Toilet paper roll crafts for kids and everyone

by Mary Ann on March 30, 2011

 

toilet paper roll bird feeder

Toilet paper roll Bird feeder

I spent a few months collecting egg cartons, baby food jars and toilet paper rolls for the Love of Learning Center at the TJED Forum in Salt Lake City, UT.

When the two wild, crazy and fun days were over I was out of baby food jars and egg cartons. But my, oh my, did I have toilet paper rolls left; dozens of them. Goes to show just what product we use most in our homes.

So I just started looking around at what can be done with them. This is a blog of self explanatory pictures. You are going to be amazed.

No matter what topic you want to introduce to your child, no matter the season or the holiday, you can find crafts with toilet paper roll creations to match. Really!! Enjoy!!! (These fun and easy crafts can be tried with paper towel rolls too. So these can also be called paper towel roll crafts). : )

These pictures are of toilet paper roll crafts for small children. Even two year olds could manage most of them with help. In the spring your children could make the apple tree, plant a seed in a cup, visit a green house and read a book on what happens in the spring. (Directions for all craft available at the end). This little family of dolls would be a great entry project to family genealogy.

toilet paper roll egg holder,dolls,apple tree

Toilet paper roll Egg holder, Dolls, Apple tree

Then add the materials for the birds and add a book on baby animals. Use your Spark Station as a place to get them started.

toilet paper roll vase, birds, menorah, leprechaun

Toilet paper roll Vase, Birds, Menorah, Leprechaun

The next few pictures are of toilet paper tube crafts for children who are a bit older. Tie these projects into topics that you want to inspire your children with. For example, if you want to introduce the Middle Ages, get a good book and put the materials for the castle in your Spark Station.

toilet paper roll, binoculars, car, castle, lantern

Toilet paper roll Binoculars, Car, Castle, Lantern

toilet paper roll rocket

Toilet paper roll Rocket

toilet paper roll totempole

Toilet paper roll Totempole

If you are introducing them to the solar system get a book on NASA and have the materials to make the rocket. If you are studying American Indians choose a tribe that actually used totem poles and then make one.

 

And wouldn’t it be fun to have an older child make the “Where the Wild Things Are” puppets and then use them to tell the story to younger children.

Toilet paper roll Nativity, Owl, Pen holder

Toilet paper roll Nativity, Owl(Where the Wild Things Are), Pen holder

Now I wouldn’t want you to think that toilet paper tubes are only good for crafts for younger children. Have a family night project and get your older children and dad involved. Just take a look at these amazing things made from the lowly toilet paper roll!!!

toilet paper roll diorama, bicycle, face

Toilet paper roll Diorama, Bicycle, Face

toilet paper roll diorama, faces, wall hanging

Toilet paper roll Diorama, Faces, Wall hanging

Oh I just can’t resist. The options for Spark Station learning projects with these paper tubes is just too delicious. Why, use them to introduce George Washington and the Human body.

toilet paper roll skeleton, wig

Toilet paper roll Skeleton, Wig

Here are the directions for all the fun and easy crafts in the above pictures.

Apple tree
Dolls
Egg holder
Birds
Leprechaun
Vase
Menorah
Binoculars
Castle
Lantern
Pen holder
Rocket
Race car
Nativity
Totem pole
Where the Wild Things Are
Bicycle
Diorama
Diorama
Faces
Faces
Wall hanger
Wall hanger
Bird feeder
Wig
Skeleton

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Annette J. March 30, 2011 at 4:43 pm

I am so excited to add toilet paper rolls with the diorama instructions to my closet! My crafty kids are just going to go nuts over them! Thanks for the great ideas.

Reply

Casey Travielle July 14, 2012 at 5:59 am

Love these craft ideas. Thank you so much!

Reply

Mary Ann July 14, 2012 at 7:52 am

Thank you Casey. Welcome to the Home School Coach Family. I am sure you are going to find loads of fun and inspiring things for you and your family to enjoy together.

Reply

Alysha November 28, 2012 at 8:15 pm

Any suggestions on how I can make a homemade trophy out of toilet paper rolls?

Reply

Mary Ann November 28, 2012 at 9:32 pm

Hi Alysha, I found a cute one at http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Homemade-Trophy.html Looks easy to make and very cute. Good luck in your efforts. Thanks for visiting.

Reply

beth February 28, 2013 at 2:59 pm

I tried to click on the directions for the toilet paper faces and both links are bad. do you have the directions and could you send them to me please?

Reply

Mary Ann February 28, 2013 at 9:10 pm

Hi Beth,

Sorry about the links. They were live a year ago but sometimes they go down. I did a search for you and found the site for Junior Jacquet,
the man behind the masks. However, his site is in French and I couldn’t get it to open to show any directions. I did find a site where someone had
tried out this craft and gave a few pointers. There is another site where you can see the pictures much larger so that you can try to copy how they are done.
There are tons of sites out there that show Juniors faces but none that give the directions. I wish I had saved the directions from the site I had while it was still live. I suggest that you dampen the tubes and let them soften and then just have a ball experimenting with what you can do. Good luck Warmly, Mary Ann

Reply

Jen March 29, 2013 at 8:02 pm

What a great collection! Thanks for the great ideas. These are awesome and perfect for the kids! We did a toilet paper roll snake project out of the same materials you used. You should check it out! 🙂
http://earlylearning.momtrusted.com/2013/03/year-of-the-snake

Reply

Mary Ann April 2, 2013 at 10:02 pm

Jen I loved your snake. : )

Reply

sadietahitahi April 2, 2013 at 12:18 am

awesome

Reply

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