In our house, one of the things we all like to do most when we’re crafting is upcycling something else we’re no longer using. There’s just something so satisfying about repurposing an old thing into something we might actually use! That’s why we always have our eyes peeled for awesome tutorials that will help us give things in our recycling box a new lease on life. Lately, we’ve been feeling the idea of reusing our tissue boxes, so that’s the kind of tutorial we’ve been focusing on.
Are you feeling just as interested in the idea of making new things out of your old tissue boxes as we were, if not more? Check out these 15 ideas, designs, and tutorials that we came across in our search for inspiration and guidance!
1. DIY indoor mail station
Are you part of the kind of busy family who are always coming and going so you’re looking for a way to leave notes for each other or make sure each member of the family gets their mail properly even if they’re not home when it comes through the slot in the morning? Then we think you might benefit from something like this tissue box mailbox craft outlined step by step on Hometalk! Put it by the phone so everyone can see if there’s anything in there for them each morning or evening.
2. Photo frames
Are you the kind of nostalgic person who adores photos and is always looking for new ways to display some of your favourite memories? Well, if your kids are on the same wavelength and you’re looking for something simple enough for them to help you with, then we think perhaps PS I Love Your Crafts has just the idea for you. Take a better look at their tutorial to see how they made a cubic standing frame from small tissue boxes turned on their side.
3. String wrapped storage box
Do you like the idea of making a kind of decorative box to put things in but you’re just not sure that you need one to organize your mail into? In that case, maybe you’d get along a little better with this twine wrapped project outlined step by step on Gluesticks Blog! You might put it on your desk to hold pens and pencils or set it on the entryway table to put spare change in, but it’ll look great either way.
4. Tissue box gift tags
Have you ever looked at the pattern printed on a tissue box you were about to get rid of and thought about how pretty the design or colour actually is and wished you could make better use of it? Then Diary of a Mad Crafter has just the answer for you! They suggest cutting the parts of the pattern you like best into gift tags!
5. Hanging tissue box lanterns
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about making things that are simple enough for your kids to help you make and now you’re convinced that you can spend the next rainy afternoon brightening the place up a little with some cardboard tissue box decor? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Handmade Charlotte used their boxes, colourful paper, and some bright yarn to make these super fun hanging pom pom lanterns!
6. Seashell flower vase
Do you like the idea of making something decorative, but you’d rather make it for you? Well, if you’d prefer florals over bright colours but you still want some kind of embellishment, then here’s one for the seaside lovers! Take a better look at this tutorial featured on Hometalk that will show you how to turn an empty tissue box into a seashell covered vase.
7. Monster tissue box craft
Still working in the realm of tissue box crafts that will be really fun for your kids to help you make, here’s an awesome idea from Bee-ing Mommy that we actually made in real life and that our kids had a total blast with! Take a better look at their tutorial to see how they made these funny monsters with bouncy eyes and sharp teeth.
8. Woven tissue box baskets
Are you still thinking about what we said when we were talking about loving the design or colour of a tissue box and wanting to turn it into something into something else, but you’re just not sure that you have a use for cardboard gift tags? Then maybe you’d get along a little better with something like this woven cardboard basket idea from Handmade Charlotte that involves weaving strips of your tissue box of choice with card paper of another colour for contrast.
9. Tissue box jewelry storage
Maybe the basic concept that has caught your attention the best so far is the idea of turning a tissue box into something you can store things in, but you’d rather organize your jewelry and accessories rather than your mail or spare change? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how DIY Crafts made these lovely paper covered cardboard drawers that work well for organizing necklaces, rings, bracelets, and so on!
10. Tissue box car craft
In our house, the crafts that are always the most popular are the ones that involve making something that our kids can actually play with after. This way, they can enjoy the crafting process and the games that come after. These funny embellished tissue box cars outlined step by step on SMP Craft are the perfect example of what we mean.
11. Tissue box toy car wash
Maybe we caught your attention with our talk of our cars but your kids have so many toy cars already that they don’t really need anymore? In that case, we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like these awesome tissue box and foam paper toy card wash setups! Get the full details for making some of your own thanks to Learn, Craft, Play.
12. Tissue (and other) box sailboats
Are you still thinking about the idea of making some kind of toy for your kids out of the tissue and other boxes that you have available but, like we said before, your kids have quite enough toy cars already? Then maybe they’d be happier if you made them some funny toy sailboats instead! Check out the tutorial on Apple Green Cottage to see how these ones were made from the boxes, straws, and paper.
13. DIY marble mirror tissue box cover
Maybe, rather than really liking the designs that you see on the outsides of your tissue boxes, do you actually really dislike the patterns and colours you usually see, especially when they clash with your otherwise perfect household colour scheme or aesthetic? In that case, maybe you’d get along a little better with something like this tissue box cover featured on Dezi 1016 that was made using mirrored tiles and beads.
14. Tissue box craft storage
Maybe you’ve actually come across a tissue box that you actually liked the design of so much that you’re not sure you’ve even want to change, cover, or alter it in any way, but that makes it pretty hard to turn the box into something else, right? Well, if you’re in need of some office or craft supply storage then we think you’ll appreciate how simply Cut Out and Keep made these supply holders, doing nothing to the boxes but adding a cut little lace trim that complements the pattern they liked so much.
15. Recycled tissue box Easter basket
Maybe you’re just looking for ideas that reuse cardboard boxes in general but tissue boxes are the most easily accessible kind you have on hand? Well, if you’re in need of a basket of any kind, especially an Easter basket for your kids, then we think you’ll appreciate the simple alterations Little Vintage Cottage to make theirs! You could follow suit with the basic concept whether you theme yours after the Easter holidays or not.
Have you made other things from upcycled tissue boxes before that you really enjoyed doing but that you don’t see on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!
