How to Make a Castle out of Cardboard (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

For castle fans, making a cardboard castle can be a fun project. You can recycle used cardboard to make a medieval fort as part of a school project or to please the kids. This project provides an opportunity for you to channel your creativity while being environmentally friendly.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Creating a Castle Model

Step 1. Find the right cardboard box

Cardboard that is strong and has a stable shape is the best choice. A good example is cardboard used for printing paper. A cereal box, tissue box, or shoe box can also be good choices. You'll also need to collect four rolls of cardboard, such as a roll of toilet paper or kitchen paper, depending on the size of the castle you want to build.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 2

Step 2. Determine your castle model

Look at photos or illustrations of real castles for inspiration and draw designs on a piece of paper. In this article, the design of the castle used is very simple, consisting of only four walls with traditional fortifications, and four cardboard rolls that will serve as towers. After that, you will add a moat around the castle. If you want to design a more complex castle, consider:

Create a tower that is separate and can stand alone.
Make a central tower where the prince or princess is confined, with windows so the poor noble can see out.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 3

Step 3. Arrange the boxes to get an idea of the shape of the castle

Place the cardboard on the work area, then arrange the four long rollers on each corner of the cardboard (don't use adhesive to stick it, you'll do that later). Evaluate the size of the tower with the cardboard that will be the main castle. Adjust the tower size if necessary.

If you want a taller tower, choose a longer roller, such as a paper towel roll or plastic wrap roll.
If you prefer a shorter tower, you can simply cut the roller to the desired size. Make sure all four rollers are the same length.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 4

Step 4. Cut the bastion pattern on the top of the cardboard

Fortifications were walls that surrounded the castle and were usually rectangular in shape alternating with open spaces of equal size. Use a ruler to measure and pattern evenly spaced squares across the top of the cardboard. Use the scissors to cut out square shapes that represent open spaces to create the castle fortress walls.

Another option is to cut out a square shape on a piece of cardboard and use it to create a pattern around the cardboard.
Try to make a square shape that fits snugly around the cardboard at equal distances.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 5

Step 5. Draw the stone pattern on a large sheet of aluminum foil

Measure the sheet of aluminum foil so that it covers the entire fort wall. Spread a sheet of foil over the work area and draw a pattern of alternating stones using a black permanent marker.

To do this, start at the bottom and draw squares of the same size, all connected together, along the bottom of the aluminum foil.
To create the next row of stones on top of the first row, start at the midpoint of the first square in the bottom row and draw squares that cover half of the stones to the left and right of the first row.
Continue drawing stones following this pattern until you reach the top.
If you want a darker castle look, you can use Bristol Board or gray or brown craft paper.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 6

Step 6. Cover the entire castle with decorated aluminum foil

That way, the castle won't look like cardboard. In addition, the surface of the castle will be smoother and shiny. Apply a small amount of craft glue to the cardboard and attach the foil to each wall and around the tower. The walls will be covered with foil, both front and back.

Fold the excess aluminum foil over the top of the wall to cover the exposed cardboard.
Gather the foil at the top of the tower to cover the top hole of the roller.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 7

Step 7. Glue the towers to the corners of the castle walls

Measure the height of the corner of the wall. Use a pencil to draw a line on the side of the tower that is the same size as the corner of the castle wall. Start at the bottom and draw a line to the top of the tower. Use scissors to make incisions in a line along the tower wall. Apply glue on the surface of the incision. Pin each tower to the corner of the cardboard. Press and hold the glue-smeared incision into the corner of the castle and wait for the glue to adhere to the wall.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 8

Step 8. Make a moat around the castle

Cut a piece of Bristol Board or craft paper into a square with rounded edges. Make sure it's bigger than the castle so it looks like a lake or moat surrounding the castle. The reflection of the aluminum foil will give an interesting water effect.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 9

Step 9. Build the castle bridge

Cut the black craft paper into small squares with a rounded top to give the illusion of space leading into the castle. Then use the black door to make the same pattern on brown paper or cardboard, then cut out the paper to form a bridge. Glue black strips of paper to the front of the castle walls to create the door. Place the strips of brown paper horizontally in front of the door, then glue them to the trench.

Measure the paper so that it is long enough to pass through the trench.
To create a lift bridge effect, attach a piece of string to each of the top sides of the black door. Glue the other end of the thread to the top of the bridge on each side. This will create the illusion of a chain being used to lift the bridge.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 10

Step 10. Add any other decorations that you think can complement the overall appearance of the castle

In this case, you can make a roof for the tower with flags or banners hanging on the fortifications.

To make a tower roof, you just need to form a cone out of paper of the right width and glue it on top of each tower.
Make medieval flags and banners out of craft paper and glue them to toothpicks to make flags that can be affixed to the tower's roof. You can also glue the banner at the top of the front of the fort, above the door.

Method 2 of 2: Creating a Castle to Play

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 11

Step 1. Use a large cardboard box

The best options are cardboard cabinets or cardboard refrigerators. You'll need a box big enough for the kids to crawl in and play inside.

You can buy cardboard cabinets from companies that offer moving services.
You may be able to get free cardboard from a local store that sells household goods.
To create multiple spaces or floors within the castle, choose cardboard of various shapes and sizes. A cardboard washer or dryer is also suitable for this project.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 12

Step 2. Reinforce the cardboard with tape

Place the cardboard with the top flap in a standing position. Glue the tape to the corners of the inner cardboard flaps using duct tape. This step will make the cardboard taller with an opening at the top of the cardboard.

If you want to add fun colors to the cardboard, use colored tape, such as painter's tape, on the outer corners of the cardboard. Consider creating a rock effect on the outside of the cardboard using the same tape

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 13

Step 3. Create a bulwark effect along the top of the cardboard

Measure the top of one side of the cardboard from one corner to the other. Divide this length by an even number, such as 12 or 8. Use a ruler to measure and draw a box the length and width you calculated, starting with one of the corners at the top of the cardboard. Take a cutting tool to cut out this box shape. You will use it as a template.

If the cardboard is 60x60x60 cm and you divide it by 10, your box template will be 6 cm.
Place the template next to the hole in the top of the cardboard. Align the edges of the template with one side of the hole.
Mark the other side of the template on the top of the cardboard, then move the template around, aligning it with the newly created line. Finish making the square pattern, then cut it out.
Repeat this process to create a grid pattern around the top of the cardboard, alternating between the box and the open section creating a fortification effect.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 14

Step 4. Create a window

Draw a window at the top left of the castle. You need to make a thin square with a rounded top. The size of the window should be wide enough so that the child can see outside. Cut the window using the cutting tool.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 15

Step 5. Make the door

At the bottom left of the cardboard, draw a square with a rounded top. The door should be bigger than the window and wide enough for the child to crawl in. Cut off the door with a cutting tool, but you only need to cut the sides and top, while the bottom remains on the cardboard.

Be careful not to damage the door when cutting it. This door will be your lift bridge

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 16

Step 6. Connect the lift bridge

Use a drill or screwdriver to make two holes in the cardboard, one on each side of the top of the door. Thread a nylon string through these holes from front to back, then tie a knot on the inside of the cardboard. Make two more holes on either side of the lift bridge you just cut. Thread the other end of the rope through this hole and tie a knot where it touches the ground to keep the rope from coming loose.

You can strengthen these holes by gluing tape along the edges. That way, this area will be more durable.
The child can raise and lower the lift bridge by pulling the knot from the box.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 17

Step 7. Draw details around the windows and doors

Use a large marker or paint to draw a keystone over the arch of the door. The shape is a rectangle slightly larger than a square box, with two sides extending at certain angles. That way, the top side will be slightly larger than the bottom. You can make this top side slightly curved.

Use this first coverstone to draw a similar rectangle over the arch to the bottom of the door. Repeat the same process on the other side.
Use the same technique to create details around the window. You can also draw a box along the bottom of the window. It's roughly the same size as the rectangle you drew earlier.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 18

Step 8. Decorate the castle walls

Use heavy paint or permanent marker to draw a stone pattern on the cardboard wall. Start by drawing a horizontal rectangle at the bottom of the cardboard and joining it with another rectangle of the same size around the bottom of the cardboard.

To draw a second rock layer, start at the midpoint of one of the rectangles and draw a line up from there to create the sides of the rectangle and start the second rock layer. The other side must be pulled from the center of the next stone on the bottom layer. Connect the two sides with the horizontal line at the top.
Repeat this technique until you have drawn a stone pattern all over the castle walls.
This step can be a great opportunity to get the kids involved. You can also draw a line with a pencil and ask the children to bold it with marker or paint.

Build a Castle out of Cardboard Boxes Step 19

Step 9. Enlarge the castle

If you want to make a larger castle, attach another cardboard to the main cardboard. Use a cardboard that is smaller than the first cardboard and align it next to the main cardboard and make a square pattern according to the size of the cardboard where you will join the two. Cut the squares following the lines you drew on the main cardboard. Insert the flap on one end of the new cardboard through the hole and secure it inside the main box using masking tape to keep it from sliding.

Continue your work adding windows, details and drawing stone patterns on each new piece added to the castle

Tips

When lining cardboard with aluminum foil, use very large sheets, not small sheets. This will make it easier for you to get a more even result. You may need someone else's help to do this step.
No need to use new cardboard. You can recycle used cardboard.
You don't need to use hot glue. Just use really good glue or strong tape.
Recycle everything. This project should be easy to make using items you have at home or items you no longer use in the office.
If you're building a castle with a young child, give him or her the task of decorating the castle after you've completed the difficult assembly parts. Children will feel happy given the opportunity to make the castle look more attractive.
You can use real flags or make one with a toothpick and a piece of paper.

Warning

If you have plain cardboard (not coated with aluminum foil), painting it is not recommended as the cardboard can get too wet. Better to just use a marker.
Young children should be supervised when using sharp objects such as scissors.