32 Ways To Turn Egg Cartons Into Crafts For Kids

A bouquet of flowers makes a lovely gift or decoration for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, or just to say, “I love you.” With this project from The Best Ideas For Kids, your child can design and craft unique and personalized flowers as well as a craft stick vase for presenting them. And hey, there’s no reason you can’t also keep these for yourself to place on a mantel or shelf of honor. No watering required, and these flowers will never wilt!

Teach your children and students that Memorial Day can and should be more than a long weekend full of picnics and parades. Crafty Morning has an easy wreath made from egg carton poppy flowers that children can lay on the memorials of American soldiers. Or, hang them up on your front door as a tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom. This project is easy enough to require very few instructions, so it’s a perfect craft to do with an entire class or a lot of kids at home.

Feeling Van Gogh-ish? Cut up some egg cartons to make crafty sunflowers that literally pop off the page! Buggy And Buddy has the inspiration to get you started and the steps you need to follow to pull off this kid-friendly work of art. And if your children or students haven’t hit their Post-Impressionist phase yet, regular sunflowers on paper will do just fine. Turn this into a math lesson for preschoolers by asking them to make one flower, two flowers, and so on.

Why stick with one color for a flower when you can have all the colors? Click on over to I Heart Arts And Crafts to learn how to make these vibrant blossoms that are perfect for holidays, birthdays, or any time of the year you need something pretty. Arrange these into a bouquet in a simple mason jar to give as a gift or display in your home. Or, glue them to a sturdy piece of cardstock and wrap a ribbon around the stalks for a lovely work of art.

Grow a tree anytime, anywhere, with this egg carton project from Glued To My Crafts. This one is great for toddlers and preschoolers who are just starting to appreciate the natural world around them. Each tree can be designed any way the little artists like, helping them learn about the beauty of nature’s diversity; give your children or students various shades of green to use in their trees, just like real trees. To celebrate the autumn season, simply replace the green paint with oranges, yellows, and reds.

Many children will inevitably go through a hardcore dinosaur phase, and for that, you’ll want to bookmark this craft from Our Kid Things. No need to get fancy here; a few pipe cleaners and some paint will be enough for young paleontologists to invent their very own dinosaurs. Cut out egg holders singly or in pairs to make different sizes, and encourage children to draw awesome dinosaur faces. What a fun way to get kids’ imaginations going!

Whether you are observing Chinese New Year, learning about it, or you just really love dragons, I Heart Crafty Things has a fun and eye-catching egg carton dragon you can make. This craft can go as fancy and involved as you like, or stay simple for a quick take-home craft at preschool. For children and students of non-Chinese backgrounds, this craft pairs well with books like “Bringing in the New Year,” by Grace Lin, or “Lucky New Year!” by Mary Man-Kong.

When children think of sea creatures, oysters may not be high up on their lists of favorites. But after they carefully shape two egg holders into one mollusk, they’ll be excited to learn a lot more! STEAMsational has this craft that includes a pom-pom pearl inside the oyster’s mouth, which can be glued in so it doesn’t fall out, or leave it loose so that children can take it out and put it back in again. (They’ll probably invent their own game with it.)

If it’s almost Thanksgiving and you simply cannot trace your child’s hand to make a handprint turkey one more time, STEAMsational has you covered. These silly turkeys are easy to make, wonderfully colorful, and, since they are 3D, they can be used to decorate a Thanksgiving table. In fact, if you are expecting a house full of your child’s many cousins this year, why not bust out this craft to keep them busy before dinner? This way, they not only have something to keep them occupied (that isn’t video games) they have a fun craft to take home later!

At the opposite end of the seasonal spectrum (see #9, above) comes spring, and when those April showers have you and your children stuck indoors, then it’s time to get crafting. Typically Simple has a delightfully sweet baby chick craft made from egg cartons that will brighten up even the gloomiest of rainy days. Make a rainbow of chicks to remind you of the beauty to come when the rain is done. Or, use all pastel paints for some Easter chicks that can be spread out like hidden eggs around the house.

Despite their name, dragonflies are not actual dragons! They do, however, really fly, so children will have a blast making colorful wings for these popular insects. Over at Crafty Morning you’ll find a way to make radiant dragonflies out of egg cartons in whatever colors tickle your child’s fancy today. While the paint and glue dry, why not help your child learn more about these fascinating creatures with a book like, “Are You a Dragonfly?” by Judy Allen?

Don’t worry, this friendly fella doesn’t bite! He is, however, too cute not to bookmark for whenever you need ocean-themed crafts. The clever blogger at Crafts By Ria shows you how to turn the dividers of an egg carton into a cute little shark craft. So this is really a great way to upcycle, too, if you are already using the egg holders to make other projects! In a classroom, this is a nice way to introduce students to the concept of sharks as a natural part of the ecosystem, rather than the scary monsters our culture sometimes presents them to be.

There’s just something about ladybugs that fascinates children and adults alike. Maybe it’s their dots, maybe it’s that bright red color. Whatever the reason, Buggy And Buddy has a darling egg carton ladybug you can make with your children at home or students at school. This ladybug craft is ideal to make on a warm summer morning so that the paint can dry throughout the afternoon. Don’t forget to use googly eyes for this craft to make it even more fun and precious!

The Art Kit Blog has these crafty egg carton jellyfish that are just so small and adorable! With their multi-colored yarn tentacles, these can easily be hung up pretty much anywhere; hang them from a doorway for an undersea-themed party, or tape them to the wall because they are small enough to do so. For parents of a certain generation, you might notice that with those great big googly eyes, these egg carton jellyfish might also remind you of a certain Muppets creature that likes to sing, “Mna Mna!”

Not only can you make dainty whales with egg cartons, but you can make it look like water coming out of their spouts, too! Just click on over to I Heart Crafty Things to learn how. These are surprisingly easy to make, but they look fantastic. For teachers working on lessons about the ocean or various animal habitats, this project is a lovely one for children to make and take home. Who knew that kids could have their own pet whales!

“Owl” see you are having fun with this egg carton project from Glued To My Crafts! No need to get specific or correct with these owls — the more colorful you go, the better they look. This craft cleverly uses all parts of the egg carton so that you can feel good about making a “greener” project. The feathers you will use are nice and soft (and clean) so that children will enjoy touching and holding their new owl friends.

Ready to level-up your Easter crafts? Then check out this clever project from The Best Ideas For Kids! The charming little bunny faces are just the tip of the iceberg for this craft’s inventiveness: they also open up to hold tiny Easter candies, such as jellybeans or chocolate eggs. If you feel like making enough of these guys, you can hide them around the house instead of plastic eggs. Or, just paint a few and put them into your children’s Easter baskets for a delightful surprise!

Turtles have become a sort of unofficial mascot of environmentalists and eco-warriors, so this Earth Day why not make a totally “green” egg carton turtle? Thanks to Emma Owl, you can craft a turtle that is green both literally and figuratively. The generous blogger even provides a free template for the turtle’s flippers and tail that you can print out on (recycled) green paper or cardstock. While the paint dries, take your child to your local park and help clean it up in celebration of our Earth.

Anyone with children knows that unicorns are currently experiencing a magnificent renaissance in popularity with children of all genders and ages. And now, with this craft from Annie Rachelle, your leftover egg cartons can be upcycled to help you get in on the trend. These darling little unicorn heads are just perfect for party decorations, classrooms, or to tuck inside your little one’s lunchbox as a sweet surprise during the school day. If your child needs a little pick-me-up, hide a tiny treat or encouraging note underneath and leave a unicorn on their bedside table to discover in the morning. Head on over to this list to see 52 more unicorn craft ideas!

A lot of attention has been paid to the plight of honeybees lately. So if you’re looking for ways to get your children or students involved in learning about, and helping, these vital creatures, click over to Buggy And Buddy for an egg carton bee craft. The bee’s stripes will really pop by using bright yellow paint and black yarn instead of trying to paint individual stripes. The wings are simply cut out of white construction paper, making this a craft that mostly uses materials you probably have at home. While the paint dries, learn about bees with a book such as, “The Life and Times of the Honeybee,” by Charles Micucci.

As with the egg carton oyster (#8, above) and the bunnies (#17, above), this egg carton frog requires two egg holders in order to achieve the open-and-close effect. Head on over to Crafty Morning to find out all you need to make this project — it’s easier than you think! Kids will absolutely love the long red tongue sticking out, and fans of fairy tales can add a crown to the frog to make it a prince (or princess).

This gorgeous egg carton butterfly craft comes to you from the creative genius over at Crafty Morning. Set out paints in all the colors you can find so that your children or students can let their imaginations soar like a butterfly. To get the multi-colored stripe effect is much easier than it seems, and the tips on the blog will have you breezing through this project. There is a lot of paint involved with this project, so make sure you leave plenty of time for it all to dry.

It’s creepy-crawly time with this egg carton spider craft from Taryn Whiteaker! Whether for Halloween or for a lesson on insects and other backyard creatures, this eight-legged friend is destined to convert even the most terrified arachnophobe into a spider lover. And honestly, how can critters with such innocent googly eyes be of any harm to anyone? Spread these out on top of a cotton web for a spoopy Halloween decoration, or hide them in corners to startle your guests at your next party!

Want a goldfish that will last longer than the ones you win at carnivals? The Craft Train has one you can make with egg cartons! These are fantastic for classrooms: you can have each student make one for a giant class “fish tank,” or for a class discussion on pets the students may have at home. Speaking of home, if your children have been begging for a pet but you can’t seem to commit to one just yet, these look adorable in a little fishbowl with some pink pebbles and a toy castle.

Why upcycle egg cartons into one craft, when you can follow the directions at Wonderbly to make an entire fleet of vehicles? From dump trucks to firetrucks, and from helicopters to pirate ships, this clever blog will have your child zooming, flying, and sailing around the house in no time! What a wonderful way to teach your child all the wonderful things they can do without expensive, plastic, store-bought toys if they just exercise that childhood imagination. No batteries or apps necessary, and absolutely no missing parts!

Are there any little mermaids living in your house? If so, then head on over to Art Camp and bookmark this super creative mermaid craft made with egg cartons. The egg holders are shaped and painted, and once the paint dries they are stacked into a tail that looks like fish scales. The mermaid doll templates will cost a small amount of money, or if you wish, you can try tracing some by hand. Either way, the hair floating up over their heads and those arms raised in celebration will make this unlike any other mermaid craft you’ll find out there.

Need a quick (and inexpensive) (and preferably simple) mask for Halloween, Mardis Gras, Purim, or other costume event? The Pinterested Parent is here to the rescue! Using two egg holders cut out of an egg carton together, you and your child can quite easily use paint and glitter to create a one-of-a-kind mask. Poke holes for eyes, or, if you just want to make a decoration, add googly eyes. Put on some Mardi Gras beads, a Queen Esther dress, or a superhero cape, and your costume is good to go!

Fairies need homes, too. It’s a fact. So whether you are getting ready to take a hike in the woods along a fairy trail, or designing an entire fairy planned community in your backyard, you’re going to need some housing material. That’s where Creative Family Fun comes in! If these photos and directions don’t inspire you to make dainty little fairy houses out of egg cartons, then nothing will. And you absolutely should encourage your child to get as creative as possible when decorating so that the fairies will feel loved.

Perfect for the first day of school or a family trip to the apple orchard, this egg carton apple craft comes from the great site, Non-Toy Gifts. There are two kinds of apples to make: whole apples, or cored apples. Either way, you’ll need two egg holders per craft, so you’ll be using up an entire egg carton fairly quickly. Don’t forget to show your children or students how apples come in all sorts of colors, from bright red to green to golden yellow, and let them mix and match their bushels of apples!

Not all egg carton crafts have to come from the cardboard style egg cartons; some can be made from the plastic ones, like this snowman from I Heart Arts And Crafts. White egg cartons, plus white paint and bubble wrap, equals a quaint winter craft that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and a little piece of red felt all add cozy and darling touches to this project that promises to become a kid-favorite for many more winters to come.

Stack ’em up, build a castle, make a pyramid — there’s so much to do with building blocks! And now, thanks to The Pinterested Parent, you can make soft blocks that won’t hurt when they come tumbling down on little fingers and toes. Got a baby in the house, especially a new crawler? These blocks won’t hurt if they fall on soft heads. Encourage your children to help out by painting each individual egg holder a different color to make their designs a little bit more interesting. The best part of this craft is that the more egg cartons you empty in your home, the more blocks you can make for building!

Fingers tired of cutting up and shaping individual egg holders? Check out this whole-carton craft from The Imagination Tree! With their imaginations to guide them, your children or students can fill this ocean with whatever treasures they like, from leftover seashells to strips of glitter cardstocks. Draw sea creatures or use little toy ones; glue in random sequins or leaves. Have each student add something special to make a class ocean. There’s no wrong way to make this craft, which results in something your children or students will truly “treasure” for a good long time.