Toilet paper rolls might seem like ordinary trash, but with a little creativity, they can become fun, functional, and decorative crafts for all ages. Repurposing these simple cardboard tubes not only reduces waste but also provides an affordable way to engage kids, teens, and adults in hands-on activities. From educational toys and home décor to practical organizers, toilet paper roll crafts encourage creativity, sustainability, and family bonding.
Below are 15 inventive toilet paper roll craft ideas with step-by-step instructions, skill ratings, estimated completion times, and optional variations.
Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Creating a toilet paper roll bird feeder is a simple and rewarding craft that brings wildlife right to your backyard. Using a cardboard roll, peanut butter, and birdseed, you can make a nutritious treat for birds while teaching kids about nature and recycling.
The process is straightforward: spread peanut butter around the roll, coat it with birdseed, and hang it from a tree branch using a piece of string. This project is not only eco-friendly but also encourages observation of local wildlife.
You can customize the feeder by experimenting with different seeds or adding decorative string. It’s a fun, hands-on way to combine creativity with environmental awareness, perfect for children and adults alike, and it takes just a few minutes to assemble.
Mini Desk Organizer
A mini desk organizer made from toilet paper rolls is a practical and budget-friendly craft that helps keep your workspace tidy. By gluing multiple rolls upright on a sturdy base, you can create compartments for pens, pencils, and other small supplies.
Decorating the rolls with colorful paper, paint, or washi tape adds a personalized touch while enhancing the visual appeal. This craft teaches basic crafting skills and offers an immediate, functional result.
The design can be adapted for makeup brushes, craft tools, or even small kitchen utensils. With minimal materials and effort, this project is ideal for beginners and provides both creativity and organization in one simple craft.
Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
Toilet paper roll binoculars are a playful and imaginative craft perfect for kids. Using two cardboard rolls, tape or glue, and a string for a neck strap, children can create their own pretend binoculars for outdoor adventures or imaginative play.
Decorating the rolls with paint, stickers, or markers allows for creative expression while reinforcing fine motor skills. The project is easy to assemble and provides a hands-on activity that can be completed in minutes.
These DIY binoculars are perfect for nature walks, backyard safaris, or themed parties. They encourage exploration, creativity, and role-playing while making use of simple recycled materials, making them both fun and eco-conscious.
Napkin Rings
DIY napkin rings made from toilet paper rolls are a simple yet elegant way to add a personal touch to any table setting. By cutting the rolls into smaller rings and wrapping them with decorative paper or ribbon, you can create stylish and functional pieces.
These napkin rings are perfect for festive dinners, children’s parties, or everyday use, and they allow for endless customization with colors, patterns, and embellishments. The project is quick, easy, and beginner-friendly.
Adding small details like bows, glitter, or themed decorations enhances the visual appeal. This craft demonstrates how recycled materials can be transformed into practical home décor, combining creativity, functionality, and sustainability.
Wall Art Flowers
Creating wall art flowers from toilet paper rolls is a visually striking craft that adds depth and charm to any space. By cutting rolls into rings, flattening them slightly, and gluing them together in floral patterns, you can design unique decorative pieces.
This craft encourages experimentation with color, shape, and arrangement. Painting the rings before assembly or layering multiple flowers together can create a dynamic, textured look suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, or craft areas.
Wall art flowers are ideal for beginner and intermediate crafters who want to explore three-dimensional design. They provide a satisfying combination of creativity and décor, transforming recycled materials into vibrant, personalized art.
DIY Desk Cable Organizer
A DIY desk cable organizer made from toilet paper rolls is a simple solution to keep cords and cables tidy. By wrapping rolls with decorative paper and placing them upright in a drawer or box, you create neat compartments for each cord.
This project is practical, easy to assemble, and highly customizable. You can use different sizes of rolls to accommodate charging cables, earphones, or computer wires, keeping your workspace clutter-free.
The craft is beginner-friendly and combines functionality with creativity. Decorating the rolls with colors or patterns makes the organizer visually appealing while promoting eco-friendly reuse of household materials.
Animal Figurines
Toilet paper roll animal figurines are a fun and imaginative craft suitable for kids and adults. By covering a roll with colored paper, adding features like ears, tails, wings, or fins, and attaching googly eyes, you can create a wide range of animals.
This craft encourages creativity, storytelling, and fine motor skills. You can design a farm, jungle, or underwater scene by making multiple figurines and arranging them for display or play.
Animal figurines are versatile and customizable. They serve as both decorative pieces and educational tools, helping children learn about animals while transforming recycled materials into delightful, hands-on creations.
DIY Rocket Ship
Building a DIY rocket ship from toilet paper rolls is an exciting project that combines crafting with imaginative play. By covering a roll with colored paper, adding a paper cone for the top and fins at the base, you can create a fun miniature rocket.
Decorating with stars, metallic paints, or stickers adds a space-themed touch and allows crafters to personalize their design. This project is ideal for kids’ playtime, classroom activities, or themed parties.
While slightly more detailed, the rocket ship is still beginner-friendly. It teaches basic folding and assembling skills and provides a tangible, imaginative toy while repurposing everyday materials into a creative, eco-friendly craft.
Toilet Paper Roll Stamps
Toilet paper roll stamps are a fun and creative craft that lets you turn simple cardboard tubes into artistic tools. By cutting shapes like hearts, stars, or flowers into the ends of the roll, you can create reusable stamps for paper, fabric, or cards.
This project is perfect for children and beginners, encouraging creativity and fine motor skill development. Once the shapes are cut, simply dip the roll in paint or ink and press onto your chosen surface to make repeated patterns.
To enhance the designs, try combining multiple shapes, experimenting with different colors, or layering prints for texture. This eco-friendly craft demonstrates how recycled materials can be transformed into imaginative, functional art supplies.
Maracas / Shakers
Maracas or shakers made from toilet paper rolls are simple, interactive crafts that bring music to life. By filling a roll with rice, beans, or beads and sealing both ends with paper, you can create a handheld percussion instrument.
Decorating the exterior with colored paper, stickers, or drawings adds a personal and festive touch. This project is excellent for children, helping them explore rhythm, sound, and creative expression.
Making a pair of shakers allows for group play or even impromptu musical performances. The craft is beginner-friendly, inexpensive, and a fun way to turn recycled materials into engaging, educational toys.
Toilet Paper Roll Advent Calendar
A toilet paper roll advent calendar is a creative way to countdown to holidays or special events. By wrapping 24 rolls with decorative paper, numbering them, and filling each with small treats or messages, you create a fun and interactive display.
The rolls can be stacked, attached to a board, or hung individually. This craft encourages planning, organization, and attention to detail while offering a unique alternative to traditional advent calendars.
Customization options are endless: use themed papers, add ribbons or stickers, or swap treats for small toys. This project is slightly more advanced but highly rewarding, combining creativity, sustainability, and anticipation-building fun.
DIY Wall Vase Holder
A DIY wall vase holder crafted from toilet paper rolls is both decorative and functional. By cutting and arranging rolls into a pattern on a cardboard or wooden base, you can create compartments for small vases, bottles, or dried flowers.
Painting or decorating the rolls enhances visual appeal and allows the holder to match any interior style. This project is perfect for eco-conscious crafters seeking stylish home décor on a budget.
While slightly more advanced than basic crafts, the wall vase holder offers a satisfying combination of creativity and practicality. It’s ideal for displaying small plants, flowers, or decorative accents, turning recycled materials into a charming focal point.
Pencil Holder Animals
Creating pencil holder animals from toilet paper rolls is a fun and functional craft for kids and adults alike. By covering a roll with colored paper and adding ears, tails, eyes, or other features, you can transform a simple cardboard tube into a playful animal-themed desk organizer.
This project encourages creativity and fine motor skills while providing a practical use. Each animal can hold pencils, pens, brushes, or other small items, keeping your workspace tidy and personalized.
You can make a whole set of animals for a classroom, a child’s desk, or as gifts. Using different colors, patterns, and materials like felt or stickers allows for endless variations. This craft is beginner-friendly, eco-conscious, and combines functionality with imaginative play.
Mini Planters
Mini planters made from toilet paper rolls are an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to start seedlings or display small plants. By decorating the rolls with paint, paper, or twine and filling them with soil, you can create charming little planters for succulents or herbs.
This project is ideal for beginners and children, teaching basic gardening concepts while repurposing household materials. The rolls are biodegradable, making them perfect for planting directly into the ground when seedlings are ready.
Customizing the exterior with patterns, colors, or seasonal themes adds personality and charm. Mini planters are versatile, budget-friendly, and a creative way to incorporate recycled materials into practical home décor or educational activities.
DIY Mobiles / Hanging Decorations
DIY mobiles or hanging decorations made from toilet paper rolls are a playful and decorative craft for home or parties. By cutting rolls into rings or shapes, decorating them, and suspending them with string, you can create visually appealing hanging displays.
This craft encourages experimentation with shapes, colors, and patterns. Mobiles can feature seasonal themes, geometric designs, or whimsical motifs, making them suitable for children’s rooms, classrooms, or festive décor.
While slightly more detailed, this project is accessible to beginners with patience. It combines creativity, fine motor skills, and sustainability, transforming simple recycled materials into dynamic, eye-catching decorations that move gracefully with the air.
Final Thoughts
Toilet paper roll crafts are an affordable, eco-friendly way to spark creativity for all ages. With just a few household materials, you can transform ordinary cardboard tubes into fun toys, decorative items, or practical organizers. These projects encourage recycling, hands-on learning, and imaginative play, making them perfect for family activities, home décor, or classroom projects.
