You can’t get enough boats! How about up-cycling your milk or juice cartons into fun, kids, sailing boats!
Summer, Sea and boats!
When you think of summer, do you imagine sailing a boat, to and thro on the ocean waves?
Hold that thought……when it comes to our kids we need to entertain them, being in a boat is fun, but how about making a boat?
I don’t mean for real, but to get your kids to craft a straightforward boat.
There are a few different ways to do this, but in this instance, we will utilize our throw-outs and up-cycle them into something fun! How about a ‘Milk carton sailboat’?
Let’s consider what works in water!
I looked at an egg box and this could be an obvious option, but it will sink as it’s made from composite paper. It would be fine if it’s made as a showpiece but on makeshift waves.
So egg boxes are not good to put in water but on dry surfaces.
Then there is polystyrene, I found various moulds used for packaging that can be cut down into long types of vessels. This kind of material will float and can be decorated.
So polystyrene could be an option.
Then I looked at ordinary plastic food holders, some are shaped like boats and can easily float on water, although some work will be needed to attach a sail and make it look boat-like.
So clear plastic moulds are suitable but need painting and decorating a bit.
Examples of these packages are shown below.
How about milk or juice cartons? Let’s see…I think this will be more challenging as an activity and who doesn’t have enough milk or juice cartons to practice with?
What kind of boats and solutions let’s recap!
In my last post, ‘Make paper boats that float!’ I demoed how to use the folding technique, (starting 2-dimensional), to make a boat (becoming 3-dimensional) and by preventing it from sinking, I recommend laminating it as an option to keep it dry.
So create a design within a laminating pouch then laminate it, using the same folding technique you will produce a plastic-like boat, that will last longer in the water!
Now let’s move forward to this activity!
Within this project, have you guessed yet….we will be making boats and yes we will be using cartons!
My Intention!
We are going to look at making a ‘milk carton sailboat!’
I looked at a milk or juice carton, it’s long, 3-dimensional and if you put it on the water it will float, but we need to change it and make it look more like a sailboat.
Acrylic paints.
Just acrylic paint does not last well when exposed for a long time in water, I found it would curdle up. Its composition is to have a plastic-like finish, though I found it would still need sealing.
PVA glue as a sealant.
Now sealing acrylic paint with PVA glue and allowed to dry is your best option. Not only is it lasting, but it will also give you a glossy finish.
For a very tough lasting result, you can cover in craft vanish, but for the sake of this project, PVA glue will be adequate.
Out of water.
When removed from water, allow the carton, or boat to dry well. In this way, the paint stays flat, and smooth and will not curdle. It may still have a sticky feel to it, you will know when it’s thoroughly dry when not tacky to touch.
As showpiece.
If you are making boats, but not to put in water just as show pieces, you don’t need to cover them in PVA glue, unless you like the glossy finish.
Now we have got that out of the way let’s begin!
But, before we start, here’s a quick look at the alternatives!
Below are the three packages made of different kinds of materials, that I mentioned above, they are possible options to turn into boats, but in this project, we are working with cartons!
Here are the sides and inside view of an eggbox, polystyrene and plastic packaging.
Update!
After I completed this project, on the ‘milk carton sail boats’ I decided to have a go at changing these packages into boats!
I didn’t want to leave you hanging and wondering what these three types of packages would look like, so here they are!
Check them all out!
Now you can see how you can adapt each package into a boat!
I hope this helps, rather than try to visualise it, of course, you can try these out too, It’s really what you can salvage from your recycled collection!
Now you have four boat ideas to choose from!
👉 A quick review 👈
Egg box and Polystyrene packaging.
I found with the egg box and the polystyrene, it was easy to make quick holes with a sharp pencil and twist or push the straws into the middle sections of each one as shown in the images above, then you can slide your sail with the punched holes, through the straws.
I used split pins to attach the string and push it through the polystyrene.
Plastic holder.
With the plastic holder or casing, I used a straw and jammed it lengthwise against the plastic wall and it worked, it held there well allowing you to tie another straw with some string, so it’s like a t-bar then again you can slide sail through the straw.
Just to let you know!
Also, I discovered, that it might be easier to punch the holes in a triangular sale and slide a straw through it, this way it might be less complicated for younger kids to do, rather than roll the sail as I have shown below for the ‘milk carton sailboat’, which we are going to start with next👇
THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL NEED!
So here goes!
Milk/Juice carton.
Scissors large/small.
Acrylic paints (your choice)
Stapler/Hole punch.
Range of bushes.
Straw for mast/glue stick.
Some bottle tops.
Some string/PVA glue.
Black felt tip pen.
Sharp pencil/sharp tool.
Glue gun/wax sticks.
A selection of papers/cards.
Are you ready? Let’s start our milk carton sail boat!
SOME TIPS!
USING SCISSORS.
When cutting with scissors try to make a straight line, as it’s quite difficult to neaten it after angling the scissors is a bit awkward.
ATTACHING PARTS.
Stapling two parts together is also a bit tough it would be easier to hold in the air and staple, or use the hot glue gun instead.
SAIL AND HOLES.
If you go for a triangular sail, then one hole to one end of the boat will be fine, judge how big the sail will be then make the hole in the appropriate place If you are going for a square sail having a hole off centre on deck will be fine.
GLUE ON CARTON LIDS OR CAPS FIRST.
Before painting with chosen acrylic paints, glue on the lids, so the inside of the lids are facing out.
CONCEALING TEXT.
If using darker paints you won’t need too many coats, although you may have to paint white as a base to hide all text on cartons, if you are going to paint with lighter colours.
WHEN FINISHED SEAL PAINT.
You will need to seal the paints by painting PVA glue all over.
DECIDE THEN WRAP STRING.
Decide how you want the string to go on and wrap it around the lids on the exterior of the carton.
STAPLES OR GLUE GUN?
When painting the carton staples will appear as little lamps, hence using the hot glue gun to stick sections together instead will prevent this, but if this does not bother you then stick with staples, it’s quicker.
FINAL TOUCHES!
Finally, I added lids on the inside of the carton for decoration, you can sit a Lego man on deck!
BE RUSTIC!
If you prefer to keep the cartons in their raw state, without having to paint them that works too, as you are showing how creative you are by up-cycling your milk or juice cartons into a super sailboat!
Let’s check out sailing our milk carton sail boat, or boats!
I put them in my bath and by gently blowing air, saw our milk carton sail boats drift to and thro.
Hey there, this might be of interest to you! Check out these super boats that are great alternatives at your fingertips!
There are two options, both are brilliant at getting your kids to get creative. Whether it’s putting their mark on it, or exploring different means of travel!
The first is a set of boats from Baker Ross, quick, fun and ready to sail away and you get to decorate them!
The second is from KIDLY UK, a lovely wooden sailing boat circuit and kids can use their imagination in any adventure they desire!
Design your own plastic sailboats and more at Baker Ross!
Besides, your craft project, If you are looking for a quick solution and want boats that are ready made and all you have to do is decorate them? then check out these 5 cute, colourful boats, you add the final touches and decorate with some fun waterproof pens. Baker Ross, has everthing you need to get your kids started and ‘Ahoy, me hearties! All hand hoy!’
On the otherhand how about a toy that your kids can piece together, providing hours of imaginative play, great for developing their fine motor skills and their concentration!
Suitable for kids 2 years+
A Janod beautiful wooden circuit toy available at KIDLY UK.
Janod design a range of traditional toys with a contempory look.
Check this out It’s by Janod a sailing boat circuit!
A early learning game that’s also an interactive toy, and shows a combined way of travelling!
A four piece puzzle, that becomes a pond, 3 cute dinky sailboats, surrounded by a train-track with, magnetic wagons, one of which can hook a boat and hoist it onto the truck!
Hey there, when you click on links in this post and you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission that l can use towards resources (other than throw-outs) for project making within my website😀
TO CONCLUDE!
In this project, I show you another way of making fun sailboats by up-cycling your ordinary milk or juice cartons and when completed you can sail them in some water, all you need to do is to help them along with plenty of puffing and blowing!
TRANSFORMING!
Once you divide and separate into two parts, flipping the top part over makes the boat look like it has a deck, and then you are on your way!
Then you can paint and decorate a design of your choice and finally, after you have added a sail you no longer see the original milk or juice carton you started with, but a super duper sailboat!
KIDS CAN BE CREATIVE!
Finally, how did you like working on this project? Kids love to create and make things out of throw-outs and no matter how it turns out, their interpretation is great and we love and adore them for it!