Cardboard Projects for Kids . Kids Paint Chalk and Pastel Projects . Small World Play . STEAM Learning . Summer Activities for Kids . Valentines Day Crafts for Kids
Make Recycled Cardboard Love Shacks
Amanda Eldridge
‘Tis the season of luuuuv and have I got a sweetly spontaneous recycled art project for you today!
These little recycled cardboard love shacks are an artful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and don’t require more than a few ordinary household supplies. As part of our 100 Little Homes project, they’re meant to create an opportunity for kids to try simple construction and encourage unconstrained exploration of media.
And here’s the real beauty of this architectural kids’ craft…from artists like Elena Climent and Beverly Buchanan to Eric Cremers, this project offers an introduction to the processes and purposes of artistic greats you may not be as familiar with!
Raising a young architect, engineer, or designer-in-training? Grab our printable drafting kit for kids so your little ones can practice creating like the pros! Then head over to our mini ice shanty kids winter STEAM challenge for a different take on these cardboard structures!
To make your own cardboard love shacks you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- A cardboard box or cardboard scraps
- Scissors
- Acrylic or tempera paint and paintbrush
- A hot glue gun or craft glue
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Our Printable Cardboard Structure STEAM Challenge Kit
- Chalk pastels
- Craft dowels or balsa wood rods
- Masking tape
- Other decorative craft items
How to Make Recycled Cardboard Love Shacks – DIY Instructions:
Cut a long rectangle from a piece of cardboard.
We cut out a 10-inch tall by 24-inch wide piece of cardboard from a large box we had broken down. 
Need a bit of guidance? I’ve created a cardboard structure STEAM building challenge that includes plans you can use to easily create a variety of small, simple buildings. Just download, print, and start cutting using my tested measurements!
Cut the top of your rectangle to create an angle.
Optional: Using scissors or a utility knife, cut a strip off the top of your cardboard rectangle at an angle so one side is longer than the other. This will allow the roof of your shack to sit at an angle like a lean-to.
Fold to make the simple 3-sided base structure.
Crease and fold your rectangle into three equal sides to create the main base of your love shack.
Cut out a simple cardboard rectangle for the roof.
Cut another square or rectangular piece of cardboard for your roof. You want to ensure it’s a bit longer on every side so there’s a little overhang.
Affix the roof onto the structure.
Using a glue gun or similar, glue the roof to the top of your cardboard love shack base.
Add color and texture with paint and other mediums.
Use acrylic or tempera paint (or similar) to paint any way you choose! You can paint the walls a flat color, or create patchworks of painted + chalked areas as we did.
Add texture with ripped pieces of paper or cardboard that have been torn to show the corrugation.
Add details and decoration (like our swinging door and flag).
Make your mini love shack your own signature work of art by adding a few personal details.
We cut a square out of cardboard, used masking tape to attach it to the front opening, and glued on a painted cardboard heart for a sweet, swinging entry.
For a festive flag like ours, cut a basic triangle out of cardboard, paint, add a painted or sticker heart, then glue to a balsa or craft wood dowel.
There are so many ways these cardboard lean-to structures can be integrated into larger lessons for kids – from architecture to local historical research – even color theory!
You can make a whole set of these for a love shack neighborhood (wouldn’t they look great on a beachy set up with sand and some of our scrape paint surfboards?). It would make a wonderful class project, with collections that could be displayed at end-of-year shows and fairs.
For some musical inspiration while you craft, queue up our (kid-friendly!) love-inspired playlist on Spotify!
More Cardboard Building Projects for Kids
If these cardboard houses set your heart a flutter, you might also like our cardboard sandcastle craft, cardboard DIY castle building blocks, cardboard city neighborhood project (all great ways to use up a cardboard box!).
Be sure to check out our 100 Little Homes STEAM-Building Challenge as well!
For more Valentine’s Day art ideas, try making these mixed media market bouquet cards, or visit the simple tutorial for our recycled art heart pennant pins.
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
