Cardboard Tractor Tutorial!

WANT TO MAKE THIS?

You will Need:
3 cardboard boxes
-rectangular box for the body
-square shaped box for the cab
-Large box to cut out the tractor tires
2 cans of colored spray paint (we did green)
1 can of Black Spray Paint for the Tires, Headlights, & Pipes
Spray Paint Nozzle (Optional)
1 bottle of bright yellow craft paint
paint brush
1 Empty Hot Coco can
2 Hot coco Lids
1 Empty Oatmeal container
1 tall skinny container (we used a leftover Christmas tin)
Duct Tape, Scissors, box cutter (razor blade), Permanent Marker
Glue gun and sticks (optional)
Step 1:  Tape the rectangular box together.  Tape  the square box together. Depending on the size of your boxes you may need to cut off the bottom flaps. In this example we taped the bottom flaps open because the box is not very deep. You will want the sides and top sealed and the bottom of the boxes open.

Step 2:  Cut the openings into the cardboard boxes.  You will need to cut 3 windows into the square box, don’t cut too close to the edge because you will want the frame to be thick enough so it’s sturdy.

Put the square box on top of the rectangular box where you want the cab to be, trace the outline of the square box onto the lower rectangular box.  This will be a guide as to where you will need to cut.  Remove the top box and cut an opening out at least an inch in from the line you just traced.  You will want the upper box to have some support, a place for the square box to sit.  Look at the pictures for clarification.  We cut on the dotted line to make our opening.

We are cutting an inch in from the traced line.


Step 3:  Get the hot coco can,  oatmeal container, and tall skinny tin or container gathered.  Cut the hot coco container in half with scissors…these will be the headlights.  Now it’s time to spray paint….we did these black. Set aside and let dry.

Step 4:  Don’t put the black spray paint away yet….we need to make the wheels and spray paint those black as well.  Lay out your cardboard and trace and cut 4 tires.  We used a plate to trace smaller circles for the front wheels.  The Back wheels we free handed.  They are Big!!!  I couldn’t find any thing big enough to use as a pattern. Spray paint black and set aside to dry.  Now you are done with the black spray paint…it should be about empty.  (Yours wont have the yellow on them yet)

Step 5:  Grab your colored spray paint and go to town spraying the body and cab!  Okay this would be a good time to tell you that if you are cheap like me and get the Wal-Mart .98 cent spray paint then your hand is going to hurt (My wrist is still sore).  It won’t be long before you are using your thumb and different fingers to get the paint out…..next time I’ll invest the $2 dollars for the spray paint nozzle (found at Wal-Mart next to the cheap spray paint).  Another side note… I thought this would go quick…but not so much.  The color doesn’t show up to well on the the brown so be patient and don’t expect perfection. This is just for fun and your child won’t mind! ; )  Or if you are more of a perfectionist then try using white boxes from the get go or let your child color the tractor!

Step 6:  By now your tractor tires should be dry.  Paint the yellow onto the tires and headlights.  Pour the yellow craft  paint into the hot coco lids, I used  these to hold the paint while I painted the tires.  Paint a yellow circle on the tires and then finish off painting the front of the hot coco lids.  Let Dry.

Step 7:  Duct tape the boxes together.  We taped them from the inside so you can’t see any of the tape holding the two boxes together.
Step 8:  Cut openings for the headlights and pipes.  (We traced with marker and then cut about an 1/8 inch in from the marking.  Or hot glue or duct tape the pipes and headlights on.
 
Step 9:  When the tires and headlight are dry, duct tape or hot glue the tires on and put the lids on the hot coco cans.

Step 10:  Go have fun with you new tractor!