Homemade Giant Building Blocks - Lightweight and Inexpensive

One of the simplest toys I've ever made my children, and also one they think is just awesome:

Giant cardboard box building blocks

I just wrapped up a few of the empty cardboard boxes (mostly from diapers and Amazon purchases) I've been hoarding in my craft room, with inexpensive wrapping paper. The paper I used was purchased at Dollar Tree a few years ago. I'm not sure if they still stock it. It has the texture of a brown paper sack, which I thought was really nice, and it's much thicker than typical gift wrap.

They're very lightweight and easy for my toddler to pick up, stack, and - the very best part - knock down. The baby has even found himself in the avalanche path a couple of times and managed to escape injury!

We decided the boxes needed a little more color, so we're working on painting them.

I was running out of paper, so this one only got a few sheets taped over the shipping labels.

I think I'll wrap up some of the shoeboxes I have squirreled away as well and add them to the mix. The collection takes up a considerable amount of space in the playroom, but once we've had our fun with them, we'll have an unwrapping party, then fold them away for another project.