What cardboard tables lack in practicality, they make up for in their coolness factor. Cardboard is flimsy and not particularly durable, but with just the right bracing and a little bit of luck, you can make a table sturdy enough to hold coffee and maybe some light craft projects. Build one entirely out of cardboard to prove that you can, then cheat the next time by adding pieces of wood for support.
Things You'll Need:
- Craft Knife
- Scissors
- Water
- White Glue
- Cardboard
- Newspaper
Get a nice big cardboard box. The bottom will serve as your tabletop, and the sides will be the legs, so find one with the right dimensions.
Cut out the legs by making diagonal cuts as shown in the image below. The wider the legs, the more stable the table will be.
Brace the underside of the table. Glue a vertical strip from one table leg to the leg diagonally opposite. Then cut a slot in the center of a second slit and glue it across between the other two table legs so it fits along with the first slit.
Glue braces along the inside of the leg. If you don't mind cheating, glue sticks from the bottom of the feet to the underside of the table. Otherwise, use strips of cardboard.
Glue a rectangular piece of cardboard the same size as the top of the table directly on top of it.
Cover the table in papier mache. Mix one part white glue and three parts water. Dip a strip of newspaper into the mixture, then paste it onto the table. Apply a layer of papier mache, let it dry, then apply a second layer.
Writer Bio
Isaiah David is a freelance writer and musician living in Portland, Ore. He has over five years experience as a professional writer and has been published on various online outlets. He holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan.
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