Crafting with toilet rolls

Crafts With Toilet Paper Rolls: 15 Fun and Easy Ideas

Before you toss that empty toilet paper roll into the recycling bin, consider this: you are holding a free, versatile craft material that kids and adults alike can turn into all sorts of creative projects. Toilet roll crafts are cheap, simple, and a brilliant way to keep little hands busy on a rainy afternoon.

We have rounded up 15 of our favourite crafts with toilet paper rolls. Most of these projects need nothing more than a few basic supplies like paint, glue, scissors, and coloured paper. So grab your empty rolls and let's get making.

TP Roll Animals

Turning toilet paper rolls into animals is probably the most popular category of toilet roll crafts, and for good reason. The cylindrical shape of the roll makes a perfect body for all sorts of creatures. Here are some of the best TP roll animals to try.

1. Toilet Roll Owl

This is one of the simplest crafts with toilet paper rolls and a great starting point for younger children. Fold the top of the roll inward on both sides to create two pointed "ears." Paint the roll brown, then use coloured paper or googly eyes to add eyes, a beak, and feathered wings. You can make a whole family of owls in different colours and line them up on a shelf.

2. Cardboard Tube Fox

Paint the bottom two-thirds of a roll orange and the top third white to create the fox's face. Cut out two triangular ears from orange card and glue them to the top. Add a black nose and small black eyes. For the tail, cut a strip of orange card, round off one end and add a white tip, then attach it to the back.

3. Toilet Roll Butterfly

Paint the roll in a bright colour and let it dry. While you wait, cut butterfly wing shapes from coloured card or thick paper. Decorate the wings with glitter, stickers, or painted patterns. Glue the wings to the back of the roll and add pipe cleaner antennae to the top. These look beautiful hung from a string as a mobile.

4. Paper Roll Frog

Paint a roll green and let it dry. Cut out four small circles from green card for the legs and two larger circles for the eyes. Add black pupils to the eye circles and glue them to the top of the roll so they poke up above the rim. Fold the leg circles in half and attach them to the sides. Draw a wide, happy mouth on the front with a marker.

5. Toilet Roll Penguin

Paint the roll black, leaving an oval-shaped white patch on the front for the belly. Cut small orange triangle shapes for the beak and feet, and add googly eyes. This is a wonderful winter craft and works especially well if you make a whole colony of penguins in different sizes.

Seasonal and Holiday Crafts

6. Christmas Crackers

Wrap a toilet paper roll in colourful tissue paper or wrapping paper, leaving several centimetres of excess paper at each end. Twist the ends to create the classic cracker shape. Fill the roll with small sweets, jokes, or tiny toys before you twist it closed. Tie ribbon around the twisted ends for a finished look. These homemade crackers are cheaper and more personal than shop-bought versions, and they produce far less waste.

7. Halloween Bats

Paint a roll black and cut bat wing shapes from black card. Glue the wings to the sides of the roll and add googly eyes and small white paper fangs. Attach a loop of string to the top so you can hang them from the ceiling or a doorframe. Make a dozen and you have got yourself an instant Halloween decoration.

8. Easter Bunny

Wrap a toilet roll in white or pastel-coloured paper. Cut out long ear shapes from card and glue them to the inside top of the roll. Add a cotton wool ball for the tail, draw on a face, and use thin strips of card for whiskers. You can fill the roll with mini chocolate eggs for an adorable Easter gift.

9. Advent Calendar

Collect 24 toilet paper rolls and stand them upright in rows on a piece of sturdy card. Number each roll from 1 to 24 and fill them with small treats. Cover the tops with tissue paper circles held in place with an elastic band so children can pop through the paper each day. This is a satisfying project that makes good use of all those rolls you would otherwise throw away.

Practical and Decorative Crafts

10. Desk Organiser

Cut several toilet paper rolls to different heights and glue them together in a cluster on a small piece of cardboard. Paint or cover them in decorative paper. Use the individual tubes to hold pens, pencils, scissors, and other desk supplies. This is a genuinely useful craft that kids can make and actually use every day.

11. Seed Starters

Toilet paper rolls make excellent biodegradable seed-starting pots. Cut each roll in half, make four small cuts at the bottom of each piece, and fold the flaps inward to create a base. Fill with compost, plant your seeds, and place them on a tray. When the seedlings are ready to go outside, you can plant the entire roll directly into the ground. The cardboard will break down naturally in the soil. If you use biodegradable toilet paper, the rolls will decompose even more easily.

12. Napkin Rings

Cut a toilet roll into rings about 3 centimetres wide. Wrap each ring in decorative washi tape, twine, ribbon, or fabric. These simple napkin rings look surprisingly elegant on a dinner table and take just minutes to make. They are also a good project for older children who want to help set the table for a special meal.

13. Wall Art

Flatten several toilet paper rolls and cut them into 1-centimetre-wide strips. These strips will naturally curl into leaf or petal shapes. Arrange the shapes into flower patterns and glue them together. Paint the finished piece or leave it in its natural brown colour for a rustic look. Mount on a canvas or directly onto a wall. This project works beautifully as a collaborative family activity where everyone contributes shapes to the design.

14. Binoculars

Glue or tape two toilet paper rolls side by side. Decorate them with paint, stickers, or coloured tape. Punch a hole in the outer side of each roll and thread through a length of string or ribbon so the binoculars can hang around the child's neck. These pretend binoculars are perfect for nature walks, bird watching, or imaginative play.

15. Marble Run

This is a more ambitious project that is great for older children. Cut toilet paper rolls in half lengthwise to create open channels. Tape these channels at various angles to a large piece of cardboard propped up against a wall, creating a track for marbles to roll down. Add full rolls as tunnels and experiment with different angles and configurations. Building a marble run teaches basic physics concepts while being genuinely entertaining.

Tips for Better Toilet Roll Crafts

• Start collecting early. Most of these projects need multiple rolls, so keep a bag or box in the bathroom for collecting empties.
• Acrylic paint works best. It covers the brown cardboard more evenly than watercolours and dries quickly.
• Use a hot glue gun for stronger bonds. PVA glue is fine for paper-on-paper, but heavier elements like pipe cleaners and fabric may need something stronger. Adult supervision is essential with hot glue.
• Flatten before cutting. If you need to cut shapes from the roll, flatten it first. It is much easier to cut through two layers of flat cardboard than a round tube.

A Word About the Rolls Themselves

Not all toilet paper rolls are created equal. Rolls from conventional toilet paper are typically made from virgin wood pulp, which means trees were cut down to make them. Bamboo toilet paper rolls, on the other hand, are made from a fast-growing, renewable resource. If you want your crafting habit to be as eco-friendly as the crafts themselves, switching to bamboo toilet paper is a simple change that makes a real difference.

Interested in learning more about how your toilet paper is produced? Check out our article on how toilet paper is made for the full story behind this everyday essential.

Get Creative and Reduce Waste

Crafts with toilet paper rolls are proof that you do not need expensive materials to have fun and make something special. Every roll you reuse is one less item in the bin, and that is a win for both your wallet and the planet. If you have got children, these projects are a wonderful way to introduce them to the idea of reusing and recycling in a hands-on, enjoyable way.

So the next time you reach the end of a roll, set it aside and see what you can make. You might just surprise yourself.

Want to learn more about the environmental side of toilet paper? Read our piece on toilet paper facts for some eye-opening numbers.