Easter is coming, which means baskets, bunnies, and ALL the candy. If your house is anything like mine, you’re probably drowning in cardboard boxes from various deliveries (thank you, online shopping). Instead of tossing them like my husband begs me to do, why not turn them into fun, easy, and totally free Easter crafts?
There’s a REASON I hang on to all these cardboard boxes, honey.
Upcycling cardboard is eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and a perfect way to keep kids entertained without resorting to another round of Frozen on repeat. Reusing cardboard boxes benefits the environment, something you can feel good about on top of enjoying some crafty fun! These projects are simple, festive, and make Easter just a little more creative (and sustainable).
Egg-cellent Easter Baskets
Why buy an expensive Easter basket when you can make your own for free?
✔ Grab a sturdy cardboard box and cut out a basic basket shape—handle optional, but highly recommended if you want to avoid kids dropping jellybeans everywhere.
✔ Decorate with whatever you have on hand—paint, markers, stickers, or Easter printables for a polished look.
✔ For an extra festive touch, glue on ribbons, pom-poms, or cutout bunny shapes.
Use these baskets for Easter egg hunts, candy storage, or gifting small treats. Bonus: no cheap plastic baskets cluttering your house afterward.
Bunny Masks & Hopping Toys
If your kids love dress-up (or you just want adorable Easter photos), a DIY bunny mask is the way to go.
✔ Cut a basic mask shape out of a flattened cardboard box.
✔ Add long bunny ears and let the kids go wild decorating with paint, crayons, or cotton balls for a fluffy effect.
✔ Punch holes on the sides, attach string or elastic, and voilà—instant bunny disguise.
Bonus Project: Hopping Bunny Toy
✔ Cut out small bunny shapes.
✔ Attach them to popsicle stick levers so they can “hop” up and down.
✔ Let the kids race their bunnies—it’s simple, cute, and keeps them busy for more than five minutes.
DIY Easter Games (Because Kids Need to Burn Energy)
Tired of the usual egg hunts? Make your own Easter-themed games with cardboard!
Easter Egg Toss Game
✔ Cut holes of different sizes in a large cardboard box.
✔ Paint or decorate the box with fun Easter designs.
✔ Assign point values to each hole and let kids (or adults—no judgment) toss plastic eggs for prizes.
Bunny Bowling
✔ Roll small cardboard pieces into bunny-shaped pins (glue on ears and faces for extra cuteness).
✔ Use a small ball to knock them down—bonus points if you do it while hopping like a bunny.
These low-effort, high-fun games make Easter celebrations even more interactive without requiring a single trip to the store.
Why Upcycled Crafts = The Best Crafts
Using cardboard for crafts isn’t just budget-friendly—it’s a great way to teach kids about sustainability. Instead of tossing packaging, give it a second life as a creative project. It’s an easy, hands-on way to show kids that recycling can be fun.
✔ Less waste = eco-friendly Easter
✔ FREE materials = more money for chocolate
✔ Less plastic = a more sustainable holiday tradition
More Fun Easter DIY Ideas
Want to keep the creativity going? Check out these related Easter projects:
- 7 Easter Peeps Ideas – If you love them, or even if you hate ’em, they still make for cute Easter additions!
- Mixed Media Easter Cards – Fun, festive, and crafty all rolled into one post!
- Spring Banner with Plastic Eggs – You can make this pretty banner for less than $10 and in any color you want!
Keep It Fun & Easy
Crafting doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive—sometimes, the best ideas are the simplest ones. Whether you’re making bunny masks, tossing eggs into a DIY game, or just letting the kids go wild decorating their own cardboard creations, the important thing is having fun together.
Grab those leftover boxes, some glue, and make this Easter extra special—without spending a dime.
How do you celebrate Easter? Drop your favorite DIY traditions in the comments!
