How to Make a Cardboard Phone

Cut a piece of cardboard from the box roughly 40 by 40 inches or less for the bottom of the phone's base. Cut front and back pieces for the base, making sure the bottom and left sides remain square. Each piece should be less than 12 inches by 11 inches, sloping into a triangle at the top.

Cut about 1 1/2 inches off of the triangular top leaving the diagonal sides intact. The front and back pieces should resemble each other.

Cut out two rectangular strips of cardboard to fit between the front and back of the base. The two strips, 7 inches wide by 11 inches high, should each fold in the middle and follow the diagonals created by the front and back.

Adhere the pieces with Scotch tape, making sure the ends meet to form 90-degree angles. The base should begin to look three-dimensional, similar to a cube.

Cut out a strip of cardboard roughly 1 inch by 2 inches and tape it to seal off the open space at the top of the base where the sides meet. Apply tape to hold it firmly in place.

Cut out two circular pieces of cardboard 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Cut out 12 identical holes around the inside perimeter to simulate the holes found on a rotary style telephone dial.

Line up the second circle and place it beneath the first. Write the numbers inside the 12 holes with the Sharpie, starting with 1 at the top and continuing all the way to 0 at the bottom.

Attach the two circles at the center by puncturing a small flat thumbtack through both. Flip over the circles to make sure the tack goes through both pieces.

Place a small dab of super glue to hold the thumbtack in place. Allow a few minutes for the glue to dry before resting the dialing pad on its back.

Apply four more dabs of super glue to the back of the dialing pad. Affix it to the front base of the telephone and allow up to 10 minutes for it to dry.

Cut out two T-shaped pieces of cardboard and tape them firmly to the top right and left of the base to act as receiver hooks.

Cut out two bracket-shaped pieces about 2 inches by 12 inches for the receiver.

Cut a strip of cardboard 2 inches by 12 inches. Fit it between the front and back of the receiver pieces, with each side meeting to create a series of 90-degree angles.

Carefully tape the pieces of the receiver together.

Create a series of holes with a ballpoint pen into the microphone areas for the mouthpiece and earpiece. Line up each hole with the next, creating a 12-by-12 grid of evenly spaced holes.

Rest the receiver on top of the hooks and use two modest dabs of super glue to securely link the phone cord between the ends of base and the receiver.