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Home » Christmas Crafts » Cardboard Box Train Costume

Cardboard Box Train Costume

November 22, 2016 By Jamie Dorobek 16 Comments

Y’all. I can’t even. He is the cutest train conductor in the history of ever. This cardboard box to train transformation is even better than our cardboard box tractor costume we made for Halloween! When Elmer’s asked me if I’d like to team up with them for a holiday post I was super excited.

Elmer’s brand is my jam and a staple in Casa de Dorobek. Elmer’s makes such a wide array of products I was having trouble narrowing it down to just one project.  The Polar Express book is a year round favorite in these parts, and after the tractor excitement, I thought it would be really fun to make Max the conductor of his very own Polar Express train!

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

How to make a Cardboard Box Train Costume

Here’s what you need to make a train car out of a cardboard box:

(Psst… This list includes affiliate links!)

  • Large cardboard box/ diaper box works great
  • Small cardboard box
  • Plastic cup
  • Pillow batting/ for the smoke stack
  • 1 Sturdy paper plate
  • Extra cardboard for the wheels or black plastic plates
  • Black spray paint
  • Gold Spray paint
  • Silver paint pen
  • Hot glue gun
  • Glue sticks (The long ones are my favorite!)
  • X-ACTO knife
  • Cutting board
  • Vinyl sticky letters
  • Kitchen bowl/ to use as a stencil for the wheels
  • A reusable bag/ to cut the straps off

First, use the XACTO knife to cut a square in the bottom of your diaper box. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just make sure that your kiddo can fit inside of the box.

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Next, use the kitchen bowl to trace 6 circles out of flat pieces of cardboard. These will get spray painted black and be train wheels. I used the XACTO knife and a kitchen cutting board to cut these out.

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Now, it’s time to form the train! Heat up the hot glue gun and get ready for business. Here’s the basic train set up.

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

The picture above does not show how to make the smoke stack. This is probably my son’s favorite part, so don’t skip it! I have an inkling your kiddo will love it too. Before you hot glue the plastic cup to the front end of the cardboard box, poke a small hole in the top of the cup with the XACTO knife, then fill the cup with batting. Now get the glue gun ready!

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Once you get the train hot glued together, it’s time for the paint job. I started by spray painting the side of the box gold since I knew I wanted the words “Polar Express” to be gold and I had black letters on hand. Basically, I used the vinyl letters as stencils. Worked like a charm and fun to know that you can make the letters any color you want very easily. Just let the gold spray paint dry and then apply the vinyl letters and spray paint another color on top. Then just peel the letters off and voila!

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

The last step is to add the silver details with the paint pen. Then dress the little conductor up, and the Polar Express is ready to pull out of the station! Choo choo!

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Maxwell was in heaven when I told him we could take his train car and walk down the tracks!

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Decorating train cars would be such a fun activity to do with a group of kids at a Christmas party. Can you image the cuteness if you had 10 train cars all lined up?

How to make a Polar Express train out of a cardboard box

Thank you, Elmer’s, for making our train dreams come true!

Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, DIY Costumes

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Comments

  1. Ang says

    December 9, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Thanks for the great idea. My son’s daycare kinder class is going to have their annual Polar train Express and we were able to make a fun CandyLand theme train car based off your design.

    You are an awesome mom. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. jake says

    November 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    This is so dangours. thease tracks are used quite often. I fear for the kids safty.

    Reply
  3. Michelle says

    October 25, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    How did you connect the straps from a tote bag – with a hot glue gun?

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      October 25, 2017 at 8:44 pm

      Yes! A good ol’ hot glue gun works perfectly!

      Reply
  4. jam T says

    October 25, 2017 at 1:43 am

    beautiful concept and easy as pie as well… but i just love the collar bandana and shirt he is wearing …. the total outfit is super cool… have to follow your blog from now on… 🙂

    Reply
  5. Angelia says

    December 21, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Very cute idea. Never thought to make this when my son was little. Just remember it is illegal and dangerous to walk on railroad tracks. Keep yourself and the little one safe.

    Reply
  6. Heather says

    December 21, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    He’ll be in heaven if a train hits him too. Trespassing on train tracks is dangerous and illegal. Quit teaching him that this is okay, because it’s NOT.

    The costume is adorable, but please keep him away from the tracks. You wouldn’t let him play in the road, would you? It’s the same thing.

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      December 21, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      Thank you for your concern.

      Reply
  7. Jonathan Miner says

    December 21, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Very cute project idea, but playing on or around railroad tracks is never a good idea.

    Reply
  8. Debbie Mayfield says

    December 9, 2016 at 12:51 am

    So adorable!!! He is the cutest conductor!

    Reply
    • Dana Burkhart says

      May 16, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Love it… how did you attach the reusable bag straps?

      Reply
      • Jamie Dorobek says

        May 17, 2018 at 1:46 pm

        hot glue gun!

        Reply
  9. Summer says

    December 5, 2016 at 1:28 am

    This is seriously the cutest thing ever! Great idea! Both my kids would lovvve this!

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      December 5, 2016 at 10:37 am

      Awww thanks 🙂 It was really fun to make because I knew Max would LOVE it!

      Reply
  10. Wy from D-I-WY says

    December 1, 2016 at 12:05 am

    I am IN LOVE with your blog! I’ve always wanted to make a cardboard box costume (it’s still fun even as an adult!), but thought it’d be too difficult for me to make it look nice and not look like it’s falling apart. This photoshoot and the conductor costume inspired me so much! And how cute is that cotton smoke detail billowing out? Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      December 1, 2016 at 10:28 am

      Thank you 🙂 It’s really easy to make, just boxes, hot glue, and spray paint 🙂 You can do it!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Jamie!
I Create Really Awesome Free Things for your home, wardrobe, kitchen, and kids in Austin, TX with the sometimes help of Andy!
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