Don’t discard those cardboard tubes just yet! With a little creativity, you can breathe new life into old toilet paper rolls and turn them into stunning works of art with your kids. The possibilities are endless when it comes to recycling these humble materials. We’ve collected 20 creative ideas below that will inspire you to give old tubes a second chance.
Gruffalo Props from Recyclables
Bring the beloved characters from ‘The Gruffalo’ to life through a fun and creative craft project. Before starting, it’s recommended that you read the book with your kids or let them read it independently, as this will help them develop a deeper understanding of the characters. Once they’re familiar with the story, they can use their imagination to recreate the characters using toilet paper rolls.
This activity is perfect for kids, requiring only basic materials like scissors, markers, and toilet paper rolls. If you’re looking for more creative ideas on how to reuse toilet paper rolls, check out our collection of paper roll crafts.
DIY Pirate Spyglass
Transform the treasure hunt into a swashbuckling adventure with your little buccaneers! Create a one-of-a-kind extendable spyglass that will keep them entertained and engaged. The best part? You can easily craft it using everyday materials like cardboard toilet paper tubes and paper cups. This DIY masterpiece is perfect for pirate-themed events or as an added flair to their trick-or-treat costumes.
Toilet Paper Race Cars
Unleash the creative genius in your child by building custom toilet paper race cars! With just a few simple materials, including glue, scissors, hole puncher, black craft foam, acrylic paint, aluminum foil, and paper fasteners, you can create an unforgettable experience for them. For added excitement, consider using metallic acrylic paint to give their car a sleek, shiny finish.
Tin Foil Bangles
Take your child’s dress-up game to the next level by crafting their own accessories with shiny bangles. To get started, gather a few simple materials: tin foil, scissors, a hole punch, ribbons, and any decorative items that catch your eye. Once you have these supplies on hand, you can let your creativity shine by adding glittery washi tapes, like the ones pictured, to give the plain bangles a pop of color and texture.
Artsy Mini Album
Stuck on finding the ideal gift for your loved one? Consider a thoughtful, customized compact album that speaks volumes about your affection. Fill it with heartfelt notes, mementos, and treasures that hold special meaning to both of you. This sentimental keepsake is a testament to the love and effort you put into creating something truly unique.
Burlap Napkin Ring
Transform your dinner parties into unforgettable gatherings with these charming DIY burlap napkin rings. Not only do they add a rustic touch to the table setting, but they also make your guests feel extra special by addressing them personally. To create these unique rings, you’ll need some basic materials, including toilet paper tubes, brown paper, burlap ribbon, glue gun and sticks, markers, twine, and mini clothespins. You can find all of these supplies in one convenient set, available here.
Cardboard Roll Easter Bunny
Take your Easter celebration to the next level with a delightful toilet paper roll Easter Bunny craft. This project is easy and enjoyable, making it perfect for kids to complete independently. For an exact replica of the bunny in our featured image, utilize this printable template. To add an extra touch of whimsy, substitute the included eyes or glue on some googly eyes like these for a lively effect.
Explore more Easter crafts designed specifically for kids that are just as engaging and enjoyable as this one!
Space Exploration
Ignite your child’s sense of adventure and introduce them to the wonders of outer space with a DIY rocket project that’s as simple as ABC. With just a few basic materials like craft paper, card stock, scissors, pencil, and glue, they can create an entire fleet of rockets, each one a unique addition to their own personal collection.
To launch this intergalactic journey, simply gather the necessary supplies and let your child’s creativity soar.
Who knows what wonders they’ll discover in the vast expanse of space?
Abstract Cardboard Tubes Sculpture
Embracing creativity as a family is at the heart of this project. It’s an activity that transcends age boundaries, allowing both children and adults to tap into their imaginative potential. The beauty of abstract art lies in its boundless possibilities – you’re free to create whatever your heart desires, whether it’s a whimsical sculpture or a vibrant masterpiece. This sense of freedom is contagious, encouraging everyone involved to let their creativity shine through.
With this project, the entire family can come together and explore the endless possibilities that abstract art has to offer.
Easy-to-Do Bird Feeders
Bring joy to your feathered friends by creating an easy and budget-friendly bird feeder. All you need is some peanut butter, birdseed, and toilet paper! Simply spread a generous amount of peanut butter onto the toilet paper, roll it in birdseed, and attach it to a branch in your backyard. This fun activity not only provides a tasty treat for birds but also serves as an opportunity to teach kids about the importance of supporting nature and learning about different bird species.
Get creative with your kids and enjoy watching the birds visit their new feeder!
Personalized Frozen Bracelets
Get ready to join the icy squad with your own personalized Frozen accessories! Whether you’re team Elsa or team Anna, elevate your everyday style or take it to the next level for a themed party. Imagine adding a touch of aqua blue sparkle to complete the look – because no princess is complete without her dose of glitter!
Kaleidoscope for Kids
Kaleidoscopes are an engaging way to introduce children to fundamental concepts in a fun and interactive manner. The toy allows kids to explore the properties of light, reflections, and colors, making it an excellent tool for learning. One of the best things about kaleidoscopes is that they’re incredibly easy to create. All you need is mirrored sheets, which can be obtained through this link, and colorful translucent beads like theseto add a pop of color to your project.
For a step-by-step guide on building your own kaleidoscope, refer to the detailed instructions provided here.
Rain Stick Out of Kitchen Towel Roll
Transform your little one’s auditory experience with this quick and easy DIY rain stick project. With only a few simple materials and under 10 minutes of effort, you can create a unique musical instrument that mimics the soothing sounds of rainfall.
To get started, insert a spiraled aluminum foil into an empty toilet paper roll, followed by a layer of rice. Seal both ends to complete the basic structure. Then, hand it over to your child for their creative touch and imagination.
In just four easy steps, you’ll have crafted a delightful instrument that brings the calming sounds of rain indoors.
Confetti Celebration Poppers
Transforming everyday objects into party props is a clever way to get creative without breaking the bank. Take, for instance, toilet paper rolls, which can be repurposed as DIY confetti poppers. To get started, stretch a balloon over one end of the toilet paper roll and conceal both the paper and balloon with wrapping paper that matches your celebration’s theme. Add any final decorative touches before filling the roll with confetti and glitter. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to do!
Simply pull on the balloon to create the force needed to release the confetti, making it a fun and memorable way to add some sparkle to your next celebration.
Toilet Paper Roll Peeps
Bring a splash of sunshine into your home with the creation of a vibrant yellow character that spreads positivity and joy. The star of this project is the use of bright yellow feathers, which can be sourced from [link]. This craft is surprisingly simple to make, but if you’d like step-by-step guidance, refer to [page link] for a detailed pictographic tutorial.
Creative Star Wars Toilet Paper Roll Figures
Turn household items into intergalactic fun with a DIY Star Wars figure project perfect for younglings. Transform toilet paper rolls and egg cartons into beloved characters, fostering object recognition skills in toddlers. This creative activity not only provides hours of entertainment but also offers an eco-friendly way to repurpose everyday materials. Plus, it’s a great way to spark imagination and encourage kids to think outside the box.
Cardboard Unicorn Figures
Unicorns hold a special place in the hearts of many little girls (and let’s be honest, adults too!). There’s something undeniably charming about these mythical creatures that evoke feelings of warmth, playfulness, and joy. If you’re looking to bring a touch of magic into your life, why not try crafting your own unicorn? With some basic materials like pastel cardstock, scissors, glue, and googly eyes, you can create this whimsical creature using a simple template.
Bunny and Ducky from Toy Story
If you’re a parent of kids who’ve watched Toy Story, you might be familiar with the lovable duo, Bunny and Ducky. This fun project is another great example of a ‘cut, draw, and glue’ activity that’s perfect for little ones. To get started, gather yellow, blue, and green cardstock, yellow feathers, googly eyes, scissors, glue, a marker, and some green pom poms like these.
Once you’ve got all the materials ready, let your kids’ creativity shine by encouraging them to create more toilet paper characters on a regular basis. This simple activity can help foster their imagination and artistic skills.
Easy-to-Do Chicken Craft
Transform ordinary toilet paper rolls into a delightful chick- chicken! This creative project not only sparks imagination but also offers a fantastic sensory experience for toddlers. By combining various textures – from the rough cardboard to fluffy feathers and smooth googly eyes – your little one will develop their understanding of tactile sensations.
Additionally, the diverse colors employed in this craft activity will stimulate their visual awareness, providing an excellent opportunity to teach about hues and shapes. And the best part? This educational toy is surprisingly affordable and accessible.
Hanging Bird Feeder
While this bird feeder project shares many similarities with our previous endeavors, it presents one key difference: rather than being nestled in a branch, it’s suspended from a string. This design choice allows for a new level of flexibility and adjustability, making it easy to reposition the feeder as needed.
Additionally, to enhance the feeding experience for our fine-feathered friends, bamboo skewers were inserted through the toilet paper roll to create a sturdy platform for the birds to stand on while they dine.
Conclusion
Next time you come across a discarded toilet paper cardboard roll, resist the urge to toss it into the trash and instead, store it away in a neat and organized manner in your cupboard. Why not take this opportunity to share some creative inspiration with your friends and family by showcasing these innovative craft ideas? By doing so, you’ll be encouraging others to think outside the box (or roll) and find new uses for everyday items.
