In this post, I’m sharing all of our favourite toilet paper roll crafts and paper towel roll crafts as well as ways to use other cardboard tubes for art, crafts and activities.
Below, you’ll find ideas for:
Holiday crafts made with toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls
Kids’ art made with cardboard rolls
Learning games and activities made with cardboard tubes
Ways to use cardboard rolls for homemade toys and play ideas
Here in my daycare, we love crafting with cardboard tubes. Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, wrapping paper tubes, food-wrap tubes, poster tubes and mailing tubes are all valuable crafting commodities at our house.
My family knows they’re not allowed to throw out any kind of cardboard roll. Ha! They think I’m nuts for hoarding them, but there are so many ways to use them for daycare crafts and activities, I hate to throw them away.
We make a ton of preschool crafts with toilet rolls and paper towel rolls. Wrapping paper rolls are great when you need a long tube, and the tubes that hold cling-wrap or aluminum foil are great when you need something a little sturdier.
If you have a growing stash of cardboard rolls at your house, this post is for you.
Where to buy cardboard rolls?
If you don’t have a stash of your own, and you want to buy cardboard tubes for crafting in bulk, you can order them here on Amazon with my affiliate link. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
30+ Things to Make with Cardboard Tubes:
Click on the links below to see the full tutorial for each craft or activity.
Pictures don’t do this cardboard roll Christmas tree topper justice. It’s so vibrant and shimmery. All you need to make it is a cardboard roll, some cardboard, aluminum foil and Sharpies.
Use paper towel rolls, wrapping paper rolls or toilet paper rolls to make a set of stately, handprinted nutcrackers. Display them on a windowsill, tabletop or Christmas tree in your home or classroom. Paint your rolls with bands of colour, add a face and decorate with buttons, ribbon, yarn and gems.
Kids can turn a cardboard roll and tinfoil into shimmering napkin rings for your holiday table with this quick and project.
Turn some cardboard rolls into colourful icicle spirals to hang on the Christmas tree or in a window this winter.
This toilet roll menorah is fun and easy to make, and a great way for young children to learn about and participate safely in the tradition of lighting the menorah during Hanukkah.
These cardboard roll Christmas candles are one of my all-time favourite ways to use paper towel rolls, and one of our most popular Christmas crafts.
This cardboard roll Advent Wreath is a beautiful way for kids to craft with paper towel and toilet rolls, and a meaningful way to count down the weeks until Christmas.
All you need are some cardboard rolls, paint and a glue gun to make this one of a kind snowflake wreath to hang in a window or on a door.
Cardboard Roll Christmas Ornaments:
Fleece, batting and a cardboard roll makes an adorable Santa Claus.
Use a poster tube or wrapping paper tube to make a”cardboard drop zone” for toddlers. It will keep kids entertained, strengthen fine motor skills , and help children understand cause and effect.
Knitting on a cardboard roll is a ton of fun, and a great way for kids to make belts, scarves and bracelets while learning some early knitting skills.
This yarn-wrapped desk organizer is a fabulous way for kids to keep their most-used art supplies at their fingertips. It’s a quick and easy craft that tweens and teens will love.
Painted Toilet Roll Desk Caddy
Here’s another DIY desk caddy that kids will enjoy making and using. Paint your cardboard rolls with funky colours and patterns to match your decor.
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
We use plastic cutlery for playdough play. Great way to teach children early cutting skills. Chopsticks stuck into playdough and then drop large beads or rings onto them is great for fine motor skill building.
I also use them for the cords on appliances like electric pan will hold cord together to put inside pan,and the appear towel rolls cut length wise and put on hanger so you don’t get mark on those dress pant in closet.
I correct toilet rolls and paint inside & outside black & cut them up to a small cute and I join them up in flower shape brilliant ideas for wall decorations
All darling ideas! Would you allow one more? I did this TP Craft Post about this time last year! http://bit.ly/1vaCK2e
Ignore the old blog link on the actual photo! Old photo but new blog!
I hot glued a few rows of them together for my dresser drawer and stick my undies inside them to keep them in the same place instead of having to sort through a bunch to find the pair I’m looking for.
I love your ideas. I had a few myself & I must say that I have a whole box full & still saving……They are also good for planting seeds early spring, to get ready to plant later.
This isn’t a craft, but my mom used the toilet paper rolls to keep the iron, hand held electric mixer, blender cords, etc. Neat and easy to store. I have also used this tip for more than 30 years. 🙂
It is funny to see this I used 2 toilet paper inserts took wide clear tape covered them with stain ribbon then took shine pearl beads around it to make my nieces something for her long steed flowers
I am using those cardboard tubes & making candle decorations. I’m crocheting a tube to fit over the cardboard tube, then using those little plastic bathroom size cups, I put the bottom of the cup in the tube about an inch or so, then cut off the top of the cup. Glue the bottom of the cup in to the tube Place a battery operated tea light in the cup. I don’t have a picture of one right now, but I will get one soon & post it.
Take the tubes and cut long wise making ‘gutters’. Fashion the gutters on a water bottle tray cardboard box in the shape of a Jesus fish or peace symbol as examples. Dip colored tissue in a water/glue mixture and line the gutters with color. Roll a marble in the gutters after it’s dry. A REALLY FUN game!
Haven’t had time to read comments yet since i was excited to see the recycle-ideas shared Link viaFB. Wanted to post on my personal uses so far and yes i will browse thru yours later when i get a chance. [Working on some homework at the moment and don’t have much downtime to dedicate right now, hee hee…]
>>>I collect them for use on organizing loose cords around the house. This especially works great around your entertainment system and desktop areas. I can even Label them with a permanent marker so it’s easy to see “who” the cord belongs/connects to, hee hee…
>>>Have made playful bracelets made by myGrand-daughter & use them randomly for craft-projects.
>>>I keep ’em around for “Used-sanitary-PAD disposal” like in the old days when they had individual pkg’d cardboard/strong maxi-pads where you can dispose the old one using the same box. I find this better than wasting toilet-paper which leaks through at times and this also keeps the odors minimized &view out-of-site!
***I smash them flat and rubber-band them together since i can’t seem to use them fast enough so Thank you for sharing other ideas and just knowing i’m NOT the few who does this is great to share with my other half who thinks i’m crazy for saving them! But then again, he doesn’t practice sustainable living much either, hee hee..
***Have a Mele Kelikimaka[MerryChristmas] Everyone! Stay blessed and keep sharing!****
I use long cardboard tubes in the sensory table. My preschoolers love to fill them and watch the rice or wood pellets travel through them to a bucket down below. Shorter tibes are good, too to fill buckets. I cover the tubes with colorful duck tape to make them sturdier and fun to look at!
Some great ideas, both in post and comments! And so glad to see I’m not the only one who collects them!
I use them for organising, and also make crackers at Xmas with them. Would be interested in seeing a post with ideas for adults uses – not really up for bracelets!!
Thanks x
You can split tubes lengthwise and put them around your tubes of gift wrap. It will keep it neat. I prefer to use two rolls, one near each end.
You can cut them into 1/2″ circles for creative play. They can be glued together with hot glue to make trees, too….Christmas trees, bare branches, leaves, your choice. They can be painted in various colors. Think about things made with cheereos in the commercials.
You can make a family tree and put pictures in each ring, to hang on the branches. The tree can be painted on a board ot made with twisted wires. Extra electrical wiring can be cut to desired lengths, ‘skinned’ and twisted together to make tree trunks and branches.
I can’t help myself from saving tp tubes either…so doesn’t the Scott Toss the Tube commercial just freak you out a little?
The end of the world as we know it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AcTbiYcG6E
I am a typical crafter, and save most things once I have thought what I can do with them! My late husband bought me a large storage container for a present one birtday, and he gave it its own name – “Justin”. You can work that out – (just in case)! I put everything in there, and when I want something different to do, Justin comes out to play! I open it up, dive in and start making things. I do paper sculpturing, and I make greeting cards, and “off-the-page” photo layouts and pictures (the cards are my main activity). I have often used the tubes as a base for sculptures, like an armature. Squash a roll flat, cover it with fabric, adding a flap, with a velcro dot seal, and you have a case for your specs or sunglasses. Join two together if you wear different glasses. Cut a toilet roll tube in half, flatten them and stick them together. Cover with double thickness fabric, with a velcro fastening flap (insert a piece of card for stiffening before sewing it up), and you have a small coin purse, or credit and business card holder. I have done the wall decorations. I have also made “tube-dolls”. Part of a tube can be used in the neck of hand puppets to keep the head fom flopping about. Last of all (here,at least) I’m sure everyone has used them as desk tidies. I cut them to lots of different lengths, stick them together, make lids for some, decorate them, and they can make my work area tidy and attractive.
i have a 7 year old grandson who loves to do crafts and soon to be 2 years twins from the same family that love to get into doing things with us as we the grand-parents watch them 2-3 days a week and i love doing crafts with them so now i am saving all of my toliet paper tubes,paper towels tubes all tubes cause you can make some really cute crafts with them plus i love making them as much as they do..thank you…
I love all the great ideas listed here. One that I use is to roll a drawing or pattern and slip it into a cardboard tube. Keeps it neat without creases. Of course my great-grandsons think they are mega-phones or telescopes. Kids can always make a game out of anything.
I cut toilet rolls in half….covered with fabric that has breast cancer symbols..filled with indivually wrapped peppermints and enclose inclear cellophane and tied at both ends with pink ribbon. Given as a gift during October…breast cancer month!
I came across this post and I know it’s a little dated… But still I’d like to thank you for sharing so many fantastic ideas of upcycling cardboard tubes! Art is everywhere if you’re art-minded!
Hi Jackie,
Initially, I thought it’s hard to make toilet paper crafts roll for my kids. But after seeing these amazing simple craft roll ideas it has changed my mind. My kids will surely make one of these toilet paper crafts roll.
Cheers!
Tori Thurston
You have so many great ideas! And I don’t feel like I am going to end up on Pinterest gone wrong.
Magda
Those are very useful, I will definitely be trying them out, thank you!
I was wondering if you had any ideas for chopsticks or plastic cutlery? I have tons of those and I would like to put them to good use.
happyhooligans
We use plastic cutlery for playdough play. Great way to teach children early cutting skills. Chopsticks stuck into playdough and then drop large beads or rings onto them is great for fine motor skill building.
Katie Pinch
I LOVE how you have ideas for every season!
Darlene
I also use them for the cords on appliances like electric pan will hold cord together to put inside pan,and the appear towel rolls cut length wise and put on hanger so you don’t get mark on those dress pant in closet.
happyhooligans
Oh, that’s brilliant, Darlene! Maybe I’ll have to do a post up about house-hold hacks with cardboard rolls! Thanks for sharing the great ideas!
Gina
cut eyes out of the cardboard tube and put a glow stick in. cover ends or put paper in…glow in the dark eerie eyes
Gina
yogi
I correct toilet rolls and paint inside & outside black & cut them up to a small cute and I join them up in flower shape brilliant ideas for wall decorations
yogi
Stacey
What a great list. I love that 3-D sculpture art and the stand up puppets. We love making ours into characters like these superheroes.
http://www.boyohboyohboycrafts.com/2010/11/toilet-paper-roll-superheros.html
Kim Banta
All darling ideas! Would you allow one more? I did this TP Craft Post about this time last year! http://bit.ly/1vaCK2e
Ignore the old blog link on the actual photo! Old photo but new blog!
amanda
I hot glued a few rows of them together for my dresser drawer and stick my undies inside them to keep them in the same place instead of having to sort through a bunch to find the pair I’m looking for.
happyhooligans
Oh, that is just BRILLIANT, Amanda!
Carolyn Wagner
I love your ideas. I had a few myself & I must say that I have a whole box full & still saving……They are also good for planting seeds early spring, to get ready to plant later.
Carolyn Wagner
Great Ideas! I gave you a wrong email address….. This one is correct!
Charlotte
Great ideas!
I use paper towel rolls for greeting cards holder!
1. 1 paper towel roll
2. yarn – your choice of colors. (I use red or green for Christmas)
3. Greeting cards!
Feed yarn through paper towel roll until you cover the roll. Take a greeting card loop it through under the yarn. It will look like a fan when done!
Linda
Another use: Decorate toilet paper tube and use it to store wound up extension cords.
happyhooligans
Love the idea of decorating them!
Christi
This isn’t a craft, but my mom used the toilet paper rolls to keep the iron, hand held electric mixer, blender cords, etc. Neat and easy to store. I have also used this tip for more than 30 years. 🙂
happyhooligans
Brilliant, Christi!
kathy
It is funny to see this I used 2 toilet paper inserts took wide clear tape covered them with stain ribbon then took shine pearl beads around it to make my nieces something for her long steed flowers
Jackandjill1957@yahoo.com
Sue McEndree
I am using those cardboard tubes & making candle decorations. I’m crocheting a tube to fit over the cardboard tube, then using those little plastic bathroom size cups, I put the bottom of the cup in the tube about an inch or so, then cut off the top of the cup. Glue the bottom of the cup in to the tube Place a battery operated tea light in the cup. I don’t have a picture of one right now, but I will get one soon & post it.
Dorota Gesiorska
That was inspiring! Now I have loads of my own ideas 🙂 Thank you sooooo much
Ann Smith
Take the tubes and cut long wise making ‘gutters’. Fashion the gutters on a water bottle tray cardboard box in the shape of a Jesus fish or peace symbol as examples. Dip colored tissue in a water/glue mixture and line the gutters with color. Roll a marble in the gutters after it’s dry. A REALLY FUN game!
Shama
I loved these ideas!
Leipua
Aloha,
Haven’t had time to read comments yet since i was excited to see the recycle-ideas shared Link viaFB. Wanted to post on my personal uses so far and yes i will browse thru yours later when i get a chance. [Working on some homework at the moment and don’t have much downtime to dedicate right now, hee hee…]
>>>I collect them for use on organizing loose cords around the house. This especially works great around your entertainment system and desktop areas. I can even Label them with a permanent marker so it’s easy to see “who” the cord belongs/connects to, hee hee…
>>>Have made playful bracelets made by myGrand-daughter & use them randomly for craft-projects.
>>>I keep ’em around for “Used-sanitary-PAD disposal” like in the old days when they had individual pkg’d cardboard/strong maxi-pads where you can dispose the old one using the same box. I find this better than wasting toilet-paper which leaks through at times and this also keeps the odors minimized &view out-of-site!
***I smash them flat and rubber-band them together since i can’t seem to use them fast enough so Thank you for sharing other ideas and just knowing i’m NOT the few who does this is great to share with my other half who thinks i’m crazy for saving them! But then again, he doesn’t practice sustainable living much either, hee hee..
***Have a Mele Kelikimaka[MerryChristmas] Everyone! Stay blessed and keep sharing!****
LUISA Scarati
sono idee incantevoli e deliziose!!!very very nice Valsesia Piemonte- Italy
Denise deLong
I use long cardboard tubes in the sensory table. My preschoolers love to fill them and watch the rice or wood pellets travel through them to a bucket down below. Shorter tibes are good, too to fill buckets. I cover the tubes with colorful duck tape to make them sturdier and fun to look at!
Donna
Some great ideas, both in post and comments! And so glad to see I’m not the only one who collects them!
I use them for organising, and also make crackers at Xmas with them. Would be interested in seeing a post with ideas for adults uses – not really up for bracelets!!
Thanks x
Evelyn
You can split tubes lengthwise and put them around your tubes of gift wrap. It will keep it neat. I prefer to use two rolls, one near each end.
You can cut them into 1/2″ circles for creative play. They can be glued together with hot glue to make trees, too….Christmas trees, bare branches, leaves, your choice. They can be painted in various colors. Think about things made with cheereos in the commercials.
You can make a family tree and put pictures in each ring, to hang on the branches. The tree can be painted on a board ot made with twisted wires. Extra electrical wiring can be cut to desired lengths, ‘skinned’ and twisted together to make tree trunks and branches.
Barbara
I can’t help myself from saving tp tubes either…so doesn’t the Scott Toss the Tube commercial just freak you out a little?
The end of the world as we know it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AcTbiYcG6E
happyhooligans
Haha! Yep. Kind of! Even more reason to hoard them, Barbara!
Jan
I am a typical crafter, and save most things once I have thought what I can do with them! My late husband bought me a large storage container for a present one birtday, and he gave it its own name – “Justin”. You can work that out – (just in case)! I put everything in there, and when I want something different to do, Justin comes out to play! I open it up, dive in and start making things. I do paper sculpturing, and I make greeting cards, and “off-the-page” photo layouts and pictures (the cards are my main activity). I have often used the tubes as a base for sculptures, like an armature. Squash a roll flat, cover it with fabric, adding a flap, with a velcro dot seal, and you have a case for your specs or sunglasses. Join two together if you wear different glasses. Cut a toilet roll tube in half, flatten them and stick them together. Cover with double thickness fabric, with a velcro fastening flap (insert a piece of card for stiffening before sewing it up), and you have a small coin purse, or credit and business card holder. I have done the wall decorations. I have also made “tube-dolls”. Part of a tube can be used in the neck of hand puppets to keep the head fom flopping about. Last of all (here,at least) I’m sure everyone has used them as desk tidies. I cut them to lots of different lengths, stick them together, make lids for some, decorate them, and they can make my work area tidy and attractive.
happyhooligans
“Justin comes out to play”. I LOVE it, Jen. Your husband was brilliant! (And so very thoughtful!)
Jackie
So many great ideas and endless activities with the kids using readily-at-hand materials. Thank you!
Heather-Marie
I have over 100 cardboard tubes that we have done nothing with.
If there is anyone that would like to use them for crafts, I would be willing to mail them to you! Just let me know 🙂 PinkLemonade_222@hotmail.com
rosemarie johnson
i have a 7 year old grandson who loves to do crafts and soon to be 2 years twins from the same family that love to get into doing things with us as we the grand-parents watch them 2-3 days a week and i love doing crafts with them so now i am saving all of my toliet paper tubes,paper towels tubes all tubes cause you can make some really cute crafts with them plus i love making them as much as they do..thank you…
happyhooligans
Yay! Sounds like you are awesome grandparents! Your family is so blessed to have you!
Verda
I love all the great ideas listed here. One that I use is to roll a drawing or pattern and slip it into a cardboard tube. Keeps it neat without creases. Of course my great-grandsons think they are mega-phones or telescopes. Kids can always make a game out of anything.
happyhooligans
Your pattern idea is brilliant, Verda! I’ll definitely use that tip in my sewing room!
joyce counts
I cut toilet rolls in half….covered with fabric that has breast cancer symbols..filled with indivually wrapped peppermints and enclose inclear cellophane and tied at both ends with pink ribbon. Given as a gift during October…breast cancer month!
aann
cut them in thirds and use to plant seeds. Place in plastic tray or pot to catch water.
Kathy Lambert
Awesome ideas
Cardboard Tubes
I came across this post and I know it’s a little dated… But still I’d like to thank you for sharing so many fantastic ideas of upcycling cardboard tubes! Art is everywhere if you’re art-minded!
Elisa
We had a great time making bowling pins with tp rolls. A small ball worked great for a bowling ball!
Justin Clerk
Hi Jackie,
Initially, I thought it’s hard to make toilet paper crafts roll for my kids. But after seeing these amazing simple craft roll ideas it has changed my mind. My kids will surely make one of these toilet paper crafts roll.
Cheers!