Christmas is the perfect time to set free your creative side, and what better way to do that than with cardboard? It’s eco-friendly, affordable, and surprisingly versatile. Whether you’re decking the halls or crafting with the kids, here are ten ideas we love at Ribble Packaging to inspire you this Christmas.
1. Cardboard Christmas Tree
Who says trees have to be green and covered in pine needles? Create a modest tree with layered cardboard cutouts. Paint it in festive colours or leave it natural.
2. Reindeer Decoration
Bring a bit of the North Pole to your home by crafting a cardboard reindeer. Again, this can be done with cardboard cutouts and a little bit of glue. These festive friends set the mood perfectly and could be set around the house or even centre stage on the dining table.
3. DIY Baubles
I think we can all agree baubles are getting expensive, so why not turn cardboard into custom baubles that are light and unbreakable. Cut out circles, decorate them with glitter, paint, or wrap them in scraps of festive wrapping paper and string.
Tip: Add a loop of string and use them as creative gift tags.
4. Cardboard Wreath
Why settle for the usual greenery when you can make a cardboard wreath? Layer rings of cardboard to form a sturdy base, then decorate with ribbons, holly cut-outs, or anything you wish.
5. Christmas Advent Calendar
Make the countdown to Christmas even more exciting with a festive advent calendar. Use cardboard mini boxes to create 24 little compartments and fill with your favourite treats.
6. Custom Christmas Decorations
This one’s a classic, and you probably have all the materials lying around already. Painted toilet rolls are easy to create and can be placed all over the house for that extra holiday flair.
7. Cosy Fireplace
Nothing says Christmas like a roaring fire… except, of course, a cardboard one. Build a fireplace as a focal point for your living room, complete with ‘logs’ and ‘flames.’
8. House Decorations
Deck the halls and the walls with cardboard chains, icicles, and maybe even a full-size snowman. We’ll leave this one to your imagination. Here’s one of our favourites, a lovely gingerbread-inspired town.
9. Charming Ornaments
Create cardboard ornaments like stars, angels, or bells to bring a festive charm to your home. Perfect for hanging in windows or around door frames.
10. Kids’ Gift Ideas
Skip the toy aisle and help kids craft their own. Large cardboard pieces often found in the aftermath of Christmas packaging are perfect for building bigger, more imaginative creations like race cars, boat or planes. Cut, paint, and decorate until it becomes a fully functioning toy, and then let the little ones (or big ones) enjoy hours of fun.
Christmas crafting with cardboard is not only fun but also helps reduce waste during the festive season. So grab your scissors, rally the family, and let the creativity flow. Merry Cardboard Christmas one and all!