Artist mom makes a mini Japanese town out of cardboard boxes for her daughter’s sleepover: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’
- Artist Sherri Madison created a cardboard city center in her living room
- Mom’s Tokyo-inspired market was for her daughter’s birthday
A crafty mom turned her living room into a small town for her daughter’s sleepover using recycled cardboard boxes and poster paint.
Sherry Madisonfrom Southern California, grew up with military parents who had to move around a lot and left a pile of boxes in their wake – which is why she can’t stand cardboard being wasted now, and regularly makes art out of Amazon boxes.
She recently spent 10 days making a large cardboard Tokyo-inspired ‘alley market‘ complete with sliding doors, mini shops and windows between each room.
Sherri also focused on the smallest details for the project, including: tiled roofs, hanging paper lanterns, fake bubble tea.
The market was big enough for six adult sleeping bags, so that each child had enough space of his own.
Sherri Madison, from Southern California, grew up with military parents who had to move around a lot and left a pile of boxes in their wake – hence why she can’t stand cardboard going to waste now, and regularly makes art out of Amazon boxes
A crafty mom turned her living room into a small town for her daughter’s sleepover using only recycled cardboard boxes and poster paint
The mother posted several videos of her project on social media.
“This is my little Tokyo cardboard alley market for my daughter’s sleepover,” she said. ‘I’ve been pretty busy lately, but it felt great to do a big build.”
Sherri also joked that she thought maybe she was made of cardboard.
“Each girl at my daughter’s birthday slumber party had her own shop to sleep in, so I made little windows inside so they could see each other.”
The artist used cardboard rivets and hot glue to hold the boxes together.
“But I ended up removing most of the interior walls because they all wanted to be together!”
The artist spoke exclusively with FEMAIL about her thought process when creating such large works of art.
‘I generally don’t work with a plan. I just start with big boxes for a basic shape and then work my way up to the details,” she said.
“This had to fit six adult sleeping bags, so each girl had her own space. The girls had a lot of fun, but I also think it’s great that they all saw what can be done with reuse!’
“My mission is to teach people the amazing things that can be done with recycled cardboard that is usually thrown away.”
All of Sherri’s work is made from 100% recycled cardboard.
Sherri usually doesn’t work with a concrete plan – she just makes a vague outline and then focuses on the details as the project develops
Sherri also focused on the smallest details for the project including: tiled roofs, hanging paper lanterns, fake bubble tea
Thousands were blown away by Sherri’s creation and flocked to her comments in awe.
“Imagine all the stories your kids will one day tell their own kids about the next level of fun they had with their mom and her creations.”
“This is absolutely ridiculous for your child! I am much better suited! Can you be my mother,” one woman joked.
‘Definitely one of the most amazing things I’ve seen! The beautiful details and the craftsmanship! You are so talented!’
“Your kids will grow up knowing that they can achieve great things if they commit to the mission,” added another.
‘The craftsmanship, the details, the paint, the props! Core memories are made here.’