Cereal Box Stencils

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a recycle bin that is constantly overflowing. But did you know that some of the stuff in your recycle bin are perfect for crafting? We use recycled materials in crafts all the time. We even keep some of our craft supplies in cleaned out cans and plastic bins. Today, we’re going to make a fun crafting tool out of recycled cereal boxes: stencils.

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I kept the stencils simple and made only geometric shapes. We had a square, circle, triangle, and rectangle. But, don’t stop there! Make hearts, stars, octagons, ovals, and more. This is a fun tool for kids who are just learning their shapes. Or, in the case of my girls, just a fun art tool. I set the stencils out with a pile of blank paper, markers, colored pencils, and crayons. Both girls created pictures of all kinds with the stencils.

How to make the stencils: Flatten the cereal box and divide into sections. I used the larger flat sides and cut each side in half. I drew a simple shape on each piece of cardboard. I used a little help to make my shapes. I traced one of our drinking glasses for the circle and used a ruler for the other shapes. I used a sharp pair of scissors to cut out the insides because I wanted to preserve the inner shape. We used those to trace around for a different type of stencil. The process of making the stencils couldn’t be easier.

For just a little work, you can have a fun set of free stencils. Learn your shapes, make pictures, and have fun. Miss 1st Grader loves to combine the circle with the triangle to make a whole pile of girls in pretty dresses. Miss Preschool was creating simple houses. Keep these on hand for a fun twist to art time and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.

Are you wondering what else you can use from your recycle bin? Check out this post: Favorite Craft Supplies From the Recycle Bin.