decorative paper or paint or pictures, glue, brush, 15" piece of lightweight rope, 3 paper hole reinforcement stickers, and scissors. Cover rolled oats box and lid with wallpaper or pictures or paint. If painted, press individual pictures onto wet paint. Cut one small round hole in center of lid and on opposite sides of box about 2" from top. Paste sticker reinforcements over holes on inside of box to strengthen them. Make rope handle by putting rope through holes and tying knots inside of box. Yarn is placed inside box and one end drawn through hole in lid before knitting is begun. Or, foil designs may be glued to painted box.
How to Make Oatmeal Containers Baby Doll Cradles Craft for Kids - If you make a little cradle like this for your favorite doll, you can be sure she won’t disturb you during the night with her crying. This oatmeal container / box cradle is very easy to make and it really turns out great.
Make a Rolling Noise Toy with Rolled Oats Box - Learn how to make this toy for your litte sister or brother.
How to Make Oatmeal Container Hat - Learn how to make Abe Lincoln's hat with an oatmeal container and a paper plate.
Make Oatmeal Box Cases or Totes - These Decorated Totes are amazing and will keep all of your special items in one place.
Hand Puppets with Moving Mouths - This hand puppet is made with rolled oats (oatmeal) boxes or ice cream containers. These puppets turn out so well that people will think you bought them. Find out how to make them with the following instructions.
Oatmeal Box Rocking Horse for Your Doll - Even dolls get bored, make this rocking horse out of an oatmeal container, cardboard, a mail tube, ribbon, and a few other items.
Oatmeal Box Elephants - Make an elephant out of oatmeal box cylinders, wallpaper or wrapping paper, newspaper, felt, buttons, and yarn.
Oatmeal Container Uncle Sam's Hat - Show your patriotism towards American by making these Uncle Sam hats from cylinder oatmeal boxes.
Oatmeal Box Fabric Bags - Use fabric, oatmeal containers, and some cardboard.
Oatmeal Castle Towers - Make a really cool medieval castle with a few oatmeal containers and some creativity.
Desk Trashcan - Use an oatmeal box to make a beautiful waste basket for your desk..stay organized.
Oatmeal Container Sewing Bag & Pin Cushion - Make this sewing box / bag and pin cushion for mom or grandma.
4th
Of July Windsock - Show your patriotism with this easy to do craft project.
Asian
Lantern - Asian lanterns add a touch of ethnic flair to a party or can be
used to decorate a patio or room.
Bedroom
Planetarium - Help your first grader learn to recognize constellation with this
fun and easy activity. Then, on the next clear night, take a walk
and see if he can find them in the sky!
Can
Easter Basket - These are made from concentrated juice cans or round oatmeal
containers cut in half and then decorated with wrapping paper or
fabric. These little baskets can be filled with Easter grass and candy, or small
toys. You can also use them for fresh or silk flowers.
Civil
War Drum - While today’s children may enjoy staging mock battles,
warfare was no game during the 1860’s. Nine-year-old John
Lincoln Clem survived two wounds and Confederate imprisonment to
become the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. Like
Clem, most boys started as drummers, calling soldiers to meals,
waking them in the morning, and rallying them for marches. You can
make a Civil War style drum, too.
Crayon
School Box – This is something you don’t get to see everyday. This
art craft organizer/container will make tidying up your children’s
things not a chore but a fun activity instead. You also get to choose
your favorite color in designing this kid’s craft item.
Decoupage
Patchwork Container - Recycle
a drink crystals container, or similar cardboard or plastic tube
container, by decorating with decoupage patchwork.
Easter
Bunny Container - This craft project aims to teach families how to make crafts out of
everyday household items.
Fabric
Covered Canister - Part of my journey to a nearly-free craft room makeover includes
making fabulous storage solutions from repurposed containers.
Fourth
of July Patriotic Streamer - This
Fourth of July, you and your child can make your very own patriotic
decorations to display in your home. These streamers are fun
and festive and they couldn't be simpler to make. This activity
even has a "green" twist, so that you and your family can
celebrate the holiday in an eco-friendly way!
Here
I Come Drum - March
and dance all day with this easy-to-make oatmeal box drum. Young
children love this simple music-making craft!
Mini
Golf - Create a mini golf course for your father out of cast-aside home
items. Using your imagination, you'll create a challenging backyard
courses that will make you the envy of the neighborhood on Father's
Day.
Monkey
Pod Drum with Polynesian Petroglyphs – Bring a slice of Polynesian aura to your playroom with these
monkey pod inspired drum set made out of oatmeal containers. Bring
music to your home with a personal and creative touch.
Mr.
Snowman - This craft project aims to teach families how to make crafts out of
everyday household items such as discarded oatmeal containers and
some unused educational materials. This craft item would even make
for a great Christmas decorative idea.
Nature
Can - Now kids
can carry their own nature collection box, fill it with whatever they
choose and keep it or dump it as they like. These are our new Nature
Cans.
Oatmeal
Box Cradle Craft - A simple-to-make cradle made from an oatmeal box and either paper or
fabric scraps. You can use this cradle for a favorite doll or teddy
bear.
Oatmeal
Container Easter Bunny - This
cute Easter bunny is made from and oatmeal container. It would look
good as a table centerpiece or sitting on the mantle.
Oatmeal
Container Yarn Holder - Turn an
ordinary oatmeal container (or similar sized container) into a pretty
yarn holder. This makes a quick and thrifty Mother's Day gift for a
mom who crochets or knits.
Oatmeal
Witch – This is just a little something for the kids to create for
the Halloween celebration.
Paper
Mache Drums - This colorful drum kit will keep the kids entertained on any boring
day. Give it a try and use some creativity in the making process.
Patriotic
Streamers - This Fourth of July, you and your child can make your very own
patriotic decorations to display in your home. These streamers are
fun and festive and they couldn't be simpler to make. This activity
even has a "green" twist, so that you and your family can
celebrate the holiday in an eco-friendly way!
Plastic
& Oatmeal Container Ghost - These are fun for a whole class to make. You can hang the ghosts
from the ceiling, or just let the preschoolers run around with the
ghosts “flying” behind them. At home, hang them around
your porch.
Silly
Faced Container - This craft project is to teach families how to make crafts out of
everyday household items.
Silo
Craft - This
is a simple project that makes a great toy silo that you can play
with afterwards. You can make this silo from an oatmeal box, a piece
of cardstock, scissors, and paint.
The
Space Shuttle - Houston, we are ready for lift- off! Create your own space shuttle
at a fraction of the cost from the real thing and get to enjoy this
cool piece of art craft project.
Uncle
Sam Star Toss - Use recycled oatmeal containers and bathroom tissue tubes to create
patriotic decorations AND a fun game for kids on the 4th of July.
Kids toss felt red, white and blue stars through the mouth hole of
the Uncle Sam.
Valentine's
Day Container - This Valentine’s Day container is ready to eat up lots of
Valentine’s Day cards.
Valentine
Mailbox Craft - If
you are looking for a larger valentine holder, try making our
valentine mailbox craft! This is a great Valentine's Day craft for
children of all ages and abilities. Wrapping an empty oatmeal
container with construction paper creates a blank canvas for kids to
be creative and decorate!
Also Visit Crafts with Cardboard Boxes Page ... Valentine's Day Boxes Craft Page ... Box Making Crafts Page ... Crafts with Cereal Boxes ... Crafts with Soap Boxes ... Crafts with Tissue Boxes ... Crafts with Chocolate Candy Boxes