An empty toilet paper roll may look like something destined for the recycling bin, but that simple cardboard tube can become surprisingly useful. With a few basic supplies, you can turn it into home organizers, children’s crafts, decorations, garden helpers, gift packaging, and creative art projects.
If you have been searching for 20 things to do with toilet paper rolls, you’re in the right place. These projects range from five-minute ideas to more creative weekend activities. Some are especially useful for adults, while others make inexpensive activities for children.
The best part is that most projects require supplies you probably already have at home, such as scissors, glue, paper, paint, markers, string, and cardboard. Before crafting, choose clean, dry tubes and discard any that are damp or damaged.
What Can You Do With Toilet Paper Rolls?
There are many practical and creative ways to reuse cardboard tubes. A toilet paper roll can become an organizer, planter accessory, decorative piece, toy, gift container, or art material.
For adults, useful options include cable organizers, desk storage, wrapping-paper holders, decorative wall art, and small gift boxes. For children, animals, rockets, cars, binoculars, and marble runs can turn ordinary cardboard into imaginative play.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Project Type | Example | Difficulty | Approx. Time |
| Organization | Cable holder | Easy | 5–10 minutes |
| Kids’ craft | Animal figure | Easy | 15 minutes |
| Garden | Seed starter | Easy | 10 minutes |
| Home décor | Wall flowers | Moderate | 30 minutes |
| Gift idea | Mini gift box | Easy | 10 minutes |
| Art | Geometric wall design | Moderate | 30–60 minutes |
Easy Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Beginners
If you’re new to upcycling, start with projects that require little cutting and only a few materials. Simple projects are also ideal when you want something creative without spending an entire afternoon crafting.
1. Make Cardboard Flowers
Cut a toilet paper roll into evenly sized rings. Flatten each ring slightly to create petal shapes, then arrange several pieces into a flower pattern.
Glue the pieces together and add paint or colored paper. Several flowers can be combined into a larger wall decoration.
2. Create a Pencil Holder
Use several cardboard tubes to create a simple desk organizer. Keep the tubes whole, decorate them with paper or paint, and attach them upright to a sturdy cardboard base.
This is one of the most practical toilet paper roll crafts for adults because it combines creativity with everyday organization.
3. Make Decorative Wall Art
For toilet paper roll art ideas, cut cardboard tubes into narrow rings and arrange them into symmetrical patterns. Flowers, leaves, circles, and geometric shapes all work well.
Paint the pieces before assembling them if you want a cleaner finish. A consistent color scheme can make inexpensive cardboard look surprisingly polished.
4. Create Mini Storage Compartments
Cut tubes into shorter sections and place them inside a drawer or small box. They can hold craft supplies, ribbons, hair accessories, pens, or other small items.
This approach is especially useful when you want to reuse materials instead of buying another plastic organizer.
Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids
Children can turn a toilet paper roll into almost anything with a little imagination. The best projects are simple enough to customize but open-ended enough to encourage creative play.
5. DIY Binoculars
Place two cardboard tubes side by side and secure them with tape or glue. Add a string strap and decorate the outside with markers or colored paper.
Kids can use their homemade binoculars during pretend adventures, nature walks, or indoor games.
6. Cardboard Rockets
Cover a tube with colored paper, add a pointed paper top, and attach small cardboard fins. Children can decorate the rocket with windows, stars, numbers, or their own designs.
This is a fun way to combine crafting with imaginative storytelling.
7. Animal Characters
A toilet paper roll can easily become an owl, rabbit, cat, bee, butterfly, or other animal. Fold the top inward to create ears or add separate cardboard shapes.
Use paint, paper, googly eyes, and markers for details. For younger children, adults should handle sharp scissors and supervise small decorative pieces.
8. Cardboard Cars
Cover the tube or reshape it into a simple vehicle body. Add four cardboard wheels and decorate it as a race car, bus, truck, or colorful character vehicle.
Create several cars and build a simple cardboard race track for extended play.
9. Marble Run
Cut tubes lengthwise and attach them to a large piece of cardboard at different angles. Leave enough space between sections for a marble to travel from one tube to the next.
This project can become a simple STEM-style activity because children can experiment with height, angles, speed, and different layouts.
Useful Toilet Paper Roll Ideas for Home Organization
Not every project needs to be decorative. Some of the most useful ideas turn cardboard tubes into simple storage solutions.
10. Cable Organizer
Fold a charging cable neatly and slide it into a tube. Label the outside so you can quickly identify the cord later.
This works particularly well for drawers containing multiple USB cables, chargers, or electronic accessories.
11. Wrapping Paper Holder
Place a cardboard tube around a roll of wrapping paper to prevent the paper from unrolling. It keeps the roll compact and makes storage easier.
You can also label each tube according to the occasion, such as birthdays, Christmas, or general wrapping paper.
12. Desk Organizer
Combine multiple tubes inside a small box to create separate compartments for pens, pencils, paintbrushes, rulers, and scissors.
Decorating all the tubes in matching colors creates a coordinated desktop storage system.
13. Craft Supply Storage
Small rolls can separate ribbons, yarn, washi tape, or other narrow supplies. Place several tubes inside a drawer or container to prevent materials from becoming tangled.
These practical uses are particularly valuable for people who want toilet paper roll crafts for adults easy enough to complete during a short organizing session.
Toilet Paper Roll Ideas for the Garden
A clean cardboard tube can also be useful in gardening. However, cardboard is not waterproof, so outdoor projects should be used appropriately and monitored for moisture.
14. Seed Starting Pots
Fold or cut one end of a tube to create a basic container. Fill it with suitable seed-starting material and add seeds according to the requirements of the plant.
Keep the cardboard appropriately moist rather than saturated. When seedlings are ready for the next stage, handle the young plants carefully.
15. Simple Plant Protection
A cardboard tube can sometimes be placed around a young plant as a temporary barrier. It may help separate the plant from surrounding soil or provide a short-term protective structure.
Remove or replace cardboard when it becomes excessively wet or deteriorates.
16. DIY Bird Feeder
Coat the outside of a cardboard tube with an appropriate sticky food layer, then cover it with birdseed. Hang it from a branch using string.
Place feeders thoughtfully and keep them clean. Local wildlife guidance should always take priority when feeding birds.
Creative Home Décor Projects
If you’re looking for more sophisticated toilet paper roll crafts for adults to sell or display, focus on projects where several tubes become one larger design.
17. Floral Wall Decoration
Cut multiple tubes into rings and arrange them into flowers or vines. Paint the pieces in complementary shades before gluing them together.
A large arrangement can work as inexpensive wall décor for a bedroom, craft room, office, or hallway.
18. Geometric Art
Create diamonds, circles, leaves, or repeating patterns from flattened cardboard rings. Arrange them on a backing board before permanently attaching them.
This is one of the more flexible toilet paper roll projects because the final design can be completely customized.
19. Seasonal Decorations
Use cardboard tubes for Christmas trees, Halloween monsters, Easter animals, snowflakes, or other seasonal decorations.
Changing the paint and embellishments allows the same basic material to work throughout the year.
DIY Gift Boxes and Packaging
20. Mini Gift Boxes
A cardboard tube can become a small gift container by gently flattening it and folding both ends inward.
Decorate it with paper, ribbon, stickers, or twine. These small packages are useful for jewelry, candy, handmade items, party favors, and other lightweight gifts.
21. Decorative Gift Holders
Instead of buying small packaging, wrap a tube in attractive paper and finish it with ribbon. You can personalize the design for birthdays, holidays, baby showers, or classroom events.
These are also practical things to do with toilet paper rolls 5-Minute Crafts when you need a quick packaging solution.
More Creative Ways to Reuse Cardboard Tubes
22. Make a Phone Stand
Cut and shape the cardboard so a phone can rest securely in the opening. Reinforce the bottom with additional cardboard if necessary.
23. Create a Wall Message Board
Use several decorated tube sections as small holders for notes, labels, or lightweight craft materials.
24. Make a Simple Napkin Ring
Cut a tube into shorter sections and decorate each piece with paper, paint, fabric, or ribbon. These can work for casual table settings or children’s parties.
25. Build a Large Art Installation
Collect multiple tubes and arrange them into a large flower, abstract pattern, tree, or geometric wall display.
This project is particularly suitable for toilet paper roll art ideas that need a stronger visual impact.
Best Projects by Difficulty
Choosing a project based on available time can make crafting much easier.
| Difficulty | Best Projects | Suitable For |
| Very Easy | Cable holder, gift box, wrapping-paper holder | Beginners |
| Easy | Pencil holder, flowers, animals | Kids and adults |
| Moderate | Bird feeder, marble run, wall art | Older kids and adults |
| Creative | Large installations, detailed décor | Experienced crafters |
How to Prepare a Toilet Paper Roll for Crafting
Before starting any project, inspect each toilet paper roll carefully. Choose tubes that are dry, clean, and structurally sound.
Flattening the cardboard makes cutting easier. Use a ruler and pencil when you need symmetrical pieces, especially for wall art or flowers.
If you’re making projects with children, prepare difficult cuts in advance. Keep scissors, hot glue, and other potentially hazardous tools away from unsupervised young children.
Tips for Better-Looking Toilet Paper Crafts
Small finishing details can make simple cardboard projects look much better.
Use matching colors rather than too many competing shades. Paint pieces before assembly when reaching the finished surfaces would otherwise be difficult.
For larger decorations, reinforce weak joints with extra cardboard. Allow glue and paint to dry completely before moving the project.
If you’re considering toilet paper roll crafts for adults to sell, consistency is especially important. Clean edges, strong construction, attractive packaging, and repeatable designs can make handmade items look more professional.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is using damp cardboard. Moisture can weaken the tube and make paint or glue difficult to apply.
Another is using too much adhesive. Excess glue can create messy edges and increase drying time.
Avoid making unsupported claims that every cardboard tube is suitable for outdoor use. Garden projects should be monitored because ordinary cardboard can soften and break down when exposed to moisture.
For children’s projects, consider the child’s age before using small decorative parts, sharp tools, or hot glue.
Reuse or Recycle?
Reusing a cardboard tube for a craft gives it another purpose before disposal. If you don’t need a craft project, clean cardboard may also be recyclable depending on the rules in your local area.
Recycling requirements vary between municipalities, so check your local waste service for specific guidance. Reuse and recycling are not identical, but both can be considered when deciding what to do with empty household cardboard.
Conclusion
An empty toilet paper roll can be much more useful than it first appears. From quick organizers and children’s toys to garden projects, gift boxes, and decorative wall art, there are plenty of ways to give cardboard tubes a second purpose.
Whether you’re looking for 20 things to do with toilet paper rolls, easy crafts for adults, children’s activities, or practical household ideas, start with a project that matches your available time and materials. Keep the process simple, prioritize safety, and experiment with your own designs. With a little creativity, an ordinary cardboard tube can become something genuinely useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I make with a toilet paper roll?
You can make organizers, flowers, animals, rockets, gift boxes, wall art, seed-starting containers, bird feeders, toys, and seasonal decorations.
What are some easy toilet paper roll crafts for adults?
Cable organizers, pencil holders, gift boxes, wall flowers, wrapping-paper holders, and geometric wall art are simple options that don’t require many materials.
What are some things to do with empty toilet paper rolls for kids?
Children can make binoculars, animals, cars, rockets, monsters, flowers, and marble runs. Adult supervision is recommended for cutting and projects involving small parts.
Can I use cardboard tubes as seed starters?
Yes, cardboard tubes can be used as simple seed-starting containers, but moisture needs to be managed carefully. They should not remain excessively wet.
How do you make a toilet paper roll organizer?
Keep the tubes whole, decorate them if desired, and place or attach several tubes inside a sturdy box. Each compartment can hold different small items.
Are toilet paper rolls recyclable?
Clean cardboard tubes may be recyclable in some areas, but recycling rules differ by location. Check your local recycling guidance before putting them in a recycling bin.
Can toilet paper roll crafts be sold?
Some handmade cardboard projects can potentially be sold, especially decorative pieces, gift packaging, or organizers. Focus on durable construction, attractive finishing, and original designs.
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