Crafting at Home + Creative Recycling: CEREAL BOX PUZZLES

This version of the Cereal Box Puzzle is the easiest of the three shown here because it requires the fewest tools, takes the least amount of time, and is by far the easiest to cut out. If you have kids, even the younger ones can help make this project!

You will need one cereal box of any size for this project. Ideally, pick something with attractive or interesting artwork on either the front or back. The only other tools and supplies you need for this basic version are scissors and glue! After selecting a box, decide which facing you want to use as the completed puzzle image.

Open the cereal box along its seams.

Cut off the side that will become the puzzle face. Trim off any flaps on the top and bottom as well as the ridges from the creases where the box was folded.

If you want, use a ruler to mark a border of ½” on all sides on the back of the puzzle face OR skip ahead to the next step if you prefer!

Cut off a border of about ½” all the way around the outside of the puzzle face. Follow the lines if you penciled them in one step above OR have fun and freehand with slight waves!

Glue the border pieces to the blank side of the backboard piece (remaining larger piece of cereal box). Make sure your border pieces are matched up as neatly as possible so that the finished puzzle pieces will fit back into the frame correctly. Set this aside to dry.

If you like to plan ahead, figure out how many pieces you would like your puzzle to be and about how big you want them. NOTE: Since the cardboard is thin and won't snap together like a factory-made puzzle, you probably won't want to go smaller than about 1" pieces. If desired, mark out the back of the puzzle face with your piece lines.

Cut out your pieces following the pencil lines from the step above OR freehand and just cut it all up!

Once your glued frame is dry, cut off the extra cardboard flaps around the edge.

Round the corners if you'd like.

Great job, your basic homemade Cereal Box Puzzle is complete...now put it all together and make another one!

This Cereal Box Puzzle follows many of the same steps as Version 1 but takes longer and the cutting is more precise. You will probably also need to do a little math. This is a project for adults/older kids but can be enjoyed by all ages!

You will need one cereal box of any size with a nice image on the front or back. You will also need scissors, glue, a ruler, a pencil/pen, and a small coin or the cap of a small glue stick. First, decide which side of the box you want to use for the completed puzzle image.

Open the box along its seams and trim off any flaps and creases around the puzzle face. Decide what size (recommended no smaller than 1") and how many pieces you would like to have. You may need to adjust depending on the size of your cereal box. Cut down your puzzle face to accommodate a piece size that will be easy to measure out. FOR EXAMPLE: The puzzle being created here will have 4x6 1½” pieces plus the ½” border on all four sides. Therefore, it will be cut to a solid piece measuring 7”x10”.

On the back of your readied puzzle face, measure out a straight border of ½” all the way around. Cut along the lines and keep these pieces.

Glue the border pieces to the blank side of the backboard piece (remaining larger piece of cereal box). Make sure your border pieces are matched up as neatly as possible so that the finished puzzle pieces will fit back into the frame correctly. Set this aside to dry.

On the back of the puzzle face, measure out and pencil in your grid of squares.

Create the knobs and holes of your puzzle pieces by tracing half circles around the cap of a small glue stick (or a small coin) in a random pattern.

Make sure to draw a half circle on one side of every line segment!

Cut our your puzzle pieces along the lines. Don't accidentally cut off any of the knobs!

Going back to your backboard and frame, cut off the extra cardboard flaps around the edge.

Round the corners if you'd like.

Congratulations, it's done! Make more than one and mix all the pieces together for a greater challenge!

This final version of the Cereal Box Puzzle is the most time-consuming and challenging but the puzzle pieces are thicker and less flimsy. It follows many of the same steps as Version 2 but requires the use of a craft knife and protective board. For a greater challenge (in both creation and in use), make a double-sided version as pictured here!

Open the cereal box along its seams and cut off all the flaps and creases from folds. Decide what size (recommended no smaller than 1") and how many pieces you would like to have. You may need to adjust depending on the size of your cereal box. Cut down your puzzle face to accommodate a piece size that will be easy to measure out. There is no border section on this version.

Glue the two largest pieces together. If you are making a double-sided puzzle, glue both blank sides together. If you are making a single-sided one, decide which piece you want to be the puzzle face and put that on top; the bottom of the stack should be blank. Make sure to get really complete glue coverage so all the puzzle pieces will end up with both layers stuck together after being cut out.

Once the glue is dry, trim the edges of the double layer of cardboard if needed and round the corners.

Measure out your grid of squares that will become the puzzle pieces. If you are making a single-sided puzzle, simply draw the lines on the blank side of the puzzle. If you are making a double-sided puzzle, make your darker measurement marks along the four thin edges and then draw very light pencil marks for your grid lines.

Ignore this if you are making a single-sided puzzle...if you are making a double-sided puzzle, be sure to make your pencil marks as light as you can because they may not erase well.

Just like in the previous version, use the cap of a small glue stick (or a small coin) to trace half circles in a random pattern along every line segment. This will create the puzzle's knobs and holes.

Using a craft knife, carefully cut out all the pieces along the pencil lines. Make sure not to cut off any knobs!

You did it, the puzzle is done! 

Using the Template Files:

The instructions and photos on this page were intentionally created without using a template so those who may not have access to a printer might still follow along. If you are able to print, you can use any of the templates posted here to save some time and effort for Versions 2-3! Be sure to print the file at "actual size" to end up with the intended piece size and a half inch border. If you are using the template for Version 3, just cut off the gray border section. All layouts are aligned to the very top and left edges of the page so don't cut off the narrow band of white where the printer doesn't fill all the way to the edges of the paper!

Template Steps:

- determine which template will fit the size of cardboard you are using for your puzzle face
- print the chosen template file and trim off excess
- glue the printout to the blank side of your puzzle face (double-thick if Ver. 3) and allow to dry 
- [Ver. 2 only] cut off the border section and follow steps for creating the backboard
- cut out the puzzle pieces along the printed lines
- [Ver. 2 only] complete your backboard

Large Templates:

(maximum number of pieces on an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper)

Small Templates:

(maximum number of pieces on a puzzle face of 7"x9")

Instruction Sheet:

(from the online class presented 5/20/20)