If we learned anything from the years following 2020, it’s that toilet paper is a surprisingly valuable commodity! I am sure many of us still have flashbacks of the “Great Toilet Paper Wars” and empty supermarket shelves. But there was a silver lining to all that time spent at home: we realized that the humble cardboard tube hidden inside the roll is actually a treasure trove for creativity.
Instead of tossing them into the recycling bin, why not save them? Those sturdy little cylinders are the Swiss Army Knives of the crafting world. They are durable, easy to cut, easy to paint, and best of all—they are completely free.
Today, we are sharing a massive collection of 60 super cute toilet paper roll crafts (grouped by category) that you can make with your kids. From storybook characters to fire-breathing dragons, these projects prove that with a little glue and imagination, you can turn “trash” into treasure.
Why Craft with Cardboard Tubes?
Before we dive into the list, let’s talk about why these crafts are so beneficial for child development.
- Eco-Friendly Teaching: It teaches children the concept of upcycling—taking something that would be thrown away and giving it a new life.
- Open-Ended Play: A toilet roll can be a character, a vehicle, a building block, or a tool.
- Fine Motor Skills: Painting a curved surface, cutting cardboard, and gluing small eyes all help strengthen little hands.
- Budget-Friendly: You don’t need expensive kits. You just need what you already have in your bathroom!
1. Storybook & Movie Characters
Bring your children’s favorite stories to life. These crafts are perfect for “read-and-craft” sessions where you build the character after finishing the book.
The Elephant with the Clover (Horton)
Who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss? If your child has read Horton Hears a Who!, this is a must-do.
- The How-To: Paint the tube grey. Cut large, floppy ears out of grey construction paper and glue them to the sides. The key detail here is the trunk—use a grey pipe cleaner or a strip of paper, and glue a tiny pink pom-pom to the end to represent the clover holding the speck. “A person’s a person, no matter how small!”
The Color Monster (Emotion Regulation)
The Color Monster is a brilliant book for helping toddlers and preschoolers understand their feelings.
- The How-To: This is a great group project. Collect multiple rolls. Paint each one a specific color representing an emotion (Yellow for Happiness, Blue for Sadness, Red for Anger, Black for Fear, Green for Calm). Draw expressive faces on them. Use these as tools; ask your child, “Which monster are you feeling like today?”
The Lorax
Speaking of Dr. Seuss, the Lorax speaks for the trees! This craft carries a heavy environmental message perfect for Earth Day.
- The How-To: Paint the tube orange. The most important feature is the big, bushy yellow mustache made from yellow cardstock or yarn. Add big eyes. You can even make “Truffula Trees” using straws and pom-poms to create a scene.
The Crewmate (Space Mystery Game)
During the lockdowns, a certain space-themed game (similar to Among Us) took the world by storm.
- The How-To: These are incredibly simple. Paint the tube a solid bright color (Red, Cyan, Pink). Cut a rounded rectangle from light blue paper and glue it near the top for the “visor.” You can fashion a backpack out of a smaller piece of cardboard glued to the rear.
Let’s head to the farm! You can create an entire barnyard playset using these ideas.
Muddy Pigs
Pigs might love rolling in the mud, but these cardboard versions are squeaky clean.
- The Idea: Paint the roll pink. Cut a smaller circle of pink paper for the snout and draw two dots for nostrils. Use pink paper triangles for ears. For a fun twist, use brown paint on a sponge to dab “mud” spots all over the pig’s belly!
Clucking Chickens
- The Idea: Paint the tube white or reddish-brown. Glue a red “comb” to the top and a small orange beak. Glue feathers to the sides for wings. These look adorable sitting on a shelf.
Spotted Cows
- The Idea: White paint forms the base. Let the kids use their thumbs dipped in black paint to create the cow spots—it’s a great sensory activity. Add a pink oval for the nose and a yarn tail.
3. High-Seas Adventure (Pirates)
Ahoy Matey! Do you have treasure for us? No pirate adventure is complete without a crew.
The Pirate Captain
- The How-To: Draw a horizontal line halfway down the roll. Paint the bottom half blue or black for the pants, and the top half white with stripes for the shirt. Use fabric scraps to create a bandana for the head. The essential detail? A black paper eye patch and a drawn-on beard.
The Faithful Parrot
Every pirate needs a sidekick.
- The How-To: This is one of the most colorful crafts. Paint the tube bright red. Use multi-colored craft feathers (yellow, blue, green) and glue them to the back and sides. A yellow triangle beak completes the look.
4. Fantasy & Magical Creatures
Spark the imagination with creatures that don’t exist in the real world.
Fire-Breathing Dragons
This is an interactive craft that actually “works”!
- The How-To: Paint the roll green. Glue two pom-poms on one end for eyes and two smaller green pom-poms for nostrils. Here is the trick: Glue long strips of red, yellow, and orange tissue paper inside the “mouth” end. When your child blows through the other end, the “fire” flames flutter and shoot out!
Glittery Unicorns
- The How-To: Paint the roll white or pastel pink. Create a horn by rolling a small piece of gold glitter paper into a cone. Use multi-colored yarn for the mane and tail. Drawing closed eyelashes gives it a sleepy, magical vibe.
Flying Fairies
- The How-To: Use the tube as the body (dress). Cut wing shapes out of translucent paper or acetate and dust them with glitter. Glue them to the back. Use a wooden bead or a ping-pong ball sitting on top of the tube for the head.
5. The Ultimate List of 60 Ideas (Categorized)
To help you reach that “60” count, here is a rapid-fire list of other amazing things you can create, categorized for easy browsing.
Zoo Animals:
- Lions: Use yellow paper strips for a mane.
- Zebras: Practice painting stripes.
- Giraffes: Glue two rolls together for a long neck.
- Elephants: Use grey paper for a long trunk.
- Monkeys: Add a long, curled pipe cleaner tail.
- Penguins: Black and white paint with an orange beak.
- Polar Bears: Use cotton balls for texture.
- Hippos: Make a wide mouth with white square teeth.
- Tigers: Orange paint with black stripes.
- Koalas: Grey fuzzy felt ears.
Bugs & Garden: 11. Butterflies: The roll is the body; add giant paper wings. 12. Bees: Yellow and black stripes with mesh wings. 13. Ladybugs: Red with black polka dots. 14. Caterpillars: Cut the roll into rings and chain them. 15. Spiders: Add 8 pipe cleaner legs for Halloween. 16. Flowers: Cut the top of the roll into petals and fan them out. 17. Frogs: Green paint and a long red paper tongue. 18. Snails: The roll is the body; add a paper spiral shell.
Occupations: 19. Astronauts: White suits with foil helmets. 20. Firefighters: Red hats and yellow jackets. 21. Doctors: White coats and drawn-on stethoscopes. 22. Ninjas: Paint black, leaving a slit for eyes. 23. Ballerinas: Add a cupcake liner as a tutu. 24. Superheroes: Capes made from fabric scraps.
Seasonal/Holidays: 25. Santa Claus: Cotton ball beard. 26. Elves: Pointy paper ears and green hats. 27. Reindeer: Twig antlers from the garden. 28. Snowmen: White paint and ribbon scarves. 29. Easter Bunnies: Big white paper ears. 30. Chicks: Yellow paint and orange feet. 31. Mummies: Wrap the roll in toilet paper or gauze. 32. Bats: Black wings and white fangs. 33. Witches: Green face and a pointy black hat. 34. Turkeys: Handprint feathers on the back. 35. Valentines: Cover in heart stickers. 36. Leprechauns: Orange beard and green top hat. 37. Fireworks: Cut fringe on top and paint metallic.
Interactive & STEM: 38. Binoculars: Tape two rolls together and add a string. 39. Marble Run: Cut rolls in half and tape to a wall as chutes. 40. Telescope: Nest two rolls (one slit open to slide inside). 41. Kazoo: Cover one end with wax paper and hum. 42. Confetti Poppers: Attach a balloon to one end. 43. Phone Stand: Cut a slot to hold a mobile phone. 44. Desk Organizer: Glue multiple rolls vertically to a base. 45. Napkin Rings: Cut into smaller rings and decorate. 46. Seed Starters: Fill with soil and plant seeds (biodegradable!). 47. Bird Feeder: Coat in peanut butter and birdseed. 48. Bowling Pins: Number them 1-10 and use a ball. 49. Car Garage: Stack them horizontally for toy cars. 50. Stacking Game: How high can you build a tower?
Miscellaneous Fun: 51. Robots: Wrap in tin foil and add buttons. 52. Monsters: Three eyes, one tooth—anything goes! 53. Castles: Cut battlements into the top. 54. Rockets: Add a cone top and fin bottoms. 55. Race Cars: Cut a hole for the “driver” and add bottle cap wheels. 56. Airplanes: Cut slots for cardboard wings. 57. Trains: Connect rolls with string. 58. Houses: Draw windows and doors. 59. Totem Poles: Stack three painted rolls. 60. Abstract Art: Cut into rings and glue into sculptures.
Tips for Success
- Prep the Rolls: Make sure all the toilet paper is removed. If you are squeamish about using bathroom rolls, you can buy “craft tubes” online, or simply use paper towel rolls cut in half (which arguably are cleaner since they come from the kitchen).
- The Right Paint: Acrylic paint covers the brown cardboard much better than watercolors. If you want bright colors, paint a layer of white first as a primer.
- Glue Gun vs. School Glue: For younger kids, stick to white school glue or glue sticks. For instant results (and parents helping out), a hot glue gun works best to hold heavy items like buttons or pipe cleaners.
Final Thoughts
The next time you finish a roll of toilet paper, don’t just see it as garbage. See it as a blank canvas! Whether you are making a Horton the Elephant, a scary dragon, or a colorful parrot, these crafts provide hours of screen-free entertainment.
So start hoarding those rolls (in a socially acceptable way this time!) and get ready to craft. Happy creating!
