It's only right that we start of with Christmas trees. These are so beautiful and really easy to make! Take your cereal box and open it out so it resembles a flat piece of card. Then starting from one corner, roll the card to the opposite corner (diagonally) so the end result is cone shaped, then seal with glue. Now you have your Christmas tree shape, all you have left to do is decorate it. Use tinsel, feathers, gold leaves and beads to really bring this Christmas tree to life.
See the full instructions here.
2. Star
This star would be the perfect finish to any Christmas tree. Simply draw and cut out 2 stars from your cereal box and score 5 lines in each star from the tips to the center. You'll then need to bend the star to achieve the 3D effect (this is shown in the full instructions here) and glue the stars together. Once the glue has dried all you have left to do is paint it in a colour of your choice - gold seems like a pretty good colour for a star, don't you think? Once the paint has dried you can place the star at the top of the tree, add a few twinkly lights and it'll look magical.
3. Gift Bags
This has to be one of the simplest ideas yet! Firstly, cut the top flaps off of the cereal box (neatly). Find some nice Christmas themed wrapping paper and cover the box; after securing the wrapping paper all you need to do is punch 2 holes on both sides of the box (make sure the holes are opposite each other) and simply pass some ribbon or string through the holes and secure - these are the handles for the box. And you're done - no more buying of gift bags!
4. Gold Star Decoration
Stars are very common over Christmas, this is why we have included another star decoration tip! (And this one's even easier.) Open your cereal box so it's flat, then draw and cut out star shapes of the same size (might be easier to trace the stars). For each star you make you will need two star cut outs. Once you have your 2 stars, you then need to find the middle. When you have found the middle you'll need to cut the card from the middle all the way to the top of the star. Repeat this for the second cut out but you'll be cutting from the middle to the bottom of the star. Now, simply paint the stars whatever colour you wish and when the paint has dried, slot them together and scatter them around your home.
Full instructions over on Strawberry Chic.
5. Letter To Santa Postbox
All children like to write their letter to Santa, so to make this process extra special, create a Santa letter box. Get an empty cereal box and cut a slit in the front which resembles a letter box and then paint the entire box red. Make tiny snowflakes and an envelope out of paper and stick to the box once the paint has dried. Make a Santa belt out of coloured card and attach this to the bottom of the box. Add a green roof and chimney out of coloured card and pop some cotton wool into the chimney. Now, all you have to do is find the perfect spot to keep your letterbox.
Full instructions are here, but you'll need to translate!
6. Gift Tags
Make some really cute gift tags out of cereal boxes. To do this, cut out 2 gift tag shapes from the cereal box and stick them together with glue, picture side to picture side. Once they're stuck, punch a hole through the top of the gift tag and add a colourful ribbon. Now all you have to do is decorate and write on your gift tag. Voila!
7. Wreath
To make this wreath simply follow the instructions to make the stars in idea number 2. Then stick the stars together, or you can stick them to a circle of card. If you decide to stick the stars to a piece of card, make sure you stick them close together so you can't see the card beneath. Then simply punch a small hole in the top and attach some ribbon or string. You now have a home-made wreath!
Click here for the full instructions.
8. Angels
This is a great one to get the kids to do as most children LOVE glitter. Firstly cut a toilet roll tube in half, lengthways. Then, widthways, about a centimeter big cut off a strip of the toilet roll tube. Grab a cereal box and draw an angel head and body (joined) and cut out. Back to the toilet roll tube; cut a slit in the middle of the strip which is wide enough to slip over the angel's head and cut tiny slits in each end. Slide the strip over the angel's head and bend the cardboard towards to the neck so the slits can attach to the body - your angel now has wings! The last step is to simply decorate the angel. You can attach string if you wish to hang your angel.
Full instructions over here.
9. Christmas Bookmark
Square off a cereal box and, using glue, stick some pretty wrapping paper to one side of cardboard. Now cut the cardboard into thin rectangles (bookmark shape) and turn it over so you're faced with the blank side of the cereal box and add red paper to the top and bottom; this will act as Santa's hat and clothing. Add a white strip of paper underneath the red hat and draw on eyes and nose to the cereal box. Add white paper below the nose in the shape of a beard and draw on a mouth. Now, punch a small hole in the top of the cardboard and pull through some string or ribbon. Turn over the bookmark to the side of the wrapping paper and add the year (optional).
Illustrated instructions here.
10. Small Gift Boxes
You can print the template out for this in this here. To make your gift boxes, simply open up a cereal box so it's flat and trace round the template - keep the template handy though! Cut out the traced template from the cereal box and (even though this hasn't been done in the image) paint the box in any colour that you desire so you aren't left with the cereal box design. Once the paint has dried, refer to the template on where to fold and stick the cardboard and your little gift box is complete!