Crafts with Cardboard Rolls: 10 Creative Ideas

Crafts with cardboard rolls? Of course. Empty toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, or even baking paper tubes are the perfect starting point for endless fun activities with kids. Creative crafts are an ideal way to spend a rainy afternoon, a day at home with the flu, or even a birthday party with friends. Ready to discover what you can make with cardboard tubes?

Teaching kids about recycling is always a good idea. They’ll learn that throwing things away and buying new things isn’t always necessary (and it creates waste). More importantly, they’ll also learn how to think creatively. After all, what is creativity if not looking at things from a different perspective? A toilet paper roll can turn into a pirate or a pig, and a paper towel tube can become a one-hundred-storey skyscraper or even the base for a Montessori-inspired game.

If you’re a parent who loves crafts, you’ll adore these creative ideas to make with your kids. And if you’re a babysitter, why not suggest making one of these crafts together for a fun and different kind of afternoon? Either way, it’s a special opportunity to spark creativity, develop fine motor skills, and spend quality time together.

DIY Beehive with Cardboard Rolls

One of the most fun recycling crafts with cardboard rolls (paper towel rolls work best, not the tougher ones from foil or cling wrap). Bend the tubes to give them a hexagon shape, then glue them side by side to form a beehive. With paint, kids can have fun colouring it yellow and even add little bees made from Kinder Surprise capsules. For the black stripes, use black pipe cleaners: they’re soft, flexible, and perfect for stripes and antennae.

Fairy-Tale Castle Made from Toilet Paper Rolls

The most classic of all toilet paper roll crafts: the enchanted fairy-tale castle. Use cardboard rolls of different diameters and a few toilet paper rolls to vary the height. It’s a simple and fun activity for kids of all ages. Younger children can draw doors and windows, while older ones can focus on decorating with coloured paper and glue.

Pencil Holder Craft for Kids

One of the easiest crafts with cardboard rolls that children of all ages can make. Older kids can cover the cardboard tubes with tissue paper, crepe paper, or cardstock before cutting and assembling them. Younger kids can simply paint them and let their imagination guide the design. For the best result, cut the tubes at different heights: shorter for crayons, taller for pencils, for example. Finally, add a base of sturdy cardboard or plastic to keep everything together.

Bracelets and Superhero Wristbands from Cardboard Tubes

Depending on whether you use toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls, you can make bracelets for girls or superhero wristbands. The fun part is in the decorations: white glue and glitter, paint, mosaic tiles, rhinestones, fabric scraps—anything goes. Before decorating, help your child cut the tube lengthwise so it can be easily slipped on and off the wrist.

Birdhouses with Toilet Paper Rolls

One of the cutest toilet paper roll crafts. These are simple to make and turn out beautifully. What you’ll need: coloured cardstock for the roofs, tempera paint, white glue, scissors, and small decorative birds (found at craft or dollar stores). Help your child cut out windows and roof shapes, then let them decorate freely. A small tip: glue the roof on last.

DIY Coffee Cups and Saucers

A quick and fun kids’ craft. Take an empty toilet paper roll and cut it in half. Fold and glue one end closed to form the bottom. From another roll, cut out a narrow ring about 1–1.5 cm wide, which becomes the handle. Attach it, then let kids paint and decorate as they like. Add a cardboard saucer for the finishing touch.

Race Cars Made from Cardboard Tubes

Among toilet paper roll crafts, race cars are always a favourite. Start by decorating the body of the car—don’t forget to add a racing number, and if you need ideas, copy Formula 1 designs. Next, cut a small rectangle (an adult should assist if the child is young), fold it, and glue it to form the windshield. Four cardboard wheels, painted and attached, complete the project.

Cute Bees from Toilet Paper Rolls

Speaking of bees, why not make this fun little bee out of a toilet paper roll? Your child will need yellow and white cardstock, yellow paint, a piece of black yarn, and, of course, black pipe cleaners. One last touch: googly eyes, which you can buy online or at any craft store. This is one of the easiest and most successful cardboard roll crafts to make. How to do it? Just follow the steps in the picture.

Easy Homemade Stamps with Cardboard Tubes

A craft made from leftovers: you can use the scrap pieces from other projects, the parts you’ve already cut off. There’s almost nothing to do. Simply fold the cardboard tube into your desired shape, dip the base in paint, and your stamp is ready.

Funny Animals from Toilet Paper Rolls

To make these funny little animals from toilet paper rolls, you’ll need coloured cardstock in many shades, scissors, white glue, and of course, empty rolls. To give them a “collection look,” make sure they’re all the same height. Shaping the rolls is easy: fold two flaps on one side and glue them down to create ears. Before this step, wrap the roll with cardstock in the colour you need—black for an owl, pink for a piglet, for example. Then cut out eyes, wings, whiskers, and any other details. Let the photo inspire your child’s creativity.

Have you enjoyed these ideas and want even more easy and fun kids’ crafts? Take a look at our posts on:

• Fall crafts
  
• Christmas crafts
  
• Mother’s Day crafts