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Build your own Minecraft set

Build your own Minecraft set
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Build a custom Minecraft set using cardboard, paper cubes, paint, and toy figures to recreate scenes, practice planning, measuring, and creative problem-solving.

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Step-by-step guide to build your own Minecraft set

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Creating a Vibrant 4-Color LEGO Minecraft House | Brickmine Highlights #3

What you need
Adult supervision required, cardboard sheets, glue or tape, paintbrushes, paints, paper cube templates or blank heavy paper, pencil, ruler, scissors, toy figures

Step 1

Pick one Minecraft scene you want to recreate like a village cave or farm.

Step 2

Draw a simple layout of your scene on paper showing where water houses and paths will go.

Step 3

Measure and mark a cardboard piece for your base using a ruler and pencil.

Step 4

Cut out the cardboard base along your markings.

Step 5

Paint the base background colors such as grass water and sky.

Step 6

Fold each paper cube template along the lines to form cube shapes.

Step 7

Glue the tabs to close each paper cube so they hold their shape.

Step 8

Measure and cut small cardboard squares or rectangles to make extra larger blocks.

Step 9

Paint the paper cubes and cardboard blocks with Minecraft-style colors and patterns.

Step 10

Arrange the painted cubes and blocks on the base following your drawn layout.

Step 11

Glue or tape the cubes and blocks down to secure your scene to the base.

Step 12

Place toy figures and any extra details into the scene in the spots you like.

Step 13

Share your finished Minecraft set on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I don't have paint or preprinted paper cube templates?

Use colored markers, construction paper glued onto recycled cereal-box cardboard for the base and blocks, or draw the 6-square cube nets by hand and color them instead of using paint or preprinted paper cube templates.

My paper cubes keep popping open or the scene shifts when I glue them down—how can I fix that?

Pre-crease every fold with a ruler before you glue the tabs, apply glue sparingly to tabs and hold them with clothespins or small clamps until dry, and press the cubes onto the cardboard base with a heavy book while the glue sets so the blocks adhere securely.

How do I adapt this Minecraft set activity for different age groups?

For preschoolers, have an adult measure and cut the cardboard base and pre-fold cubes so they can paint big blocks and place toy figures, for elementary kids let them measure with a ruler, cut with safety scissors, and fold and glue their paper cube templates, and for older kids encourage detailed painting, extra cardboard block construction, and photographing the finished scene to share on DIY.org.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize our Minecraft scene after it's built?

Personalize by painting custom Minecraft skins on paper cubes, add battery tea-lights inside painted cardboard houses for torch glow, stack extra cardboard platforms for multi-level terrain, and include handmade clay or paper figures before sharing the finished Minecraft set on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to build your own Minecraft set

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I built EVERY MINECRAFT structure in LEGO...

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Facts about papercraft and model building for kids

♻️ Cardboard is lightweight, easy to cut and paint, and widely recyclable — a kid-friendly material for creative builds.

✂️ Papercraft turns flat sheets into 3D models using folds and tabs — perfect for making sturdy paper cubes with glue and a ruler.

🧱 In Minecraft one block is treated as a 1×1×1 meter cube — a handy real-world scale for paper-cube builds.

🎮 Minecraft launched in 2011 and became one of the most influential, player-driven creative games ever.

🎨 Pixel art and Minecraft both use a block-by-block grid style — each paper cube can act like a giant pixel in a scene.

How do you build a custom Minecraft set at home?

To build a custom Minecraft set, start by choosing a scene and sketching a simple grid to set cube size. Cut equal squares from cardboard or heavy paper, fold and tape into cubes, and reinforce edges. Stack and arrange cubes to form terrain, painting details and adding paper plants or printed textures. Place toy figures and adjust layouts, encouraging children to measure, test balance, and solve fit problems as they refine their design.

What materials do I need for a DIY Minecraft set?

You’ll need cardboard or heavy cardstock, plain paper for cubes, a ruler and pencil, scissors and an adult-use craft knife, cutting mat, glue or double-sided tape, clear tape, acrylic paints and brushes, markers, and small toy figures. Optional extras include hot glue, printable cube templates, recycled boxes, foam sheets, LED tealights, and stickers. Choose non-toxic paints and keep wipes handy for easy cleanup.

What ages is this Minecraft set activity suitable for?

This activity fits roughly ages 5–12 with supervision adjusted by age. Preschoolers (3–5) can paint and place pieces while adults handle cutting and measuring. Ages 6–9 can fold cubes and arrange simple scenes with help measuring and gluing. Ages 10+ can plan scaled builds, design complex terrain, and use craft knives with supervision. Always supervise sharp tools and small parts to prevent choking hazards.

What are the benefits of building a Minecraft set for kids?

Building a Minecraft set develops planning, measuring, and spatial-reasoning skills while encouraging creativity and problem-solving. Children practice fine motor control when folding and painting cubes and learn perseverance through redesigns. Collaborative builds boost teamwork and communication, and designing scaled scenes introduces basic math and engineering ideas. It’s also screen-free imaginative play that strengthens storytelling as kids recreate or invent Minecraft adventures.
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