This weekend I was inspired to do some crafting when I came across this craft pinboard. There are many great recycled paper towel and toilet paper roll crafts that are fun for kids. These 3 Toilet Paper Roll Animals are simple, eco-friendly, and adorable! I hope you enjoy making these 3 DIY Upcycled Paper Tube Animal Crafts.
3 Animals Made Out Of Toilet Paper Rolls
Here is a tutorial for making 3 paper tube animals- a DIY toilet paper roll owl, a toilet paper roll bunny, and a crocodile toilet paper roll craft. I have included step by step instructions and in process photos to help you complete these Toilet Paper Roll Animals.
1. DIY Toilet Paper Roll Owl
Level: Easy
Time: 5-10 min
Toilet Roll Owl Instructions:
- Bend in the top of your roll w/2 folds.
- Your owl shape is complete: now to decorate!
- I decided to wrap my roll in decorative paper for a polished look. You can unbend the tube while you cover in paper. Then bend back in place to continue making owls out of toilet paper rolls.
- Finally, I added paper eyes, wings, & beak with school glue. You could also use markers or paint to decorate the entire owl if you prefer or in addition. Your toilet paper roll owl is now finished!
2. Toilet Paper Roll Bunny
Level: Moderate
Time: 10-15 min
How To Make A Toilet Paper Roll Bunny:
- Start by cutting 2 equal slices off of a spare paper tube for the ears.
- Paint all your pieces. Acrylic paint works well.
- Glue ears together and to the inside tube. You can use school glue for this or a hot glue gun.
- Decorate: I glued buttons for eyes (& the tail). I then stitched on the whiskers and nose with a needle and embroidery thread. Finally, I added a cute little bow tie by tying a ribbon into a bow, trimming the edges and gluing it on. Hot glue works well for that.
3. Crocodile Toilet Paper Roll Craft
Level: Difficult
Time: 15-20 min
Toilet Paper Roll Crocodile Instructions:
This one is a bit tricky since you need an exacto knife and three toilet paper rolls.
- First, take one tube and trace your design with a pencil for the eyes and mouth. Then cut it out with scissors (an adult may wish to use an exacto knife). This is the hardest part and an adult should do this for younger children while older children may just need supervision.
- To make your legs, make 2 parallel cuts on the bottom of your 2nd tube near the end.
- Then divide the section between your lines and cut it in half. Fold up each side to create L-shaped legs.
- Repeat on the other end.
- Create his spiky spine: cut 2 sides of each triangle, then bend them up where they are still attached to the body.
- Cut a triangle tail from the 3rd roll and glue to the body.
- Attach the head by cutting a small piece out of the bottom of the head (at the end of the neck) and squeezing it into the body.
- I liked a natural look for the alligator, but I did paint the insides green for little hints of color.
I definitely recommend these upcycled crafts! They are fun for kids and adults and are a great way to repurpose what was once headed for the trash. There are lots more fun ideas for toilet paper tubes upcycled into toys. Which of these Toilet Paper Roll Animals is your favorite? I’d love to see you and your child’s creations. Tag us @familyfocusblog and #familyfocusblog!
Post written by Annabelle Absar, a Belmont University senior.
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Diane says
Those are adorable and we have tons of those tubes I keep saving!
Scarlet says
Thank you! I was so happy to find all the different crafts you can make from these tubes.
Ellen Christian says
Aww… I love the owl!
Scarlet says
Thank you! He was so easy to make.