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Empty toilet paper rolls pile up in homes everywhere, but these cardboard tubes can become amazing art projects for kids. Instead of tossing them, you can turn them into fun crafts that keep children busy and creative.
With just a few simple materials, you can make animals, toys, decorations, and all sorts of things kids actually want to play with.
The projects go from colorful animals like butterflies and owls to toys like rockets and trains. Kids can also whip up wearable stuff, musical instruments, or cute room decorations.
You probably already have the basic supplies at home—perfect for those rainy days when everyone’s stuck inside.
1. Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly Craft
I love making butterfly crafts with toilet paper rolls. This project works great for kids of all ages.
For People Who Love to Make Things ✂️
First, I paint the toilet paper roll in bright colors and let it dry completely.
Then I cut out butterfly wings from colorful paper or grab a free template, and glue the wings to the back of the roll.
For antennae, I poke pipe cleaners through the top. Kids love adding stickers or doodling with markers to make their butterfly special.
2. Toilet Paper Roll Owl Puppet
Owl puppets are a favorite around here. I start by painting the toilet paper roll brown or gray.
I cut out two circles from colored paper for the eyes and glue them near the top.
Next, I add a little triangle beak—orange or yellow paper works best.
Wings come last: just cut wing shapes from brown paper and glue them to the sides. Now the owl puppet’s ready for some silly storytelling!
3. Painted Toilet Paper Roll Flowers
I cut toilet paper rolls into different shapes to make flower stamps. The cut edges create petal patterns when dipped in paint.
I pour paint onto paper plates, dip the roll’s edge in, and stamp away on paper.
Changing up how I cut the roll gives me all sorts of flower shapes—rounded for daisies, pointy for tulips, whatever I’m feeling that day.
Kids stamp lots of colors to make their own wild flower gardens.
4. Toilet Paper Roll Rocket Ship
Rocket ships are always a hit. I cover the toilet paper roll with colored paper or just paint it. Once it’s dry, I cut out triangles for fins and glue them to the bottom.
I make a paper cone for the nose and stick it on top.
Decorating is the best part—stickers, windows, whatever spacey details kids want. They’re ready for blastoff in no time.
5. Toilet Paper Roll Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are so easy with toilet paper rolls. I wrap the roll in green or brown paper for the body.
Then I cut out a long neck and tail from matching paper and glue them to each end.
Four little legs go on the bottom, and then I slap on some googly eyes and doodle spots or stripes. That’s it—my dino’s ready to stomp around.
6. Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
Binoculars are a classic. I tape two rolls side by side, wrap them in construction paper, and let kids color or sticker them up.
Then I punch holes on the sides and tie on some string so they can wear them around their necks—perfect for pretend adventures.
7. Toilet Paper Roll Pencil Holder
Pencil holders are super useful. I grab a few empty rolls and decorate them with paint or colored paper.
After gluing a couple together and letting them dry, I set the holder on my desk and fill it with pencils and crayons. Easy organization, and it looks cute, too.
8. Toilet Paper Roll Spider Craft
Spider crafts are perfect for Halloween or just bug-loving kids. I paint the roll black or brown and let it dry.
Then I poke four holes on each side and thread pipe cleaners through for legs, bending them to look creepy-crawly.
Googly eyes finish it off. Not exactly scary, but definitely fun.
9. Toilet Paper Roll Train
Trains are a blast to make. I paint each roll a different color and let them dry.
Plastic bottle caps make perfect wheels—just glue four to each car. I cut out little windows and doors, then connect the cars by threading string through holes I poke in the ends.
Kids can go wild decorating their own train cars with stickers or drawings.
10. Toilet Paper Roll Crown
I slice the roll in half for easier handling, then snip triangles along the top for crown points.
After painting it a royal color and letting it dry, I go to town with glitter, ribbons, and whatever sparkly stuff I have. Glue keeps everything in place.
Great for birthday parties or just playing dress-up.
11. Toilet Paper Roll Cat Mask
I cut the roll in half lengthwise to make a curved mask that fits right over a kid’s face.
After painting it orange or black and letting it dry, I cut triangles for ears and glue them on top.
Poke holes on the sides, thread some elastic string through, and the mask stays put for all the meowing and prowling.
12. Toilet Paper Roll Snowman
I start by painting the roll white and letting it dry.
Then I use black buttons or markers for eyes, an orange marker or paper triangle for the nose, and a simple smile with a black marker.
I glue on three buttons down the front and add arms with twigs or pipe cleaners. Sometimes I just draw them on if I’m feeling lazy.
A paper hat or scarf tops it off. My snowman’s ready for winter.
13. Toilet Paper Roll Drum
I make a drum by covering one end of the roll with paper, stretching it tight, and holding it down with a rubber band.
Decorating the outside is fun—colorful paper, markers, stickers, whatever I have around.
Pencils or wooden spoons work as drumsticks, and you can get all sorts of sounds by tapping in different spots.
14. Toilet Paper Roll Fairy Wand
I make fairy wands by cutting a toilet paper roll in half lengthwise, rolling it into a cone, and taping it shut.
After wrapping the cone in shiny paper or foil, I glue ribbons to the wide end for streamers.
Glitter, stickers, and tiny stars or gems make it sparkle. I let everything dry before waving my new fairy wand around—because who can resist a bit of magic?
15. Toilet Paper Roll Robot
I love making robots from toilet paper rolls—they’re just so easy and, honestly, always a little bit silly. No two robots ever look the same, which is half the fun.
I usually start by wrapping the roll in colored paper, or sometimes I just paint it if I’m feeling messy. Robot features come next: buttons, antennas, random shapes for control panels—whatever scraps I find in the craft bin.
Googly eyes are a must. I stick those on, doodle a mouth, and slap on some arms using strips of paper or leftover tubes from other projects.
For feet, I glue the little bot onto a scrap of cardboard. And that’s it—my robot’s ready for action, or at least for sitting on the windowsill looking cute.
16. Toilet Paper Roll Worm
This worm craft is one of those easy wins with kids. Takes almost no time, and you barely need any supplies.
I cut a toilet paper roll into chunky rings, maybe half an inch wide—usually four or five is enough unless I get carried away.
Each ring gets a quick coat of green or brown paint. Sometimes I just leave them plain if the kids are impatient, but painted looks cuter. I let them dry, or at least try to.
To connect the rings, I thread some yarn or string through them, tying a little knot between each so they don’t all slide together.
Googly eyes go on the first ring, and that’s it—now I’ve got a wiggly worm that somehow always ends up in the toy bin.
17. Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug
I love making ladybugs from toilet paper rolls—they’re just so easy and, honestly, a bit nostalgic. I usually grab a roll, slap on a coat of red paint, and wait (impatiently) for it to dry.
Then I cut out two black circles for the head, glue one on top, and scatter little black dots all over the red body for those classic ladybug spots.
For the wings, I cut out two red ovals and stick them on the sides. A black marker works just fine for doodling eyes and squiggly antennae. And there you go—another little ladybug for the collection.
