Crafting with paper rolls is a fun and environmentally friendly way for kids to express their artistic spirits. With a plain old cardboard tube and your desired toilet paper roll crafts, you can create various decorative and functional items, from cute animal designs to gorgeous home decor.
Cardboard tubes can be found anywhere in your household items. It could be toilet paper rolls, kitchen towel rolls, empty yarn rolls, and many more. Instead of tossing these empty rolls to waste, why not recycle them into a fun afternoon crafting activity with the kids?
Not only are they super affordable, but this activity is a great way to teach your little ones about the importance of recycling and being environmentally aware of reusing items. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s budget-friendly!
We’ve surfed the web for some of the best and free toilet paper roll crafts for you to try! However, if you need some general guidance, be sure to check out the FAQ section below. Otherwise, have a jolly time making these adorable knick-knacks with your little ones.
FAQs On Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
1. What materials do I need?
Creating projects with toilet paper roll tubes is much easier than you might think. Our selection of kid-friendly crafts only requires a few essential materials that you can easily get from your local stores. Here is what you’ll need:
– Cardboard tubes
– Cardstock paper
– Colored markers
– Poster color paint
– Scissors
– School glue or hot glue
– Scotch tape
– String
– Googly eyes
2. Are there any safety concerns with paper roll crafts?
Safety precautions should always be taken when using scissors and a hot glue gun with younger kids. Close monitoring and adult supervision are needed to prevent accidents and ensure that the supplies are being used properly.
To take extra precautions, you can sanitize the toilet paper tubes by putting them out in the sun to kill those pesky germs or wipe them down with anti-bacterial wipes. If you choose the second option, make sure to let them fully dry out under the sun first, as the rolls can suck up moisture from the wipes.
3. Where can I get paper tubes?
There are many sources where you can get the paper tubes for free. Besides collecting them from your bathroom, you can also obtain them from your kitchenware, such as cling wraps, aluminum foils, or kitchen paper towels. You can also collect them from yarn tubes and thermal paper tubes.
If you haven’t been saving your toilet paper roll tubes, you can also roll up a piece of construction paper into the same shape. Just roll it around several times for a sturdier structure, and secure it with tape or glue.
4. What are the benefits of crafting with cardboard tubes?
Recycling paper tubes provides valuable lessons in sustainability for children. They learn firsthand about the importance of recycling and repurposing materials and instilling lifelong habits of environmental consciousness. Additionally, crafting with everyday items fosters resourcefulness and creativity, showing kids how simple materials can be transformed into imaginative creations.
What’s Next?
- Don’t forget to showcase your completed work on Facebook and Instagram, and tag us @craftpassion.
- Pin this onto your Pinterest for later.
- Share your toilet paper roll crafts with the community so they can get inspired by your handmade artwork!
- While you’re at it, feel free to check more of our Kid’s Crafts, specially made for you. If you’d like more project ideas, feel free to try out Mother’s Day Painting Ideas and Origami Flower Tutorials.
82 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids
Now that you’re prepped and ready, gather your supplies and browse through the list of tutorials to try with your family! We promise you hours of fun and creativity.
Bat Treat Boxes
Are you looking to make trick-or-treating extra exciting this Halloween? Check out these bat treat bags, they can be made using toilet paper rolls. Substitute the paper for cardboard tubes painted in black and draw on those silly faces using a white marker!
Toilet Paper Roll Unicorn
Your little ones will have a blast making this dazzling unicorn paper tube. Attach some colorful ribbons and mini flowers, which you can find at the craft store. Add a glitter paper cone, and you have your magical creature!
DIY Pencil Holder
Are your kids returning to school and need to keep their stationery organized? Check out this DIY yarn pencil holder made out of cardboard tubes. Decorate them however you like using different colored yarn wrapped around them and customize the design with buttons and felt.
Cardboard Roll Fox
What does the fox say? Check out these super cute foxes you can make out of cardboard tubes! Paint them orange and white for that classic woodland charm, and draw on that cunning face with a black marker to replicate the fox’s features.
Halloween Mummy Pencil Holder
Look at these spooky mummy pencil holders to spook up your study desk. Using the same idea as the yarn pencil holder, substitute the yarn for torn white cloth strips and add some googly eyes peeking behind the strips.
Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly
Let your little ones get creative by trying out these fun and easy toilet paper roll butterflies to make during the summer break! To make the wings come to life, you can get creative with other materials to add flair. Use pompoms, buttons, glitter, or markers to create unique wing designs.
Winter Animals
Get creative with your paper roll crafts and create a Winter Wonderland by making these adorable little cardboard tube winter animals. You can also complete the whole squad of owls, penguins, foxes, and polar bears!
Toilet Paper Roll Crab
These crabby crafts are perfect for an under-the-sea-themed play and are easy to make at home! All you need are some additional pipe cleaners, which you can quickly get from the dollar store, and attach some googly eyes on painted toothpicks.
Shark Paper Tube
Did you know that sharks do not have bones? So does this cardboard tube shark! Kids are going to love this shark craft during the summer. Check out this step-by-step guide to learn how to make it.
Paddington Bear
Take a look at this adorable little DIY Paddington Bear made out of a cardboard tube. With his blue felt vest, red origami hat, and cardboard suitcase, this project is perfect for all Paddington Bear fans of all ages.
Toilet Paper Roll Snakes
Let your child get creative with this snake made of toilet paper tubes! Feel free to let them paint as many patterns as they want onto the cardboard tubes and connect them using strings. Add googly eyes and a forked tongue cut out of paper, and there you have it! A super cool snake!
Toilet Roll Ninjas
These little ninjas would make for a fun afternoon activity or a ninja-themed party! Customize their ninja suits with your favorite colors and give them cute, scary, or angry faces.
DIY Mini Koinobori
Celebrate this Children’s Day by crafting these mini Koinobori inspired by Japanese wind sock carp. You can fly these around home using colorful tissue paper for scales and tails as mini kites.
Paper Roll Bunnies
Check out these adorable little paper tube bunnies! Your kids would enjoy making these during Spring, Easter, or Earth Day! Follow this tutorial and download the printable template to start producing these bunnies and watch as they hop away.
Fire Breathing Dragon
Your kids are going to love making this easy fire-breathing dragon that is made out of paper cores and tissue paper. This craft is pretty unique as it is functional, and watch as the flames come to life as you blow on the end of the tubes!
Cardboard Tube Tiger
Check out this adorable cardboard tube tiger! Cut the toilet paper roll to create the shape for their 3D tiger with four legs and a tail. Paint on their distinctive orange and black striped coat and then add a face.
Beluga Whale Toilet Roll
Did you know that Beluga whales can swim backward? Teach your kids all about marine wildlife with this simple and fun activity using paper and a cardboard tube. It can be a fun school art project that engages them with the ocean's wonders.
Halloween Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Are you looking for a fun Halloween craft? Take a look at this spooky collection of spooky toilet paper roll crafts! Make a jack o’ lantern, Dracula, Frankenstein, and a dusty old mummy; you will have the perfect additions to your Halloween decor collection.
Spring Toilet Paper Rolls
These spring toilet paper rolls are perfect for a springtime crafting session with your kids. Check out all of the Springtime artwork by MadebyMomma. To make it even more extravagant, combine them and turn this regular decor into a garland for a fun tea party session with your family and friends.
Toilet Paper Roll Frog
Ribbit! Check out this awesome, easy, fun toilet paper roll frog activity. Wrap the outside of your paper core with green paper and attach some froggy limbs to create your jumpy creature. You can even attach a string with a fly to make it look like your frog has caught its lunch!
Paper Roll Chicks
This super cute, easy paper roll chick is the perfect Easter craft for your kids. Glue on some pipe cleaners to your chicks for some of that fuzzy charm, and attach some googly eyes. You can make as many as you want and even substitute them for eggs during an Easter egg hunt!
Toilet Roll Flowers
Here's a simple one to make on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Check out these toilet roll flowers! Let your little ones get creative and encourage them to experiment with different colors and flower designs!
Toilet Roll Owl
This adorable and colorful toilet roll owl is a hoot to make! Kids will love making this adorable owl as they can choose their favorite colors and personalize this fun owl to their liking.
Paper Roll Swan
Paper roll swans are such a blast to make. They are a delightful project, and their graceful presence makes them perfect as a captivating dinner centerpiece. Just follow this step-by-step tutorial to start crafting your paper roll swans!
Toilet Roll Fish
Check out this cool toilet roll fish! Follow this simple guide to start making your own. You can even attach magnets to their mouths and craft a makeshift magnetic fishing rod with a paper clip and string to make your own fishing game!
Christmas Tree Forest
Make a Christmas tree forest out of toilet paper rolls for winter! Encourage your kids to paint them however they like and decorate them with pom-poms, sequins, ribbons, yarn, and any other reusable household items you have available.
Toilet Paper Roll Train
Crafting this toilet paper roll train would make for a fun afternoon bonding session and entertain your kids for hours of fun afterward! Recycle bottle caps to use as train wheels and string up your carriages with yarn.
Dragon Marionette
Take a look at this awesome fire-breathing dragon marionette produced out of cardboard tubes! This would be perfect for a fun crafting session, especially for kids who love imaginative play.
Toilet Paper Pigs
You probably already have everything you'll need at home to make this super easy DIY pig. With regular household items and basic supplies, you can engage your kids in an after-school activity to learn more about farm animals and expand their creativity in this crafting session.
Paper Roll Monkey
Swing into a fun-filled day with this adorable paper roll monkey! It will be the perfect addition to a zoo-themed playtime for the kids. Follow this simple tutorial with its free printable template to start making this cheeky little fellow.
Toilet Roll Axolotl
Aren’t axolotls just the cutest sea creatures you have ever seen? Now you can have your axolotl with this fun toilet roll craft! Use colored paper to create the distinctive features of this adorable amphibian, including its frilly gills and cute smiles.
Star Wars Toilet Roll Characters
Join in on a galactic adventure with these Star Wars toilet roll characters! Make your favorite heroes and villains—from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader—using paper tubes as the base. Add details like lightsabers, helmets, and capes for an out-of-this-world crafting experience.
Mini House Ornaments
Deck the halls with these adorable mini house ornaments made from toilet paper rolls and cupcake wrappers! Cut the rolls into smaller sections, then decorate them with paint, glitter, and miniature Christmas wreaths. Hang them on your tree or use them to adorn presents for a festive touch.
DIY Desk Organizer
Is your desk getting a little messy? Make this easy DIY desk organizer using toilet paper tubes. Decorate them with wrapping paper, washi tape, and craft jewels to add a slick charm to your study desk.
Toilet Paper Race Cars
Ready, set, GO! Get ready to race with these speedy toilet paper race cars! Decorate the tubes with paint, markers, and stickers to create custom car designs. Add wheels made from bottle caps or cardboard cut into a circular shape, and let the races begin!
Toilet Paper Rocket
Ready for takeoff? You better be after crafting this simple and fun toilet paper rocket! Follow this simple step-by-step guide to make your space rocket and explore Mars!
Cardboard Tube Olaf
Bring the magic of Frozen to life with this fun and easy cardboard tube Olaf! Wrap the cardboard tube with white paper and add details like eyes, a carrot nose, and twig arms to recreate everyone's favorite snowman. Don't forget to give him a warm hug!
Father’s Day Paper Rolls
Show your Dad how much you adore him on Father's Day with this heartfelt paper roll project that looks just like him. Add his features onto the craft, including his hair color, favorite shirt, mustache, and many more.
Watermelon and Pineapple Craft
Bring a taste of summer to your crafting session with these fruity crafts! It’s the perfect after-school project to make with your kids on a summer afternoon. Encourage them to make other types of fruits, too!
Toilet Paper Roll Squirrel
If you want a relaxing evening activity during the fall, check out these adorable toilet paper squirrels! Follow this easy step-by-step guide with its free printable template to start forming this chubby critter.
Toilet Roll Reindeer
Here's another super adorable Christmas DIY project! Check out these toilet roll reindeer, which are perfect for a Christmas morning activity. Celebrate the festive spirit by displaying these reindeer on a mantle or the dining table.
Cardboard Roll Pirates
Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with these cardboard roll pirates! Paint the rolls in black, red, and white pirate colors, then draw on details like eye patches and bandanas with markers. Arr, matey!
Paper Tube Mermaid
Dive under the sea with this paper tube mermaid craft inspired by Disney’s Little Mermaid! Encourage your kids to unleash their creativity and to design their little mermaids with different tail colors and hairstyles.
Toilet Paper Turkey
Gobble up some crafting fun with this festive toilet paper roll turkey! Add colorful feathers, a beak, and a wattle made from colored paper. Have your kids display it proudly as a Thanksgiving decoration.
Toilet Paper Airplane
Have your kids prepare for takeoff with this high-flying toilet paper airplane! Let their imagination soar by painting the rolls in their favorite colors. Then, add wings, a tail, and propellers made from recycled popsicle sticks.
Toilet Paper Octopus
Create an undersea friend with this adorable paper tube octopus! Paint the roll in vibrant colors, then add eight bendy legs made from curled strips of colored paper. Draw on eyes and a smiling mouth for a cute and friendly octopus.
Dinosaur Pencil Holder
Aren't these dinosaur pencil holders so cute? Paint the rolls in dinosaur colors, and add a tail, feet, and head using the dinosaur template. Use it to organize pencils, markers, or other art supplies to keep your surface clean and tidy.
Toilet Roll Yak
Do you know any animals that start with the letter ‘Y’? Now you do! Craft your yak with this adorable design! Paint the roll brown, then add white paper in the shape of horns at the top of its head covered with some yarn. Finish off with googly eyes and a snout.
Nature Paper Tube Fish
Kids will love making this super cute paper tube fish! You only need two primary materials to make these paper-roll fish: cardboard tubes and various leaves. They will love collecting foliage outdoors to make their paper tube fish come to life as they learn about nature.
Cardboard Tube Alligator
Snap into crafting fun with this cardboard tube alligator! Paint the paper roll green and add paper or foam teeth along the edges. Add this fun craft project when teaching kids all about zoo animals.
Toilet Paper Bird Feeder
Invite feathered friends into your garden with this DIY bird feeder made from a paper tube! Spread vegetable softening on the outside of the roll, then roll it in birdseed. Hang it from a tree branch with a string or ribbon. Kids of all ages will love watching as the birds flock to feast.
Cardboard Tube Skyline
Children will love building their cityscape with this cardboard tube skyline craft! Cut cardboard tubes into different heights and sizes, then paint them in black to represent skyscrapers. Encourage them to model their skyline after their favorite cityscapes.
DIY Christmas Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas with this homemade advent calendar made from toilet paper tubes! Fill each roll with small treats or messages, decorate them in Christmas themes, and number them from 1 to 24. Enjoy opening one each day leading up to Christmas.
Robot Cardboard Tube
Get futuristic with these robot crafts! Wrap the rolls with aluminum foil, then add buttons, dials, and pipe cleaner antennas. Let your imagination run wild as you create your unique robot designs.
Toilet Paper Roll Honeycombs
Celebrate the sweetness of nature with these DIY honeycomb decorations made from paper rolls! Cut the rolls into sections, bend them into hexagons, and arrange them in a honeycomb pattern, painting them in golden hues. Display them as wall art with little bees from recycled Kinder eggs.
Paper Roll Astronaut
Check out this fun astronaut paper roll DIY with a free printable template that’s out of this world. It will be a fun project during a rainy day, and your little one will love the space adventures they can go on with their mini astronaut!
DIY Gift Boxes
Hand out party favors in style with these DIY gift boxes made from recycled paper rolls! Cut the rolls into smaller sections, then decorate them with wrapping paper, ribbon, and embellishments for a personalized touch.
Paper Roll Pumpkins
Get into the fall spirit with these festive toilet paper roll pumpkins! Paint the rolls with Mod Podge and add a layer of gold glitter for a cute, shimmery decoration perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug
Bring good luck to your crafting with these super easy paper roll ladybugs! Kids are going to love this simple, charming springtime craft. Just follow this step-by-step guide to start making your ladybugs!
Toilet Paper Ice Castle
Create a magical wonderland with this toilet paper ice castle! Stack and glue cardboard tubes of different lengths and sizes to form a majestic castle. This project can develop fine motor skills as children can cut, fold, and glue the materials together. Once the castle is complete, they can use it as a toy for pretend play on their own or with friends.
DIY Seedling Pots
Kids are going to love gardening with these paper roll seedling pots. This DIY only takes less than 10 minutes to assemble, and your kids will love watching their seedlings grow in homemade pots!
DIY Toilet Paper Binoculars
Explore the great outdoors with these DIY toilet paper binoculars! Follow this guide with its free template to start making these binoculars. You can use strings or yarn to make the straps. This will ensure the binoculars are securely held in your kid's neck. Have a fun-filled day with this practical craft, and you can use it during a nature hike.
Paper Roll Jungle Animals
Send your kids on a safari adventure with these paper-roll jungle animals! By following this step-by-step guide, learn to make toilet paper rolls into a lion, monkey, and elephant. Encourage your kids to create a jungle full of other animal-themed toilet roll crafts and let their imagination run wild!
DIY Pencil Case
Organize your pencils in style with this DIY pencil case from cardboard tubes! Decorate the rolls with colorful felt and glue on pom-poms, sequins, or anything you like! Add a zipper for easy access to your stationery.
Paper Roll Pipe Cleaner Spiders
Spin a web of DIY fun with these toilet paper roll pipe cleaner spiders! Attach bendy pipe cleaner legs and googly eyes to your rolls and cut them in half to create your eight-legged critter. Perfect for Halloween decorations!
Cardboard Tube Sheep
Count yourself to sleep with these adorable cardboard tube sheep crafts! You can glue cotton balls to coat the paper core to imitate the sheep's soft fur. Add googly eyes, a felt face, and pipe cleaner legs to complete this wooly bedtime buddy.
Paper Roll Wizard
Transform a plain toilet paper roll into a wise and magical wizard by adding a robe, hat, and beard made from colored paper. Don't forget the magic wand! Follow this simple guide and download its free printable template to start crafting.
Paper Roll Monsters
Let your kids' imaginations run wild as they design and decorate their unique, monstrously fun monster paper rolls in different colors. Try out funky hairstyles, and add as many googly eyes as you want.
Toilet Paper Roll Pikachu
This adorable toilet paper roll Pikachu craft brings everyone's favorite Pokémon to life! Use yellow paper to cover the roll, then add his ears, red cheeks, and signature lightning bolt tail to complete Pikachu's iconic look. Gotta craft 'em all!
Super Hero Cuffs
Your kids will love feeling like superheroes with these DIY superhero cuffs made from cardboard rolls! Get creative and use craft foam to accessorize the cuffs with their superhero trademark shapes like lightning bolts or stars.
Cardboard Tube Clowns
Is it someone’s birthday party? This calls for a clown! Make your very own mini clown using cardboard tubes. Get creative with some bright and colorful yarn or pompoms for their funky hair, and don’t forget a bright red pompom for that classic clown nose charm.
Cardboard Tube Zebra
Teaching preschool kids about words that start with the letter ‘Z’? You can’t go wrong with this adorable cardboard tube zebra craft! It could also be a great arts and crafts project for a zoo unit.
Paper Roll Shape Stamps
Toddlers will love learning to make these custom stamps produced from cardboard tubes! Bend the roll into shapes like hearts, squares, and triangles, then dip them in paint and stamp them onto paper for a fun and creative art project.
Cardboard Roll Elves
Make some North Pole magic to your holiday decor with these cardboard tube Christmas elves! Add details like hats, scarves, and belts. Let your kids display them on a mantle or shelf for festive cheer with their collection of DIY Christmas decorations.
Cardboard Roll Yarn Wrapped Bears
Create cuddly bears with this cozy yarn-wrapped craft! These cardboard tube bears are perfect for storing your yarn for knitting or crocheting projects, or they could be just a cuddly companion for your little ones’ playtime.
Toilet Roll Christmas Carolers
These adorable toilet roll carolers wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! These would make a perfect Christmas morning bonding activity with your kids. Cut out some colorful felt to use as their hats and scarves!
DIY Party Poppers
Make these toilet paper tube party poppers with your kids for their upcoming birthday celebrations! Follow this easy tutorial to start crafting. Just be sure to clean up the confetti mess right after!
Toilet Paper Roll Cactus
Is taking care of cacti a little hard for your kids? The real ones can be a bit too prickly. Instead, why not make your very own cardboard cacti right at home using paper rolls? Your kids will adore this exciting project, and they make for fantastic room decor.
Paper Tube Dinosaurs
These adorable paper tube dinosaurs are just what you need to have an adventurous experience when crafting with kids. It will teach them the various species of the animal, and you can also use these as puppets for a Jurassic Park theme storytime. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to start crafting your very own Triceratops!
Cardboard Tube Batman
Your little ones will adore this paper roll craft, especially if they are Batman fans. This craft is perfect for kids as they can engage in imaginative play with superheroes and villains. Encourage them to get creative and design their villains to fight Batman.
Cardboard Tube Parking Garage
Need to start organizing your toy cars? Rev up your engines and park in style with this cardboard parking garage craft! Stack and glue cardboard tubes to create multiple levels for toy cars to park in. You can even add ramps, signs, and parking spaces for hours of imaginative play.
Paper Roll Submarine
Embark on an underwater adventure with this toilet paper roll submarine craft! Paint and decorate your submarine with portholes, a periscope recycled from a straw, and paper propellers.