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This Mom Is Repurposing Cardboard Into Fun And Accurate Everyday Household Items And Interactive Toys
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This Mom Is Repurposing Cardboard Into Fun And Accurate Everyday Household Items And Interactive Toys

Interview With Artist
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You don’t need to splurge on expensive toys to keep your children happy and engaged, and this London-based mother of two shows a perfect example of parenting done right. Sydney Piercey found a way of balancing today’s need for sustainability and quality time with kids by recycling and repurposing cardboard into fun and accurate everyday household items and interactive toys.

This utterly creative mom started amusing DIY projects as a quarantine activity to entertain kids in the neighborhood when her own children started showing interest as well. She began crafting meticulously detailed replicas of items found at home, such as a fully-equipped washing machine, a dishwasher, a camera, or a laptop. All cardboard boxes that would otherwise end up in the trash became a great material to construct lifelike designs with all the little drawers, compartments, sliding shelves, and rotating knobs.

This playroom has turned into an innovative and interactive way to safely teach the little ones useful life skills from an early age in a playful and enjoyable form. And most importantly, with no damage to the actual household appliances!

More info: Instagram

A mom of two found a way of entertaining her kids with toys made out of repurposed cardboard while safely teaching them life skills

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Piercey has crafted a whole playroom with detailed replicas of household items for her kids to play with—here is what she’s made so far

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Bored Panda reached out to Sydney Piercey to find out how she started creating this ultimate playground out of cardboard.

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“I’ve always enjoyed creating and making things. The idea of making toys from cardboard came from wanting to teach my daughter how to (safely) use appliances in our home. Children so often find the most mundane of things interesting, they want to play with the washing machine or the toaster, but it isn’t always safe to do so. The ideas often come from what she’s drawn to around the house. For example, after a weekend of her being obsessed with my husband’s record player, I set about making her one from a cardboard box and some loo rolls. Sometimes there are toys that I want to get for her or think she would enjoy, but it’s more fun (and inexpensive) to make them for her first and see if she likes them. Then, if she does, it’s way more special to see her playing with the version I’ve made than a version I’ve bought.”

A washing machine

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Piercey says this creative activity is a great way to reuse leftover cardboard, entertain and teach her kids, and give herself an outlet to relax from daily life.

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“I am able to teach my little ones how to use appliances safely, my daughter can mimic me whilst I do chores around the house. Fun for free! I put to use cereal boxes, dog food boxes, loo roll tubes, materials that come and go as usual in our home that would otherwise be recycled. And for me, creating is where I find calm, it’s my way of switching off. Also, the joy it brings me to give my daughter something she loves that I have made myself.”

A dishwasher

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Piercey sets a great example of finding easy ways to a more sustainable lifestyle: “I’ve always been a big lover of nature and the great outdoors. Living sustainably is something I have become much more mindful of and conscious towards since having my children and thinking about what I can do personally to take better care of the planet for them. It’s hugely important to us all as a family to think of our impact on the planet and how we can be kinder and more environmentally responsible.”

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She says throwing things out is the most challenging part of the projects: “I see the potential to make things in so many items that I have to be quite strict with myself on what we keep and not become a hoarder.”

A laptop

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Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

She invited us behind the scenes of her cardboard creations: “Once I decide the item I want to make, I’ll think of three or four ‘features’ I can include that will make it ‘work’ such as a door that opens, or a shelf that slots in, or a lever, or a switch. Then I’ll make the basic shape (I don’t draw anything with pencil as I prefer to be quite free with it) but I will make use of bits of cardboard to cut against (for straight lines) and so on. I will mostly use old cardboard boxes, toilet or kitchen roll tubes, and recyclable tape to secure everything together; and tools-wise, just scissors and a hobby knife. Big projects such as my washing machine, dishwasher, or oven have taken up to two hours to make. My daughter and I love crafting together. The color and corks sorter we made took about half an hour to create, but keeps her occupied for ages. If I can, I will elongate crafts we make together as it’s a lovely way to spend time.”

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SLR camera

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A toaster

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A record player

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A spy kit

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

An iron

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Image credits: sydney.piercey

A hairdryer, concentrator nozzle and Afro comb

Image credits: sydney.piercey

She’s also creating toys and interactive games for her kids to play with, such as this caps and corks color sorter

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Her favorite creations so far are the bedtime sticker chart and sticker book for her daughter.

“Both things get used daily to mark her achievements in sleeping well or being kind or thoughtful. I made her an oven yesterday and she loved it, but she’s a big fan of all of my toys and the best person to make for because she’s always so enthusiastic!”

Weetabix box, contact lense box, amazon box and loo roll transformed into a cash register and card reader

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Mario Kart

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Image credits: sydney.piercey

The pandemic became a particularly challenging time for parents stuck at home with their kids, but Piercey put this time to use to get creative and spend quality time with her children.

“For 50 consecutive days in lockdown (except weekends), I did a different theme day for my daughters. We would read, watch, create, and play just based on the theme of the day. Only using books or toys and art materials we had already (although we did borrow from neighbors). It was a wonderful way to make the days exciting and entertaining. They are all saved in my highlights on Instagram if you need some inspiration or ideas of how to use things you likely already have at home for the days ahead.”

Tea, coffee, milk, sugar, cake stand

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A paint palette

Image credits: sydney.piercey

She shared a piece of advice for all parents out there struggling to get by: “Give yourself daily pats on the back—we are all doing incredibly. Seize all the joy you can, be it a coffee in peace, a lie in, bedtime gone smoothly, cuddles with your little ones, their smiley faces about something, anything, and everything. What we are going through is not easy, but we can absolutely do it. Oh, and keep all the cardboard.”

An animal farm

Image credits: sydney.piercey

What’s the weather?

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Lily’s very own laboratory using household materials

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A safari truck

Image credits: sydney.piercey

One mans trash… another man’s treasure chest

Image credits: sydney.piercey

From recycling bin to recycling truck

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A cardboard campsite

Image credits: sydney.piercey

A fairy castle

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Portable foldable ‘days of the week’ sticker book

Image credits: sydney.piercey

Packet puzzles

Image credits: sydney.piercey

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paigeamacpherson avatar
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a great mom- very resourceful, teaching her kids life skills, all while saving money. Plus, imagine how much time it took her to do that?? Incredible.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really clever- not wasting packaging material and teaching children to use their imaginations and think beyond what they see, and that you don't need store-bought items to have fun.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like her creative and imagination to create fun stuff for her kids, to show your kids no need to buy expensive toys to play with, and when they grow older will appreciate little things. My Jiji will love that washing machine lol

chimesstreet avatar
Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That tea set is too cute. But I think the weather dial is my favorite.

florapolvado avatar
Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One thing I regret is buying my daughter so many toys. I feel like I deprived her of this experience, of having to use her imagination, of "looking beyond what she sees," -RL, of having the opportunity to be bored enough to create. Really a child seems to be better off with fewer actual toys and more opportunities to come up with their own. Good for this mom for teaching her children how

zipoff-thefatsuit avatar
SoRo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for you, mama! Teaching your kiddos to use what you have and be creative! Love, love, love this type of imaginative fun!

hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for her! Save money, use less plastic and when they wear out you just recycle them. My nieces have so many toys but when I watched them last we played for hour with card board box forts. That's more time than they spend with some of their expensive plastic toys.

crystalhickman avatar
Misstaken138
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and husband always noticed that our kids love the boxes more than the toys that came in them. A toy is what it is, but a cardboard box can be anything you imagine.

Load More Replies...
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone's wishing they had a creative genius mom right now!

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She should get some cats, the'd love it too :D OK, seriously: This was great

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clever idea! Little kids really don't need overly fancy toys, a little goes a long way to engage their imagination. And mom saves a lot of money.

myownkind1 avatar
Holly Allen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is incredible!!! I wish I had thought of this when my daughter was little!!

mekala-whitaker avatar
Zoe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wouldn't it be easier to just show them around the house??

y_themptander avatar
YoyoSthlm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooo... when they see a real dishwasher they're just going to press random buttons?

colecampbell avatar
StrangerOfTheDark
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Huh. Being a logistics person, I think that the things the cardboard pieces came from costed about as much as it would cost to just get the plastic, store-bought kind.

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People order stuff all the time, that isn't toys for their kids. There is no way she just ordered stuff to use the packaging.

Load More Replies...
paigeamacpherson avatar
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a great mom- very resourceful, teaching her kids life skills, all while saving money. Plus, imagine how much time it took her to do that?? Incredible.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really clever- not wasting packaging material and teaching children to use their imaginations and think beyond what they see, and that you don't need store-bought items to have fun.

sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like her creative and imagination to create fun stuff for her kids, to show your kids no need to buy expensive toys to play with, and when they grow older will appreciate little things. My Jiji will love that washing machine lol

chimesstreet avatar
Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That tea set is too cute. But I think the weather dial is my favorite.

florapolvado avatar
Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One thing I regret is buying my daughter so many toys. I feel like I deprived her of this experience, of having to use her imagination, of "looking beyond what she sees," -RL, of having the opportunity to be bored enough to create. Really a child seems to be better off with fewer actual toys and more opportunities to come up with their own. Good for this mom for teaching her children how

zipoff-thefatsuit avatar
SoRo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for you, mama! Teaching your kiddos to use what you have and be creative! Love, love, love this type of imaginative fun!

hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for her! Save money, use less plastic and when they wear out you just recycle them. My nieces have so many toys but when I watched them last we played for hour with card board box forts. That's more time than they spend with some of their expensive plastic toys.

crystalhickman avatar
Misstaken138
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and husband always noticed that our kids love the boxes more than the toys that came in them. A toy is what it is, but a cardboard box can be anything you imagine.

Load More Replies...
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone's wishing they had a creative genius mom right now!

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She should get some cats, the'd love it too :D OK, seriously: This was great

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clever idea! Little kids really don't need overly fancy toys, a little goes a long way to engage their imagination. And mom saves a lot of money.

myownkind1 avatar
Holly Allen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is incredible!!! I wish I had thought of this when my daughter was little!!

mekala-whitaker avatar
Zoe
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wouldn't it be easier to just show them around the house??

y_themptander avatar
YoyoSthlm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooo... when they see a real dishwasher they're just going to press random buttons?

colecampbell avatar
StrangerOfTheDark
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Huh. Being a logistics person, I think that the things the cardboard pieces came from costed about as much as it would cost to just get the plastic, store-bought kind.

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People order stuff all the time, that isn't toys for their kids. There is no way she just ordered stuff to use the packaging.

Load More Replies...
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