Crafts with Paper Towel Rolls

Popular Paper Towel Roll Crafts

With a little imagination, paper towel rolls are the basis of hundreds of enjoyable craft projects. Although many of these projects are geared toward preschool and elementary school children, there are also many paper towel roll projects that crafters of any age will enjoy creating.

If you come across a craft project that utilizes a toilet paper roll, simply cut a paper towel roll down to size. Many crafters prefer not to use toilet paper rolls for sanitary reasons.

Several of the most popular crafts made from paper towel rolls include:

• Puppet people
• Rainstick
• Rocket Ship
• Totem Pole
• Hopi Indian Kachina doll
• Kazoo

You can also wrap a small gift, such as a piece of jewelry or small bottle of perfume inside a paper towel roll by following the party favor directions from Canadian Living.

Paper Towel Roll Mobiles

Paper towel rolls make a great base for a hanging mobile. Decorate the roll in the theme of the mobile. The following examples will help you get started:

• Ocean mobile
• Jungle mobile
• Spoon percussion mobile
• Easter mobile

Holiday Crafts with Paper Towel Rolls

Empty paper towel rolls can be turned into many beautiful crafts for special holidays. Many of the projects can easily be adapted to other holidays by changing the way the rolls are decorated or painted. For example:

• HGTV offers detailed instructions by author and crafter Michael Strong for elegant and sparkling snowflakes made from paper towel roll tubes that have been flattened and cut. These beautiful snowflakes look wonderful as a Christmas tree ornament or hanging in clusters on a window.
• Paper towel roll Kwanzaa candles make a delightful table decoration. The colors of the candles red, green and black, are the traditional colors of Kwanzaa. Fill each one with special treats for the children.
• Another important symbol Kwanzaa are ears of corn. Cut paper towel rolls into 1- 2 inch pieces and paint them with white glue. Roll them in popcorn so they resemble little ears of corn. Place a napkin inside for cute napkin holders.
• Halloween crackers from Martha Stewart hold Halloween treats for the trick or treaters. These festive party favors can easily be changed into candy or treat holders for birthdays or other holidays by simply decorating the tubes with different colors and designs.
• A fun Halloween decoration is a paper towel roll skeleton.
• You can make a pot of gold for Saint Patrick’s Day.
• Make a mobile with the theme of the holiday by following the simple mobile instructions on the DLTK Web site.
• Make a Thanksgiving paper towel roll pilgrim family. Add Indians to complete the holiday theme decoration.
• Create an assortment of Easter bunnies and chicks using paper towel rolls. These cute little animals are not only fun to make but look great as holiday decorations.
• New Year’s Eve noise maker horns are also fun to make for children’s birthday parties.

Paper Towel Roll Craft Ideas and Resources

• DLTK’s Growing Together
• Making Friends
• Enchanted Learning
• Thrifty Fun
• Talking Child
• Musical Instrument Crafts

Conclusion

Once you start making crafts with paper towel rolls, you will find yourself thinking of new and inventive ways to use them..