ID Mommy Project: DIY Recycled Cereal Box Puzzle

Here's another project I just came up with last weekend to turn your old cereal boxes into puzzles!

Supplies: Cereal box, glue, scissors, & my puzzle template

Step 1: Flatten your cereal box.  This one came apart at the seams, but if yours doesn't, just open both ends and cut down one edge.

Step 2: Cut your puzzle image off from the rest of the box, whether you decide to do the front or back of the box.  I decided to use the back on this one, because it had more interesting little images, and games on the back!  Set aside the rest of the box to use in step 6.

Step 3: Flip over the puzzle image cardboard, apply glue to the back of the puzzle template, and glue it down to the back of the cereal box.

Step 4: Trim around the edges of the puzzle template.

Step 5: Cut around the rectangular frame of the puzzle template.  Keep this piece...it'll be the frame for your puzzle!

Step 6: Glue your rectangular frame piece down to the back of the other cardboard scrap you set aside in step 2.

Step 7: Trim around the frame.  Now you have a cardboard backer to lay the pieces on, and a frame to keep them together.

Step 8: Here's where I cut out the puzzle pieces.  However, you can add a whole new element to this project and let your child draw their own puzzle image on the white template side BEFORE you cut them out...then they'll have two puzzles in one! Duh, I wish I had thought of that two seconds before taking this photo below. Well, next time....

I found it easiest to cut one whole horizontal or vertical strip of pieces, then cut each piece apart.  If your child is old enough, this is a good exercise in scissor control!

I remember when I was little, thinking that puzzles with pieces shaped like other stuff were really cool, so I put a star shaped piece in my template!

Step 9: Put your puzzle together!  Okay, so it's no Springbok, but it's a fun project to make and a fun way to teach your kids to recycle, be creative, cut along the lines, and take pride in making their own toy!  If your pieces get a little bent, try setting a stack of books on the whole thing for a while to help flatten everything out.