DIY Cardboard Tape Craft – A Quick And Fun Outdoor Activity

Need a simple, creative craft that gets you and your little one outside? This DIY Cardboard Tape Craft is easy, fun, and great if you want to introduce your kid to nature. It’s a great way to sneak in some fresh air.

Table Of Contents

Materials You Need
How to Make It
Enjoyed This Post? Here’s How You Can Help!
Final Thoughts
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Materials You Need

Cardboard (ideally not the super thick kind—more on that later)
Clear tape (packing tape works great)
Washi tape (optional, but makes everything prettier)
Scissors and/ or a cutter knife
A cutting surface (extra cardboard and a piece of wood)
Nature finds: leaves, flowers, moss, tiny stones (whatever you can get outside)

How to Make It

Step 1: Cut the Cardboard Frame

Okay, full honesty—I made my life way harder than necessary by using thick cardboard. Cutting it was a struggle. First, I tried scissors. Worked so so. For the inside I switched to a cutter knife, putting an extra piece of cardboard underneath so I would be able to cut through and an extra piece of would so I wouldn’t ruin my table.

The whole time, I was convinced I’d slice my fingers off because, well, I’m clumsy and stuff happens. But miraculously, I survived with all ten fingers intact.

Meanwhile, my toddler was running a full-scale coffee shop in his play kitchen, insisting I stop cutting cardboard every two minutes to drink his imaginary tea. If you’re attempting this craft with a toddler, just accept now that it will take five times longer than planned.

Step 2: Add the Tape

Once you have your cardboard frame (after multiple interruptions if you have a toddler), cover one side with clear tape, sticky side up. If your kid is like mine, expect them to test how many times they can touch the tape before it loses all stickiness.

Step 3: Time to Decorate!

Now comes the fun part—collecting treasures! My son was obsessed with sticking only stones to the tape. I had to gently encourage him to expand his selection. Eventually, we found some amazing things: the first tiny flowers of the season (RIP flowers), moss, cool twigs, and even an empty snail shell.

By the time we got home, my son was happy and exhausted. I was exhausted, had two new grey hairs, but was also weirdly satisfied with our little craft.

Within five minutes, I found myself in full toddler-herding mode and got a bit stressed:
✔ A thorn bush (why does he ALWAYS head straight for those?!)
✔ A river (because obviously he LOVES water.)
✔ The electric fence for the horses (seriously, why do toddlers have zero self-preservation instincts??)

Step 4: Seal and Decorate

Once your masterpiece is complete, seal it with more tape. I used washi tape to make it look even prettier.

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Final Thoughts

This DIY Cardboard Tape Craft is an easy, fun, and slightly chaotic activity that gets your toddler outside and gives you a cute keepsake (or at least something to remember the adventure by). Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I use thinner cardboard next time? 1000% yes.

Have you tried this craft? What random things did your toddler insist on adding? Let me know in the comments! Use #Mommyscrafttime and let us know on Insta <3.

💡 Want more spring play ideas? Check these out!
🫧 Vegetable Oil & Water Spring Sensory Bottle
🌿 Montessori Spring Activities for Toddlers
☀️ Easy DIY Sun Paper Craft
🎨 Spring Crafts for 2-Year-Olds