Mike the Knight Castle Craft

Every knight needs a kingdom, so go on a simple quest to gather materials and build this captivating castle! Grab a shoebox, toliet tissue rolls and our printables to get started.

Court's in session every day on Nick Jr.

Materials

• Castle templates
• Puppets
• Adult-sized shoe box
• Paper milk cartoon
• 2 toilet tissue rolls
• 1 paper towel roll
• Scissors
• Glue
• Toothpicks

Directions

1. Step 1

   Print the templates for the castles and cut out all the parts where indicated.

2. Step 2

   Begin by detaching the lid from the shoe box (if necessary).<br><br> Line the inside of the shoe box with the brick pattern printable. Attach the printable labeled "front castle" to the front of the box. Cut the printable to fit the box. Next, cut along the dotted lines of the door to create a door that opens.<br><br> Print multiple copies of the printable labeled "castle side." Wrap the box using these printables.

3. Step 3

   To create the small towers: wrap the small tower printable around a toilet tissue roll and secure with glue. Roll the spire printable until a cone shaped is formed and affix to the top of the toilet tissue roll. Attach the flag to a toothpick and slide the toothpick into the top of the spire. Repeat these steps to create the large tower using a paper towel roll.<br><br> Affix the small towers to the back corners of the castle by cutting two small slits in either sides of the rolls and sliding them down along the shoe box.

4. Step 4

   Create the middle tower by wrapping the brick pattern printable around a milk carton. Create the top of the castle by folding the template where indicated and gluing the glue tabs together. Affix this portion to the outside of the milk cartoon (see photo for reference).<br><br> Once the middle tower is complete, glue it down to the inside of the box. Create the bridge by folding and gluing where indicated. Place the large tower (created in step 3) on the outside of the box and glue one end of the bridge to the large tower and the other end to the middle tower (see photo for reference).

5. Step 5

   Create Mike's tower by rolling the bottom of the tower printable and affixing the tabs to the front corner of the box. Roll the top of the tower and insert it into the bottom of the tower. Create the spire by rolling the printable into a cone shape and affixing it to the top of the tower. Insert the flag into the top of the spire.

6. Step 6

   Attach Evie's tree house to the castle by simply folding back and affixing the tabs to the box.

7. Step 7

   Create the drawbridge by attaching the printable to a piece of the shoe box lid (for sturdiness) and cutting it out. Next, punch holes where indicated and thread string into the holes. Affix the bridge to the bottom of the shoe box in front of the door. Punch holes into the two windows above the door and thread the string through the holes and knot the ends.

8. Step 8

   Set the castle aside to dry, and cut out each of the characters. Create the base of the puppet by folding up the solid black line, then fold the character down the center, apply glue to one side and firmly press both sides together. This will create a double-sided puppet that stands (glue should not be applied to the base of the puppet). <br><br> When the puppets dry, your child's knightly missions can begin!