15 Cool Kid Crafts to Use Up Those Extra Toilet Paper Rolls in Your House

Honestly now: what family doesn't generate a gazillion toilet paper rolls — especially with kids who love to use, oh, 100 squares of TP for every trip to the potty? It seems like such a waste … that's why we decided to present the coolest toilet paper roll crafts for kids. 

Whether you've got a holiday coming up or just looking for a rainy day time-killer — these toilet paper roll crafts will give you no shortage of  ideas to upcycle something that usually gets thrown in a trash!

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

Who would have thought to make #4? (Get it?)

Image via how does she

3, 2, 1... Blastoff!

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crafty morning

Toilet paper roll tubes' cylindrical shape have "rocket" written all over them. And it's super simple: aside from these bathroom castoffs, all you need is construction paper and some tinfoil which adds a space-age finishing touch.

Toilet Paper Animal Puppets

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Mommy Poppins

What could be simpler? You fold down the top of a toilet paper tube to create the "ears" for a cat, pig, or other animal. Decorate with markers, and you've got an instant toilet paper roll puppet. Let the shows begin!

Your Highness!

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Mumbling Mommy

Cut some spikes at the end of a toilet paper tube, and you've got a miniature toilet paper tube crown, which can be made to stay in place with some string tied under the chin. Your little princes and princesses can decorate by gluing on beads, jewels, or anything else you have at your disposal.

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Burlap Owl

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satsuma

No one will even guess that a humble toilet paper roll serves as the starting point for this cute toilet paper roll owl craft: just wrap in burlap, and glue on felt wings.

Homemade Marionette

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Seven Thirty Three

Grab some rigatoni for arms, a toilet paper tube for the trunk, then string it all together, and you've got a homemade toilet paper tube marionette that actually works!

Toilet Paper Roll Monsters

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Crafts Unleashed

What's great about these toilet paper roll monsters is that the creative possibilities are endless based on the materials at hand — from googly eyes to pipe cleaners to Washi tape. Your kids can create a whole monster family! And they double as treat containers.

Toilet Paper Tube Train

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ramhardikar/Instructables

Your kids will love building this toilet paper tube train using milk caps for wheels (which actually rotate) and cereal boxes for some cool graphics. Plus the more tubes they use, the longer the train!

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Toilet Paper Wall Flower

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how does she

OK, so if you've got a LOT of toilet paper rolls to burn through and a big blank wall to cover, have your kids simply cut the tube in inch-wide O's then glue them together into a huge wallflower. So simple, so impressive!

Toilet Paper Tube Lorax

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crafty morning

In honor of Dr. Seuss Day (March 2), it makes sense to create a toilet paper tube Lorax, since he's all about saving the environment. What better way to do that than recycle toilet paper tubes in his likeness?

Toilet Paper Tube Turkey

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Dilly Dali Art

Paper plates and a salad spinner go into making this cute toilet paper tube turkey — the perfect table topper for Thanksgiving.

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Toilet Paper Roll Easter Bunny

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Eve of Reduction

Here's an eco-friendly alternative to using those plastic eggs to hold Easter treats: just press in the ends of a toilet paper tube — which not only stay shut, but look like rabbit ears and legs! Decorate with googly eyes and whatever else you have on hand and you've got Easter bunny candy containers.

Bubble Wrap Trees

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crafty morning

Toilet paper tubes make perfect tree trunks — then, to create fetching fall foliage, paint watercolor on bubble wrap then press on a piece of paper. It's the perfect fall table decor.

Binoculars

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kiwicrate

Toilet paper roll tube binoculars are a no brainer. This easy version is made out of three tubes, plus a ribbon so they can hang around your child's neck. You've now got a spy on your hands.

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Toilet Paper Roll Fox

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Munchkin Time

This cute toilet paper roll fox uses string and beads for the legs and feet. He was originally designed to celebrate Earth Day, but he'd delight your kids any day of the year.

Octopus

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Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

While you can use toilet paper roll tubes for this fun octopus craft, taller paper towel tubes will give you longer tentacles. Add paint and you're good to go!

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