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How to Make a Cardboard Boxcar

With a little imagination and creativity, an empty cardboard box can easily be turned into a box car. No special tools are necessary, as it can be made with everyday items already in your home. Not only is it inexpensive and easy to do, but making one can be fun for people of any age.

Things You'll Need

Cardboard box
Scissors
Markers
Craft paint
Small paint brushes
Construction paper
Glue
Paper plates

Instructions

- 1
  
  You will need to start with a large box. The bigger the better.
  
  Make sure that you have all of the tools necessary to perform the craft project. Before working with the box itself, take the four paper plates and your black marker and create tires for the vehicle. You can do this by drawing a hubcap in the middle of each paper plate.
- 2
  
  Use scissors to cut out pretend doors.
  
  Turn the box onto its side. Use scissors to make a cut in the shape of a rectangle on the side of the box. Turn the box over onto the other side and make another cut in the same shape. These cut outs will represent the doors on your box car, so be sure that you make smooth, even cuts.
- 3
  Draw on details. Using a black marker or any color of your choice, draw lines on the front of the box representing the car's hood. Then on the back of the box, draw additional lines in the shape of a trunk. Get creative by drawing on hood emblems or keyholes.
- 4
  Create windshields. Separate the closed flaps on the box, then pull them upward for use as windshields. Using your black marker, draw on "windshield wipers."
- 5
  Add detail to the car. Using your scissors and different colors of construction paper, cut out and glue on racing stripes or other designs of your choice. Using paint, create a personalized license plate on the front of the box car. Then take the four tires that you created with the paper plates and glue them onto the car.
- 6
  Allow paint and glue to dry.

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