Paper tube crafts are a great kids’ activity. Break out the craft supplies to make people, animals, games, and home decor.
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Paper towel and toilet paper tubes make a great craft material. They’re made of cardboard and reusing them is an easy way to reduce your trash/recycling waste. If you’re not a fan of reusing the tubes, you can buy new cardboard tubes made just for crafting on Amazon.
Cardboard tubes are a perfect size and shape for making all kinds of characters and crafts. Below we’ve shared our favorites from bloggers to make people, animals, games and toys, and other crafts and decor.
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People
Make a cardboard tube family and decorate them to look like your own with tips from Fantastic Fun and Learning.
This pirate and parrot tube pair from Artsy Craftsy Mom is fun for imaginative play.
Kids who love mermaids will enjoy making this one from Easy Crafts for Kids.
Add these paper tube scarecrows created by The Pinterested Parent to a day full of farm-themed activities.
Visit Glue Sticks and Gumdrops to inspire your kids to build cardboard tube robots.
Introduce your little ones to Albert Einstein and make this paper tube character at Surviving a Teacher’s Salary.
How cute are the toilet roll tube versions of Superman and Wonder Woman from Crafts by Amanda?
Animals
This flying bat from Mombrite is a fun craft to make and hang up.
The wiggly eyes are perfect on this little paper tube penguin from ABCs of Literacy.
Older kids will adore these colorful paper tube llamas from Mer Mag.
We love how colorful this cardboard tube unicorn is, via Red Ted Art.
Make some colorful butterflies with Two Kids and a Coupon.
ConservaMom has a great tutorial for making a long-neck dinosaur from a paper tube.
This frilled neck lizard at The Craft Train is super creative.
Kids can make a whole zoo from paper towel tubes Giraffe from Non Toy Gifts.
Add an elephant from Creative Family Fun to your kids’ zoo too.
Games and toys
Build a marble run with Tinkerlab and kids can spend the day experimenting.
After your kids make these racing cars from Arty Crafty Kids, tape off a track on the floor to drive around.
This paper towel tube domino challenge from Happy Toddler Playtime is a good STEM activity for preschoolers.
Visit Darcy and Brian and make a kaleidoscope as a fun family craft project.
Build a cardboard castle from Adventure in a Box.
Make a paper tube trumpet, via Tea Time Monkeys, and let your kids pretend they’re in a marching band.
Make a marshmallow launcher like Thrifty Fun and have a family battle.
Turn a few paper tubes into a pirate telescope here on Backyard Summer Camp, then use it for imaginative playtime.
It will take some time to make this construction toy from Picklebums, but afterward, your kids will enjoy playing for a long time.
Crafts and decor
Make this classic summer bird feeder craft at Honey and Lime.
This rainbow from The OT Toolbox is so cute and colorful!
Kids will like this rainbow windsock from Manda Panda Projects.
You need paper tubes and a paper plate to make these wind chimes at Crafting With Kids.
Decorate by turning tube into paper lanterns from Hawaii Travel With Kids.
String together tassel garland from Laura Radniecki to go with the lanterns.
Take an imaginary trip on a rocket from Grace, Giggles and Naptime.
Create flower printing art using this creative trick from Emma Owl.
Start saving paper towel tubes and toilet paper tubes to make these fun craft ideas. Add a few of these fun projects that match your backyard summer camp theme or spend a whole day crafting with cardboard tubes.
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