Lovely Toilet Paper Roll Craft Ideas To Do With Your Kids
Instead of watching movies for hours on TV or on smartphones, let’s tend your children to the interesting things around life. These creative crafts today are cool and fun projects that will help your kids be more active, at the same time promote discovery and exploration of the nature around them.
They are for those who love creativity at the weekend and are easy to make. Most of them just need a short of time on making with a little effort. Seed starter pots, wreaths, binoculars, bird feeders, train craft, pen holders…these are practical ways to upcycle your toilet paper rolls.
With these ideas, they are easy to make. All you need is a skillful hand and your creativity. Besides, you will have support items to finish, but most of them are available in your house or you can buy them in any store. If you are interested in them, save and try some.
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#1. Toilet Paper Wreath
Made entirely from upcycled toilet paper rolls, it turns what most of us toss out into an eye-catching seasonal accent.
Materials Needed
- 12–15 toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- White or pastel acrylic paint and a sponge brush
- Optional decorations: raffia, wooden tags, ribbon, starfish or button
- Cardboard base (around 10–12 inches)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Flatten each toilet paper roll and cut into evenly sized rings, about 1/2 inch wide. You’ll need 70–90 pieces depending on how full you want your wreath.
Step 2: Lightly paint the outer surface of each piece with white or pastel acrylic paint. Let them dry fully, then begin arranging them into overlapping petal-like layers on a cardboard base, securing with hot glue as you go.
Step 3: Once the shape is complete, add decorative touches at the bottom – tie raffia into a bow, attach wooden tags, and hot-glue a small starfish or button in the center for a coastal or rustic flair.
#2. Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly Sun Catcher
When the sun hits it just right, it casts a bright stained-glass butterfly shadow on the ground, making it pure magic.
Materials Needed
- 3–4 toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Glue or hot glue gun
- Colorful cellophane wrappers
- 2-3 craft sticks
- 2 Pipe cleaners per butterfly
- 2 Googly eyes per butterfly
- Black marker
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Flatten each toilet paper roll and cut into ½ inch rings. You’ll need around 4 per butterfly. These form the wings.
Step 2: Cut colored cellophane into petal shapes and glue behind each ring. Let dry fully, then arrange the rings in a wing pattern and glue them together. Attach to a craft stick body.
Step 3: Add googly eyes, a smile, and antennae made from pipe cleaners to the stick. Once complete, hold your butterfly in the sun to admire the rainbow shadow it casts!
#3 Green Cactus
These happy little cactus friends are a perfect upcycle craft for kids or for grownups who want a touch of joy on their desk or windowsill.
Materials Needed
- 3 toilet paper rolls
- Green construction paper
- Black and pink marker
- Glue stick
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Cover each toilet paper roll with green construction paper. Let them dry if painted.
Step 2: Cut out cactus arms from extra green paper and glue them to the sides. Use a black marker to add tiny cactus “spikes,” draw faces, and create smiles.
Step 3: Add pink cheeks with a marker or crayon, and glue on googly eyes if you’d like.
#4. Toilet Pape Bird Feeder
This toilet paper roll bird feeder is quick, affordable, and makes your backyard a little friendlier for birds
Materials Needed
-
- 1 toilet paper roll
- Peanut butter
- Bird seed mix – about ½ cup
- Twine
- Plastic spoon
- Paper plate
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Spread a generous, even layer of peanut butter all over the outside of the toilet paper roll using a plastic knife or spoon.
Step 2: Roll the peanut butter-covered tube in bird seed placed on a plate or tray. Gently press to ensure the seeds stick well and coat evenly.
Step 3: Thread a piece of yarn through the tube, tie a knot to create a loop, and hang your feeder from a tree branch.
#5. Adorable Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
I made a set like this for my nephew, and he wore them for days—pretending to be a spy, a birdwatcher, and even a space commander.
Materials Needed
- 2 toilet paper rolls
- Green craft paper
- Glue stick
- Red star stickers
- Black marker
- Small foam block (approx. 2″ x 1.5″)
- Hole punch
- 20″ ribbon
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Wrap the toilet paper rolls in green paper or paint them green and let dry. Add black stripes with a marker or glue on strips of paper.
Step 2: Glue the two rolls side by side with the foam piece in between them to create the binocular bridge.
Step 3: Decorate with red stars or other themed stickers. Punch holes on either side and tie a ribbon so they can be worn around the neck.
#6. Toilet Paper Roll Beehive
This cheerful toilet paper roll beehive is a sunshine-filled project that’s fun for all ages.
Materials Needed
- 23-25 toilet paper rolls
- Yellow acrylic paint
- Hot glue gun
- 20 Yellow pom-poms (1 inch)
- Black pipe cleaners
- White mesh
- Black marker
- Yellow ribbon
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint all the toilet paper rolls yellow, inside and out. Let them dry completely. Arrange them in a hexagonal honeycomb shape and glue them together firmly.
Step 2: Create bees by drawing on eyes, smiles, and twisting small pieces of pipe cleaner for antennae. Add mesh wings with glue.
Step 3: Attach bees to the honeycomb with glue, and finally, tie a ribbon through the top for hanging.
#7. Toilet Paper Roll Tiki Mask Craft
They’re an amazing hands-on art project for older kids or teens, especially fun for learning about colors, expression, and symbolism.
Materials Needed
- 5 empty toilet paper rolls
- Neon paint pens
- Black permanent marker
- Craft sealant (optional)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Lightly sketch facial shapes directly onto the toilet paper rolls including eyes, noses, mouths, and borders. You can get playful with exaggerated features and patterns.
Step 2: Fill in the sketches with neon paints. Use contrasting colors and bold lines for that striking tribal-inspired look. Outline details with a black marker once dry.
Step 3: Let dry completely. Spray with a light craft sealant if you want to preserve the designs.
#8. DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree Forest
Made from just toilet paper rolls, they’re easy enough for kids to try and stylish enough to use in a Scandinavian-style centerpiece.
Materials Needed
- 1 empty toilet paper rolls per tree)
- Acrylic paint set in white, green, brown, or beige
- Small detail brush
- Scissors
- Pencil
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Flatten the toilet paper roll slightly and draw a tree shape with a narrow trunk and layered branches. Make sure the base circle remains intact for standing support.
Step 2: Cut along the outline carefully, including little slits along the edges to resemble branches. Gently shape the roll back to its round form.
Step 3: Paint your tree – solid, striped, polka-dotted, or with little snowflakes. Once dry, fan out the branches slightly and display them standing on a shelf or tabletop.
#9. Toilet Paper Roll Snowflakes
These snowflakes are the kind of winter decor that makes you pause and smile—natural, detailed, and absolutely budget-friendly.
Materials Needed
- 2 toilet paper rolls per snowflake
- Sharp scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Ruler and pencil
- Optional: White spray paint, glitter, string
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Flatten each roll and cut into strips about 1.5 cm (½ inch) wide, these will form the oval petals of the snowflake. You’ll need about 12–18 pieces depending on your design.
Step 2: For the fern-like edges, take additional strips and snip small cuts along one edge to create a fringed effect. Slightly fan them outward for a natural branch look.
Step 3: Begin assembling the main snowflake shape by gluing six oval pieces into a circular flower. Then, attach the fringe pieces in a symmetrical pattern between and around the petals.
#10. Ocean-themed Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
These crafts including an octopus and a mermaid are pure magic for kids’ playrooms or summer camp projects
Materials Needed
For Each Figure
- 2 toilet paper rolls
- 2 googly eyes per figure
- Glue stick
- Markers
- Blush paper
For Octopus
- 1 sheet of blue construction paper
- Optional: curling tool (pencil)
For Mermaid
- Small amount of red yarn
- 1 sheet of turquoise
- 2 blue bottle caps
- Optional: glitter
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Wrap the toilet paper roll with colored paper or leave it plain depending on the character. Glue on the googly eyes and draw a smiling face, cheeks, and lashes if you like.
Step 2: For the octopus, cut eight strips of blue paper (about 1 x 6 inches), curl the ends with a pencil, and glue them to the inside of the roll to form tentacles.
Step 3: For the mermaid, glue red yarn strands around the top as hair. Add two bottle caps or buttons for the top, then cut fish scales and a tail from blue paper. Glue them around the bottom half of the roll in overlapping layers for a shiny fin look.
