DIY Paper Towel Roll Crafts

Content

Paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls can be used to create unusual and useful crafts. To work with cardboard tubes, you need to select the right tools, as well as consider several step-by-step instructions describing various ideas.

DIY Paper Towel Roll Crafts — Crafts from toilet paper rolls

Tools for Making Paper Towel Roll Crafts

The table lists the tools and materials needed to create crafts from cardboard tubes, as well as their purpose.

Purpose	Names of tools and materials
Cutting cardboard tubes	Scissors, stationery knife
Punching holes	Awl, hole punch
Gluing parts together	PVA glue, scotch tape
Fixing jewelry	Moment glue, hot glue gun, glue stick

The list of tools may vary depending on the craft idea.

Cardboard tubes can be painted in different colors. It is advisable to choose paints that will not stain your hands after drying, for example, acrylic. They can also be pasted over with colored paper, scrapbooking sheets, and painted with markers or pencils.

Any materials can be used as decorations. These can be rhinestones, glitter, beads. You can use foil, satin ribbons, lace, thread scraps, etc. The step-by-step instructions provided in the article will list additional materials and tools that may be required for the work.

Master classes and step-by-step instructions for making crafts

Crafts from paper towel rolls can be decorative or functional. The article reviews several master classes on making beautiful organizers for storing things, crafts for interior decor and for playing with children.

Little Mermaids

You can use these mermaids to decorate a girl's room or use them in games.

To work you will need:

2 toilet paper rolls;
acrylic paints;
medium thickness brush;
felt-tip pens;
colored paper and cardboard;
PVA glue.

How to make mermaids:

Paint the cardboard tubes flesh-colored and let dry.
Use a black marker to draw the eyes, mouth and nose.
Use a pink marker to add blush to the cheeks.
Measure the diameter of the bushing, its height and divide this value by 2.
From colored cardboard, cut a strip equal in length to the diameter of the sleeve and the same width as half its height.
Grease the cardboard from the back side and wrap it around half of the sleeve.
In the same way, wrap the 2nd tube with cardboard.
Cut out 2 tails from cardboard of the same color. Make cuts at the base, bend them in different directions. Grease them with glue and attach to the parts of the bushings wrapped in cardboard.
Cut out 4 shells from colored paper. Glue 2 to each tube. These will be the mermaids' tops.
Cut several strips of different lengths from cardboard and glue them like hair to the tops of the tubes.

Use felt-tip pens to draw scales on the tail, as well as lines on the shells.

Rubber band organizer

To prevent hair elastics from getting lost, you need to use a special organizer. It can be made from 1 paper towel roll.

You will also need the following for the job:

PVA glue;
1 paper towel roll;
scissors;
ruler;
compass;
simple pencil;
thick cardboard;
scrapbooking paper.

How to do:

Use a ruler to measure the diameter of the hole in the cardboard tube.
Using a compass, draw 2 circles on thick cardboard, 2-3 mm smaller than the diameter of the tube. Cut them out with scissors.
Grease the cardboard tube with glue and wrap it in scrapbooking paper with a beautiful pattern.
Trace cardboard circles onto the remains of patterned paper, cut out the circles. Glue them onto the cardboard blanks.
Grease the sides of one of the circles with glue, carefully insert it inside the tube as a plug. The second circle should be inserted in the same way, but without glue. This will be the organizer's lid. To make it easier to open, you can glue a loop of satin ribbon to it.

Now you can wrap hair ties around a cardboard tube and store small hair clips inside.

Houses

Cars

Llamas

You can decorate a shelf in a child's room with llamas made from cardboard tubes.

To work you will need:

1 long paper towel roll;
a sheet of thick cardboard;
PVA glue;
scissors;
simple pencil;
stationery knife;
2 art brushes: medium and thin.

You also need acrylic paint in 4 colors: yellow, white, blue, black.

Procedure:

Cut the cardboard tube in half.
Using a stationery knife, make a cut on both parts along 1 edge, 2 cm deep.
Make 2 transverse slits (3 cm) on the opposite side of each tube.
Paint 1 sleeve yellow and the other blue using a medium-thickness brush.
While the paint is drying, draw 2 llama heads with a neck on cardboard, and also cut out 2 pairs of legs in the shape of an arc.
Cut out all the pieces and paint them in appropriate colors.
Grease the slots on the edges of the bushings and secure the lamp heads.
Glue the legs on the bottom, inserting the arched parts into the holes.
Take a thin brush and paint saddles on the backs of the llamas.

Use black paint to draw the eyes on both sides of the toys, as well as add spots on the necks and outline the saddles.

Unicorn

This paper towel roll unicorn craft can be used as a toy for kids aged 5 and up.

What you will need to make a unicorn:

1 cardboard tube;
scrapbooking paper with a colorful pattern;
ruler;
colored paper;
scissors;
simple pencil;
medium thickness artist brush;
black and pink marker;
PVA glue.

You will also need acrylic paint in 3 colors: white, pink, blue.

Algorithm of actions:

Paint the bushing white.
When the paint dries, use a simple pencil to draw 2 large, almond-shaped eyes on the roll. Finish drawing the unicorn's nose and nostrils.
Paint the nose pink and the iris blue.
Dry the craft.
Use a black marker to outline the eyes, add thick eyelashes, and draw the pupils.
Use a pink marker to color the nostrils.
Using a pencil and ruler, draw an isosceles triangle on scrapbooking paper, 6 cm in height. Cut it out.
Roll the piece into a cone shape, with the colored side facing out. Secure the corners with glue.
Glue the cone onto the cardboard tube. This will be the unicorn horn.
Cut strips of paper of different colors, 1 cm wide and 20 cm long.
Glue the strips to the back of the unicorn's head. The ends of the strips need to be coated with glue and attached to the inside of the sleeve at the edge.

Once the glue has dried, you can curl the unicorn's colorful mane. To do this, run an open blade of scissors along each strip of paper, slightly tugging the paper.

Puppet Dog

Paper towel roll crafts can be used to play puppet theater with children.

To make a moving puppet in the form of a dog, you will need:

3 paper towel rolls;
acrylic paints;
scissors;
2 plastic eyes or a thick black marker to draw them on;
colored paper;
pencil;
hot glue;
chenille wire;
2 wooden sticks;
strong threads or yarn;
1 wine bottle cork;
stationery knife;
awl;
a piece of foam;
art brushes.

How to do:

Paint all the bushings with 1 color, for example, brown.
On colored paper of a contrasting color, draw 10 circles with a pencil, 2 cm in diameter, and 5 small ones, 1 cm in diameter. Cut them out with scissors.
Using an awl, make 4 holes for the legs on 1 bushing at equal distances from each other.
Glue 10 large circles in a random order onto the top of the sleeve. These will be the spots on the puppy's back.
Cut 2 strands of yarn, 20 cm long. Thread them through the holes for the front and back legs.
Use an awl to make 2 more holes in the middle of the body, opposite the legs. Insert a thread about 30 cm long there.
Cut off 1/3 from the other sleeve.
The larger part will serve as the head. Put the smaller part aside, you will need it later.
In the large piece, pierce 2 holes in the middle.
Measure the height of the dog's neck and tie a knot by threading the thread through the holes.

Attach the head by first making a hole in the upper part of the body.
Wrap 2 chenille wires around wooden sticks.
Place the sticks crosswise and secure the middle with chenille wire.
Straighten the piece and make sure that the yarn is the same length on both sides.
Apply glue to the ends of the X shape and secure the threads.
Glue the eyes to the head.
Fold the 3rd roll in half so that it becomes flat. Use a pencil to draw the shape of the ears and cut out the blanks. Glue them to the head.
Cut a triangular nose out of the foam plastic with a stationery knife and paint it. After drying, glue the nose to the dog's muzzle.
From the set aside 1/3 of the cardboard tube, make a tongue. Glue it to the mouth.
Cut the wine cork into 4 equal pieces with a knife.
Paint each part with paint and dry.
Make holes in the center of each circle with an awl.
String them onto the yarn that imitates the paws and secure them with knots at the ends. Cut off the remaining threads.
Cut out a tail from the remaining cardboard tubes and glue it to the back of the toy.
Glue small spots of colored paper onto the head.

When you rotate the cross made of sticks, the puppet will make funny movements.

Rainbow

Another craft option for decorating a child's room.

To work you will need:

paper towel roll;
scissors;
ruler;
acrylic paints;
simple pencil;
blue cardboard;
PVA glue.

How to make a rainbow:

Cut the cardboard tube lengthwise and unfold it.
Using a ruler and pencil, divide the cardboard horizontally into 7 equal parts.
Paint each segment with a thin brush in a suitable color.
Draw 2 large clouds on blue cardboard. Cut them out.
When the paint on the sleeve dries, make 2 cuts 1.5 cm deep along its edges.
Bend the resulting blades in different directions.
Grease them with glue and attach them to the cardboard.

The places where the clouds and the rainbow meet can be hidden by gluing on fluffy pieces of cotton wool.

Stationery organizer

You can make a beautiful stand to store pens and pencils.

To work you will need:

1 wide paper towel roll;
7 toilet paper rolls;
glue gun;
thick cardboard;
compass;
scissors;
lace ribbon;
acrylic paint 2 colors.

How to do:

Cut off 1/3 of the wide bushing. Paint the larger part inside and outside.
On thick cardboard, using a compass, draw a circle 25 cm in diameter. Cut it out. Paint the part the same color as the cardboard tube.
Paint the remaining cardboard tubes a different color and dry.
Wrap the lace ribbon around the top of the wide tube and secure with ribbon.
Wrap the remaining tubes with lace in the middle. Glue the ribbon with hot glue.
Attach the wide sleeve to the cardboard circle, placing it in the center.
Glue the remaining bushings around it at equal distances from each other.

Once the glue dries, the craft is ready. The central compartment can be used to store large stationery items such as scissors, rulers, staplers, and the small tubes can be used to store pencils and pens.

Firecracker

Crafts made from paper towel rolls can be made into party poppers that shoot out colorful confetti.

To work you will need:

paper towel roll;
balloon;
shiny wrapping paper;
acrylic helmet;
scissors.

How to do:

Paint the sleeve and let it dry.
Tie a knot in the balloon and cut off the top.
Stretch the balloon over one end of the popper.
Cut the glittery wrapping paper into small pieces. You can use a fancy hole punch to make the confetti even more beautiful.
Fill the cracker with the cut pieces. For convenience, you can use a funnel made from a folded sheet of paper. For a beautiful effect, there should be at least 5 tbsp. of shiny paper inside the cracker.

Now you can shoot. The popper needs to be pointed upwards, the ball needs to be pulled back and released. The pop will cause confetti to fly in all directions.

Lampshade for a lamp

Crafts from paper towel rolls can be used to decorate the interior. A beautiful lampshade will bring novelty to the room design. Since the cardboard from which the tubes are made is a highly flammable material, such lampshades can only be used for LED lamps.

What you will need for work:

25 cardboard tubes;
PVA glue;
deep plastic bowl;
food film;
acrylic paint in a spray can;
clothespins;
scissors.

How to make a lampshade:

Cut a ring 1 cm wide from one of the bushings.
Fold the remaining tubes in half and cut lengthwise into strips 1 cm wide.
Wrap the plastic bowl in cling film to avoid getting glue and paint on it.
Glue the cut out flower petal-shaped parts to the ring cut out of the sleeve. They need to be placed close to each other and all joints should be coated with glue.
When this blank dries, it needs to be applied to the bottom of the bowl and continue gluing new "petals" in a checkerboard pattern. The joints can be fixed with clothespins until the glue dries.
Glue new “petals” repeating the shape of the bowl.
Leave the lampshade to dry.
Spray paint the cardboard.
Carefully separate the lampshade from the bowl, turn it over and paint the inside.

When the paint dries, thread the wire with the socket through the ring and hang the lampshade on the ceiling.

Phone stand

To watch videos on your phone while doing housework, you need a stand to keep the device from falling. You can make one from 2 cardboard toilet paper rolls.

What else will you need to create the craft:

PVA glue;
cardboard;
glitter;
acrylic paint;
thin art brush;
hot glue;
scissors.

How to do:

Cut 1 sleeve lengthwise.
The other tube is also cut lengthwise, but into 2 parts. You should get 2 semicircular halves.
Using a glue gun, glue 1 semicircular half, edge first, into the slot on the whole tube.
Cut out 2 circles from cardboard equal to the diameter of the sleeve.
Apply hot glue to the ends of the whole tube and glue the cardboard circles to the 2 sides.
Paint the stand with paint.
Mix PVA glue with glitter and apply to all ends and cuts.

The back not only holds the phone in place, but also reflects the sound from the speakers, making it louder.

Frame for mirror

You can make an original frame for a mirror from cardboard tubes.

What you will need for work:

7 toilet paper rolls;
a sheet of thick cardboard;
round mirror;
acrylic paint;
mirror hooks;
strong wire;
scissors;
hot glue and PVA glue.

How to do:

Paint the cardboard tubes inside and out.
Cut a circle out of thick cardboard that is 2 cm larger than the mirror diameter. Paint the circle on both sides. Dry.
Fold all the rolls in half and cut them crosswise into strips 1 cm wide. The cut pieces should resemble leaves in shape.
Using a glue gun, attach the mirror to the cardboard circle, placing it in the center.
Glue the leaves cut from the rolls together, 5 pieces at a time.
Using hot glue, glue these groups of petals to the cardboard base of the mirror from the front side.
Attach hooks to the back of the mirror.
Pass the wire through the fastening and form a loop.

Now the mirror can be hung on the wall.

Cupcake stand

Making a cupcake stand is very easy.

To work you will need:

a large sheet of thick cardboard;
1 paper towel roll and 2 toilet paper rolls;
white acrylic paint;
wide brush;
hot glue;
simple pencil;
stationery knife;
3 round plates of different diameters.

How to do:

Place all the plates on a piece of cardboard and trace their outlines with a simple pencil.
Use a craft knife to cut out circles.
Paint the cardboard circles and all the bushings.
Once the paint is dry, cut 1 toilet paper roll into 4 equal pieces.
Using a hot glue gun, attach these pieces to the large circle. These will be the legs of the stand.
On the other side of the circle, you need to glue a paper towel roll, placing it in the center.
Glue a smaller circle of cardboard onto the top of the sleeve.
Glue a toilet paper roll to the center of this circle.
Glue the smallest cardboard circle on top of the small sleeve.

The cupcake stand is ready.

Shoe Organizer

You can make a shoe stand from large paper towel rolls. You will need 12 large cardboard tubes, acrylic paint and Moment glue.

How to do:

Glue the tubes sideways to each other, 4 pieces each.
Glue 4 tubes on top of the bottom row so that they do not stand on top of each other, but fall into the joints. Secure the rows with glue.
Place the 3rd row in the same way, but shift it to the other side.
Secure the structure with glue.
Paint the organizer inside and out.

Shoes such as slippers, sneakers and trainers should be folded, pressing the soles together and inserted into the tube. 1 tube holds 1 pair of shoes. Boots and shoes can be placed on top.

Wire organizer

Crafts made from paper towel rolls can help organize the drawer where you store wires, headphones, and phone chargers.

To create such an organizer you will need:

several paper towel rolls;
a sheet of thick cardboard;
box;
scotch;
ruler;
scissors.

How to do:

Measure the height of the box. If the bushings are larger, they need to be cut.
Place the tubes inside the box so that they tightly occupy 2/3 of its space.
Remove the bushings and connect them together with tape.
Put them back into the box.
From a sheet of cardboard, cut out a rectangle 2 cm lower than the box in height and 1 cm lower in width.
Insert cardboard into the box so that it separates the tubes.

Now all the wires can be twisted and folded inside the tubes, and large items, such as laptop chargers and power supplies, can be hidden behind a cardboard partition.

Seedling cups

Paper towel rolls can be used as seedling cups.

How to make 1 cup:

Fold the roll in half and cut it into 2 halves with scissors.
Make 4 cuts 1/3 of the way up the cup.
Bend the resulting blades inward. This will be the bottom of the cup.

Seedlings should be planted in such cups; they will be transplanted into the ground after 2-3 leaves appear.

Bird feeder

You can make an unusual bird feeder from a wide cardboard tube.

To work you will need:

1 large bushing;
cord;
honey, peanut butter, paste or other edible sticky substance;
seeds, cereals, crumbs and other food for birds.

How to do:

Pass the cord through the sleeve and tie its ends in a knot.
Generously coat the sleeve with an edible sticky substance.
Pour the prepared bird food onto a flat plate and roll the tube in it.

Find a tree with straight branches outside, thread a branch between the sleeve and the cord. Birds will sit on the tube and peck at the food.

You can find various uses for the accumulated cardboard rolls from paper towels and toilet paper. You can create crafts together with children, decorate rooms with cardboard figures, and also make original stands and organizers from tubes for storing various things.

Author: Frolova Ekaterina

Video about crafts

Crafts from paper towel rolls: