20+ Simple & Fun Crafts For Kids With Toilet Paper Rolls

Crafts for kids with toilet paper rolls are a fun, eco-friendly way to engage children in creative activities.By repurposing these everyday items, kids can make a wide range of projects such as animals, robots, jewelry, and even holiday decorations.

Toilet Paper Roll Robots

 

I don’t know why, but toilet paper roll robots always make me smile. Maybe it’s because they look like little characters ready to come to life on your desk. Whenever I make these with kids, I just grab foil, markers, and whatever random buttons or stickers are lying around. Wrap the roll in foil, stick on “control panels,” and suddenly, you’ve got a robot that looks like it could beep at you. Honestly, the fun part is seeing how different each kid’s version turns out.

One of my nephews once gave his robot a mustache because, as he put it, “all cool robots have mustaches.” To be fair, he wasn’t wrong—it looked hilarious. That’s the magic of this craft: there’s no wrong way. You can add googly eyes, antennas from pipe cleaners, or even tiny cardboard arms. In my opinion, it’s one of those crafts where creativity really takes over.

TP Roll Fairy Houses

Now, fairy houses are where I totally let my inner child come out. I love how a plain toilet paper roll can become this whimsical little cottage with just some paint and paper. I usually cut out tiny windows, add a roof made from colorful cardstock, and then decorate with glitter or flowers. The kids always whisper like real fairies are going to move in—so cute.

Once, I tried making a fairy house with a hot pink roof, and my daughter told me it looked more like Barbie’s summer home than a fairy hideout. Fair enough! That’s what I love, though—you can make them magical or silly depending on your mood. If you add moss, it looks enchanted. If you add stickers, it looks playful. Honestly, it’s a craft that can sit on a shelf and still feel like part of a storybook.

Bird Feeder

Mini Telescopes

Mini telescopes might sound simple, but they can turn a backyard adventure into something epic. All you need is a toilet paper roll, some paint, and maybe stickers or tape. The kids decorate it however they want, and suddenly they’re pirates scanning for treasure or astronauts looking for planets. Honestly, I’ve caught myself peeking through one like a kid again.

I remember one summer afternoon when my son insisted his telescope could see all the way to the moon. Of course, it couldn’t, but I didn’t have the heart to break his excitement. To be fair, when you decorate something yourself, it does feel a little more magical. Add some aluminum foil around the edges, and it looks like real gear. It’s such an easy project but one that leads to hours of play.

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

 

If I had to pick a personal favorite, it would be the binoculars. Just tape or glue two toilet paper rolls together, add string for a neck strap, and decorate. Boom—binoculars! Kids love to run around pretending they’re on a safari. In my opinion, this is one of those crafts that instantly turns into a game.

One time, my daughter and her friend wore theirs to the park and decided they were “explorers of the unknown.” They spent an hour spotting imaginary tigers and rare birds. To be fair, I think the string makes a big difference because it feels more real hanging around their necks. Plus, you can customize them with paint or camo patterns if you’re feeling fancy. Honestly, they’re perfect for pretend play.

Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly

 

Now, butterflies are where you can get really colorful. I like cutting out big paper wings, letting the kids paint or color them however they want, and then gluing them onto the toilet paper roll body. Add pipe cleaners for antennae, and suddenly, it’s a fluttering masterpiece. Honestly, no two butterflies ever look alike.

Once, my niece painted hers completely black, then covered it in glitter. She said it was a “midnight butterfly,” and honestly, it looked stunning. To be fair, sometimes the best results come from not overthinking it. I’ve found that giving kids a tray of markers, sequins, and glitter lets their imagination fly—pun totally intended. In my opinion, this one is perfect if you want a craft that feels both creative and cheerful.

TP Roll Pencil Holders

 

I love crafts that double as something useful, and pencil holders fit the bill. Cover a toilet paper roll with wrapping paper or paint, glue it to a cardboard base, and you’ve got a desk organizer. I made one for my own desk once, and I still use it. Honestly, it feels pretty satisfying when something handmade actually comes in handy.

My daughter decorated hers with stickers of cats, and it became her “official homework pencil holder.” To be fair, it motivated her to keep her desk a bit cleaner, which was a win for me. You can even group a few rolls together for markers, crayons, and scissors. In my opinion, this craft proves that toilet paper rolls aren’t just for play—they can be practical too.

Toilet Paper Roll Fire Truck

 

This one takes a bit more effort, but wow, it’s worth it. Paint the roll red, cut out little windows, and use black circles for wheels. Suddenly, you’ve got a fire truck. I once added a tiny ladder made from popsicle sticks, and the kids lost their minds—it was their favorite part. Honestly, small details make it feel more real.

My son once used his fire truck roll to “rescue” Lego people from a pretend fire. To be fair, watching him drive it around making siren noises was the highlight of my day. It’s a little more time-consuming than some crafts, but in my opinion, the end result is one of the coolest. And if you’re making it with kids, let them choose the details—they always surprise you.

TP Roll Puppets

Puppets made from toilet paper rolls might be one of the most entertaining crafts I’ve ever tried. You basically draw or glue faces onto the rolls, add yarn hair, maybe little outfits, and then you’ve got a character. Kids instantly want to put on a show. Honestly, I’ve seen living room puppet theaters pop up in minutes.

One time, my nephew created a “superhero puppet” with a cape made from tissue paper. He spent the rest of the afternoon saving the day with it. To be fair, these puppets can be as simple or detailed as you want. In my opinion, they’re the kind of craft that encourages storytelling, which makes them extra special. Plus, you don’t need anything fancy—just imagination and some scraps of paper.

TP Roll Spacemen

This is where things get fun for kids who love outer space. Paint the roll white or silver, add a little circle window, and suddenly you’ve got a tiny astronaut. I like gluing on foil helmets and drawing control buttons. Honestly, they end up looking like little space heroes ready for a mission.

I remember once making a whole “crew” with my son, and we lined them up on the shelf as if they were ready to board a rocket. To be fair, it doesn’t take much to make space feel magical for kids. In my opinion, this one is perfect for sparking conversations about planets, stars, and space travel while crafting. And let’s be honest—who doesn’t secretly want a tiny spaceman on their desk?

TP Roll Rockets

A fun, space-themed craft that lets kids explore their imagination and learn about rockets.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Colored paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Glitter

Steps:

1. Decorate the toilet paper roll with colorful paper to make the body of the rocket.
2. Create the rocket’s tail with cut-out triangles for fins and attach them.
3. Add a glittery effect on the top or middle of the rocket for some fun sparkle.

Toilet Paper Roll Cars

Craft a mini car that kids can race or use for imaginative play.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Bottle caps or cardboard circles for wheels
• Glue
• Paint or markers

Steps:

1. Paint or decorate the toilet paper roll to resemble the body of the car.
2. Glue bottle caps or cardboard circles to the sides for wheels.
3. Add extra details like headlights and windows using markers.

 TP Roll Dinosaurs

A dinosaur craft that brings the prehistoric world to life.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Green paint
• Scissors
• Pipe cleaners
• Paper for the dinosaur spikes

Steps:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll green to make the dinosaur body.
2. Cut small paper triangles for spikes and glue them along the top.
3. Use pipe cleaners to create the tail and legs, and attach them to the roll.

TP Roll Snakes

Create a colorful snake that slithers around and encourages imaginative play.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Green or colored paper
• Markers or crayons
• Glue
• Googly eyes

Steps:

1. Flatten the toilet paper roll and cut it into a spiral.
2. Decorate it with colors or patterns using markers or crayons.
3. Glue googly eyes at the end for a fun touch.
4. Watch the snake “slither” as it moves!

Toilet Paper Roll Planes

Kids can build their own planes and pretend they’re pilots flying high.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Craft sticks or straws
• Glue
• Markers or stickers

Steps:

1. Glue craft sticks to the sides of the toilet paper roll to form wings and propellers.
2. Decorate the plane with markers, stickers, or paint.
3. Let the kids pretend to fly their planes around the room.

Toilet Paper Roll Flowers

A lovely way to create a flower bouquet with recyclable materials.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Scissors
• Glue
• Colored paper or tissue paper

Steps:

1. Cut the toilet paper roll into rings.
2. Flatten and shape the rings into flower petals.
3. Glue the petals into a circle to form flowers, then add a stem using a green strip of paper.

TP Roll Caterpillar

Craft a cute caterpillar that can wiggle across the table.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Glue
• Markers or paint
• Googly eyes

Steps:

1. Cut the toilet paper rolls into smaller sections.
2. Glue them together to form the body of the caterpillar.
3. Add googly eyes and decorate with markers or paint.
4. You can even attach pipe cleaners for antennas.

Toilet Paper Roll Alien

Create fun, out-of-this-world creatures with just a toilet paper roll and your imagination.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes
• Paint or markers
• Construction paper

Steps:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll in any color you like.
2. Attach pipe cleaners as arms or legs and create extra antennas.
3. Glue googly eyes and cut out fun alien shapes from construction paper to add.

TP Roll Fish

A cute and easy craft to create colorful fish for a pretend ocean play scene.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Paint or markers
• Glitter or sequins
• Construction paper for fins

Steps:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll to resemble a fish.
2. Cut out fish fins and attach them to the sides.
3. Add glitter or sequins for a sparkly fish effect.

Toilet Paper Roll Crown

Every little one can feel like royalty with a DIY toilet paper roll crown.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Glitter
• Glue
• Stickers or gems

Steps:

1. Cut the toilet paper roll into a thinner ring.
2. Decorate the ring with glitter, stickers, and gems.
3. Adjust the size to fit the child’s head, and you have a beautiful crown.

TP Roll Snowman

Perfect for wintertime, a toilet paper roll snowman can be a fun decoration or part of a holiday craft session.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• White paint
• Buttons or beads
• Orange paper for nose

Steps:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll white to resemble a snowman.
2. Use buttons or beads for the eyes, buttons, and scarf.
3. Cut out a small triangle from orange paper for the carrot nose.

TP Roll Ladybug

Intro: Craft a cute ladybug to add to a garden of creations.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Red paint
• Black markers or paper
• Glue

Steps:

1. Paint the toilet paper roll red.
2. Use black markers or cut out black paper for the spots.
3. Draw or glue on antennae and other details.

TP Roll Aquarium

Intro: Create a mini aquarium to house all the fish and sea creatures made from rolls.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Blue paper for the background
• Glue
• Fish and sea creature cutouts

Steps:

1. Glue the toilet paper rolls upright on the blue paper to form “aquarium tubes.”
2. Cut out fish, seaweed, and bubbles to decorate the inside.
3. Attach small cutouts to the tubes.

Toilet Paper Roll Pencil Sharpeners

Craft a pretend pencil sharpener to enhance playtime.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Paper clips
• Scissors
• Glue

Steps:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll with colored paper.
2. Use paper clips to represent the blade or “sharpening” mechanism.
3. Cut a small hole at the top for pretend sharpening.

TP Roll Airplane Mobiles

This hanging mobile made from toilet paper rolls is perfect for a kid’s room.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper rolls
• String
• Paint
• Glue

Steps:

1. Paint and decorate the toilet paper rolls.
2. Attach strings to the rolls and hang them from a branch or wire.
3. This craft doubles as both a decoration and a fun toy.

 Toilet Paper Roll Crayons

A fun way to store crayons or markers using toilet paper rolls.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Crayons

Steps:

1. Wrap the toilet paper roll with colorful construction paper.
2. Label the roll with a crayon color using markers.
3. Keep crayons organized by storing them in the roll.

 TP Roll Stamps

Transform a toilet paper roll into a custom stamp for arts and crafts.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Glue
• Paint
• Paper

Steps:

1. Flatten the toilet paper roll and cut out designs.
2. Dip the cut shapes into paint and press them onto paper.
3. Create repeating patterns or designs for fun effects.

TP Roll Wind Chime

Make a beautiful wind chime for your porch or garden with this simple craft.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper rolls
• String
• Beads or buttons

Steps:

1. Cut the toilet paper roll into rings.
2. Thread string through each ring and tie them together.
3. Add beads or buttons at the ends for a tinkling sound when it moves.

Toilet Paper Roll Castle

A fun and imaginative way to create a medieval castle for toy knights and dragons.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Cardboard
• Paint
• Glue

Steps:

1. Paint toilet paper rolls to look like towers.
2. Attach the towers to a cardboard base for the castle walls.
3. Add windows, a drawbridge, and other decorative details.

 TP Roll Clocks

Help kids learn to tell time with their own DIY clocks made from toilet paper rolls.

Materials Used:

• Toilet paper roll
• Cardboard
• Clock hands (or paper)
• Markers

Steps:

1. Cut a circle from cardboard to create the face of the clock.
2. Attach the clock hands using a paper brad.
3. Mark the hours on the roll and the cardboard to create a functioning clock.

Educational Crafts: Fun and Interactive Learning with Toilet Paper Rolls

Educational crafts are an excellent way to engage children in creative activities while also enhancing their learning skills. By using everyday items like toilet paper rolls, you can create simple yet effective learning tools that teach fundamental concepts such as counting, letters, numbers, and shapes. These crafts not only promote hands-on learning but also foster cognitive and motor skills. Below are some fun educational crafts using toilet paper rolls that children will enjoy:

1. Counting Game

• What You Need: Toilet paper rolls, markers, and a piece of paper or cardboard.
• How It Works: Label each roll with a number or write the corresponding number of dots on each roll. Children can match the number rolls to a collection of small objects, like buttons or beads, to help them practice counting. This game helps children learn number recognition and counting in a fun, tactile way.

2. Turning Toilet Paper Rolls into a Counting or Number Line

• What You Need: Several toilet paper rolls, a marker, tape, and a wall or large piece of paper.
• How It Works: Tape the rolls in a row on the wall or paper and number them. This creates a visual number line that children can use to practice counting, ordering numbers, or even learning simple addition and subtraction by placing items in the rolls corresponding to the numbers.

3. Letter and Number Tracing

• What You Need: Toilet paper rolls, paper, a pencil or crayon, and a ruler.
• How It Works: Lay a piece of paper flat and place a toilet paper roll under it. Then, using a pencil or crayon, trace around the roll to form the shape of letters or numbers. Children can practice writing and identifying letters and numbers in a more interactive way.

4. Shape Sorting and Recognition

• What You Need: Toilet paper rolls, scissors, colored paper, and glue.
• How It Works: Cut the toilet paper rolls into various shapes, such as squares, circles, or triangles. You can also color them differently. Children can sort the shapes based on their type or color, which helps them improve their shape recognition and categorization skills.

These educational crafts are not only cost-effective but also offer countless opportunities for learning through play, making them perfect for young children.

Tips for Crafting with Toilet Paper Rolls

Toilet paper rolls are versatile, eco-friendly, and a great crafting material, perfect for upcycling into fun, creative projects. Whether you’re making toys, holiday decorations, or even home organization solutions, toilet paper rolls offer endless possibilities. Here are some essential tips for crafting with toilet paper rolls to make your experience enjoyable and productive!

1. Safety Tips for Younger Children

• Supervise with Scissors: Toilet paper roll crafts often require cutting, which can be a challenge for younger children. Always supervise kids when scissors are involved, or opt for child-safe scissors to avoid accidents.
• Small Parts Caution: Some craft projects might require adding small items (buttons, googly eyes, beads). Ensure these parts are age-appropriate and monitor kids to prevent choking hazards.
• Non-toxic Supplies: Use non-toxic paints, glue, and markers to ensure the materials are safe for children, especially if they tend to touch their faces or mouths during crafting.

2. How to Clean and Prepare Toilet Paper Rolls for Crafting

• Remove any Labels: Gently peel off any paper labels from the roll. Sometimes a bit of sticky residue can remain, so you can use a damp cloth or a bit of rubbing alcohol to clean it off.
• Flatten the Rolls: To make cutting easier, flatten the toilet paper rolls slightly by pressing them down with your hands or a rolling pin. This will make the material more flexible and manageable for various projects.
• Clean the Inside: If you plan on using the interior of the roll (for instance, in art projects), check for any leftover bits of paper or dust and wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

3. Ideas for Organizing Craft Time

• Prep Materials Ahead: Gather all the supplies you’ll need for your project before you begin. This includes paints, markers, glue, scissors, and any decorative items. Having everything ready ensures a smooth and enjoyable crafting session.
• Set Up a Craft Station: Dedicate a clean surface for crafting and keep it organized. Lay down newspaper or a disposable tablecloth to protect the workspace from paint or glue spills.
• Create a Craft Bin: To keep your crafting organized, create a bin or box where you can store all the toilet paper rolls and other crafting materials. Label sections for different supplies (e.g., paints, markers, extra embellishments).
• Set Time Limits: If crafting with young children, consider setting a time limit to maintain focus and prevent frustration. Short, enjoyable sessions work best, followed by cleanup or a small break.
• Encourage Creativity: Let the kids explore different ways to decorate and transform the toilet paper rolls. You could provide a selection of colors, shapes, and materials but allow them to come up with their own ideas.

Crafting with toilet paper rolls is a simple, budget-friendly way to encourage creativity and sustainable practices. By following these tips, you can ensure a safe, enjoyable, and organized crafting experience!

FAQ

What are some fun crafts to make with toilet paper rolls?

Toilet paper rolls are versatile and can be transformed into various fun crafts for kids. Popular projects include making animals (like owls or frogs), pencil holders, napkin rings, photo frames, or even building a marble run. The possibilities are endless!

What materials do I need for Crafts for kids with toilet paper rolls?

Basic materials for Crafts for kids with toilet paper rolls include the rolls themselves, glue, scissors, markers, paint, googly eyes, and decorative items like stickers, ribbon, fabric scraps, or feathers. You can also add items like craft foam, pipe cleaners, and buttons for extra flair.

Are toilet paper roll crafts safe for kids?

Yes, toilet paper roll crafts are generally safe for kids, especially with adult supervision. However, small items like buttons and googly eyes should be kept away from young children to prevent choking hazards. Always ensure safe crafting by using child-safe tools and materials.

How can I make a toilet paper roll animal craft?

To make a simple toilet paper roll animal, start by painting or decorating the roll. For example, you can make a cat by cutting out ears and drawing a face on the roll. Add a tail using a pipe cleaner or paper, and finish off with any other details like paws or whiskers.