Before you toss those empty toilet paper rolls into the recycling bin, wait just a second. Those little cardboard tubes are actually one of the most useful and versatile craft supplies you can have on hand, and the best part is they are completely free. Every home goes through toilet paper rolls regularly, which means you have a steady supply of craft material just waiting to be used.
Toilet paper roll crafts have been popular for a long time and for good reason. They are lightweight, easy to cut and paint, simple to glue and shape, and they work for so many different types of projects. Kids love them because they are easy to handle and fun to decorate. Adults love them because they can actually produce some surprisingly cute and creative results without spending any money on materials.
The thing that surprises most people is just how many different things you can make with a toilet paper roll. From cute animal characters and holiday decorations to practical home organizers and fun kids toys, the range of projects is really wide. You can dress them up with paint, wrappers, ribbon, glitter, fabric scraps, buttons, googly eyes, and so many other simple craft supplies you probably already have at home.
Toilet paper roll crafts are especially popular with parents and teachers because they give kids a hands-on creative project that does not require expensive materials. They are also great for people who love upcycling and finding creative ways to reuse everyday items instead of throwing them away.
Whether you are looking for a rainy day activity with the kids, a fun solo craft project, or a simple way to make homemade decorations, these ideas will give you plenty of inspiration. Here are 10 toilet paper roll craft ideas that are easy, creative, and genuinely enjoyable to make.
1. Make Adorable Toilet Paper Roll Animals for Kids
Toilet paper roll animals are one of the most classic and beloved crafts you can make with cardboard tubes. The basic process is simple. Paint the roll in the base color of your animal, let it dry, then add details with more paint, markers, googly eyes, and paper cutouts for ears, wings, or tails. You can make almost any animal this way. A brown bear with small round paper ears. A gray elephant with a curled paper trunk. A yellow chick with an orange paper beak. A striped orange tiger. Kids can design their own animals or follow a simple guide. Line them all up on a shelf when finished and they make a really sweet little display.
2. Create a Toilet Paper Roll Desk Organizer for Pens and Pencils
This is one of those crafts that is both fun to make and actually useful when it is finished. Collect several toilet paper rolls and arrange them together in a cluster or grid pattern. Glue them together tightly with a strong craft glue and let them dry completely. Then you can decorate the outside however you like. Wrap each roll in decorative washi tape in different patterns. Cover them in scrapbook paper or fabric scraps. Paint them all in one color for a clean look or each a different color for something more fun. Once decorated, stand the cluster upright and use each tube to hold pens, pencils, scissors, markers, or paintbrushes on your desk.
3. Make Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars for Pretend Play
Toilet paper roll binoculars are one of the quickest and most satisfying kids crafts you can make. Take two toilet paper rolls and glue or tape them side by side. Let the glue dry and then decorate them however your child likes. Paint them in a favorite color, wrap them in decorative paper, or cover them in stickers. Punch a small hole in the outer side of each roll and thread a piece of ribbon or yarn through both holes to make a neck strap. Tie knots on the inside of each hole to keep the ribbon in place. These binoculars are perfect for backyard adventures, pretend safari play, and imaginative outdoor games.
4. Craft Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Ornaments for the Holiday Tree
Toilet paper rolls can be turned into really charming homemade Christmas ornaments that look so cute on a tree. Flatten a toilet paper roll slightly and cut it into rings about one inch wide. Each ring becomes an oval or circular loop shape. You can link these loops together into a paper chain garland, or use them individually as ornament frames. Paint each ring in holiday colors like red, green, gold, or white. Add glitter, ribbon bows, or small sticker decorations. Thread a piece of thin ribbon through each ring to hang it on the tree. They look especially sweet when mixed in with regular ornaments and kids feel so proud seeing their handmade decorations on the family tree.
5. Build a Toilet Paper Roll Castle or Dollhouse for Kids
This is a bigger project but kids absolutely love it. Save up a large collection of toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls over a few weeks and use them to build a cardboard castle or simple dollhouse structure. Tape or glue the rolls together to create towers. Cut small windows and doorways into the rolls with scissors. Add a flat cardboard base and back wall for stability. Cover everything in gray paint for a stone castle look or in bright colors for a fairy tale style. Add paper flags on top of the towers, draw on brick patterns with a marker, and add a little drawbridge made from cardboard. It becomes an imaginative play toy that kids can use for weeks.
6. Make Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starters for Your Garden
This is one of the most practical and eco-friendly crafts on this list. Toilet paper rolls make perfect biodegradable seed starters for your garden. Fold the bottom of each tube inward to create a small closed base, like folding a box bottom. Fill the tube with potting soil and plant one or two seeds inside. Place your seed starters in a tray or shallow box to keep them upright and water gently. When the seedlings are ready to go into the ground, you plant the whole thing, cardboard tube and all. The cardboard breaks down naturally in the soil over time. It is a great activity to do with kids and a really satisfying way to start a spring garden.
7. Create Toilet Paper Roll Stamps for Fun Art Projects
Toilet paper rolls make surprisingly versatile stamps for painting projects. You can use the open end of the roll dipped in paint to print perfect circles, which is great for flower petal patterns, bubble designs, and circular art. Or squeeze and bend the roll into different shapes before dipping it in paint. Pinch it into an oval to stamp leaf shapes. Bend it into a heart shape and secure with a small piece of tape to create heart stamps. Kids can use these to make greeting cards, wrapping paper, fabric art, or simple paintings. Set out a few rolls bent into different shapes, a selection of paint colors, and let creativity take over.
8. Make Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar Tubes for Christmas
A homemade advent calendar made from toilet paper rolls is a really fun and budget-friendly holiday project. You need 24 toilet paper rolls for a traditional December advent calendar. Fold and tuck in both ends of each roll to seal them closed like a small wrapped cracker shape. Fill each one with a small treat, a tiny toy, a handwritten joke, or a little activity idea before sealing. Wrap each roll in colorful holiday paper or paint them in festive colors. Number them one through 24 with a marker or sticker. Arrange them in a pyramid shape on a shelf, in a box, or hung on a string along a wall. Kids love opening one each day leading up to Christmas.
9. Craft Toilet Paper Roll Wall Art for a Kids Room
Toilet paper rolls can be cut and shaped into really beautiful wall art that works especially well in a kids room or playroom. Cut rolls into rings of varying widths and arrange them into a large flower, butterfly, or abstract circular design on a canvas board or a piece of painted wood. Glue each ring in place and let it dry completely. Then spray paint the whole thing in one color for a clean modern look, or paint individual rings in different colors for something more playful. Frame it if you like or simply hang the canvas as is. It looks surprisingly decorative and handmade in the best way, and nobody would ever guess it started as empty cardboard tubes.
10. Make Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes for Wrapping Small Presents
This is one of those crafts that is useful all year round. A toilet paper roll can be turned into a cute little gift box in just a few minutes. Flatten the roll slightly and fold in both ends neatly to create a rectangular sealed box shape. Fill the inside with a small gift before closing the second end. A piece of jewelry, a gift card, chocolates, small toys, or a handwritten note all fit perfectly. Then decorate the outside however you like. Wrap it in tissue paper and secure with ribbon. Paint it and add a tag. Cover it in washi tape. Stack a few on a gift table or under the tree and they look really charming and intentional as part of a gift presentation.
