Home | Leisure | Holiday Crafts & Activities | Christmas Crafts | How to Use a Cardboard Box As a Sleigh

How to Use a Cardboard Box As a Sleigh

by Ann Hudson

Overview

With a little creative cutting, a simple tissue box can be converted into a tabletop Christmas sleigh for the holidays. The long shape of the box translates well into a decorative sleigh that can be used as a centerpiece or holiday accent. Supplies for this project are inexpensive items found around the home. Since this craft is so simple to make, it also offers an excellent opportunity for a little handcrafted fun with the children in your life.
Making the sleigh

Step 1

Measure one inch from the bottom of the box using the ruler. Mark this measurement at three inch intervals along all four sides of the box. Draw a straight line with the ruler around all sides of the box, making sure that the straight line corresponds with these marks.
Step 2

Lay the box flat on one of the two largest sides. Using a paper plate as a pattern, draw a curved line from the upper left corner to the straight line that you just drew around the box.. The best way to do this is to place the paper plate on top of the box with one edge of the paper plate touching the straight line and the other edge touching the upper left corner. Trace the curved edge of the paper plate until you meet the straight line. Repeat this process on the other side of the box.
Step 3

Carefully cut the box into two clean pieces. Start by cutting along the straight line until you meet one of the curved lines. Cut up the curved line all the way to the top left corner of the box. Now cut across the top edge of the box over to the curved line on the other side. Cut along the curved line until you hit the straight line. Now cut along the straight line until the box is cut in two. The bottom of the box should look like the letter "L" with a curved angle rather than a straight right angle. The top of the box should have the appearance of a rounded wedge.
Step 4

The top of the tissue box will serve as the runners for the sleigh, but you will need to cut away an inch all the way around the bottom of this section to achieve the correct proportions. Be sure to follow the shape of this section as you cut, retaining both straight and curved lines.
Step 5

Wrap both box sections in Christmas gift wrapping paper using the clear cellophane tape.
Step 6

Join these two sections by putting what was once the top of the tissue box next to what was once the bottom of the tissue box. Make sure that the curved part of the wedged piece is facing toward the front of the sleigh. Hot glue these two pieces together.
Step 7

Wrap the jewelry gift boxes in Christmas gift wrap. Place the wrapped boxes inside the sleigh, one toward the front and one toward the back. Hot glue these boxes in place to represent the seats of the sleigh.

2
Empty, rectangular 160 count tissue box Paper plate Hot glue gun Ruler Christmas gift wrapping paper Clear cellophane tape 2 empty jewelry gift boxes that measure approximately 2 by 5 inches.
Empty, rectangular 160 count tissue box
Paper plate
Hot glue gun
Ruler
Christmas gift wrapping paper
Clear cellophane tape
2 empty jewelry gift boxes that measure approximately 2 by 5 inches.
Feel free to embellish the sleigh with decorative trims such as ribbons, ric-rac, beading, or stickers.
Feel free to embellish the sleigh with decorative trims such as ribbons, ric-rac, beading, or stickers.
If you are doing this project with a child, make sure that the adult does all of the hot gluing.
If you are doing this project with a child, make sure that the adult does all of the hot gluing.