Toilet paper rolls might be the most underrated art supply in any home. They're sturdy, free, available in infinite supply, and can become almost anything: a rocket ship, a penguin, a telescope, a crown, or an entire zoo. Collecting cardboard tubes and transforming them into creatures teaches preschoolers that materials have many possible uses — a foundational creative thinking skill. Here are 20 creatures and characters to make this week.

Basic Supplies for Cardboard Tube Crafts

• Toilet paper rolls and paper towel tubes
• Tempera paint or acrylic craft paint
• Construction paper for ears, wings, fins, and features
• Googly eyes (various sizes)
• Pipe cleaners, feathers, yarn, buttons
• Glue stick and white glue
• Scissors
• Markers for fine details

20 Cardboard Tube Creature Ideas

Animals

• Penguin: Paint black, add white oval belly, orange beak and feet from paper.
• Owl: Paint brown, add paper wing and ear tufts, large googly eyes.
• Bunny: Paint white or grey, add tall paper ears, cotton ball tail, pink nose.
• Cat: Paint any color, add triangular paper ears, pipe cleaner whiskers, yarn tail.
• Fish: Cut one end of the tube into fin shapes. Paint in bright colors and add scale pattern with markers.
• Snake: Cut a paper towel tube in a spiral from top to bottom, leaving connected. Stretch it out — it springs into a coiled snake shape. Paint and add a forked tongue.
• Caterpillar: Link 5–6 toilet paper rolls by cutting slits and interlocking them. Paint each a different color. Add antennae and googly eyes to the first.
• Lion: Fringe orange and yellow paper strips and glue around one end of the tube for the mane. Paint the face on the end.

Fantasy and Characters

• Rocket ship: Cone of paper on top, fins cut from the bottom. Paint red and silver.
• Robot: Paint silver/grey, add bottle cap buttons, pipe cleaner antennae, square paper eyes.
• Princess/knight: Add cone hat or box helmet. Decorate with fabric and paint.
• Alien: Paint green or purple. Add mismatched eyes, pipe cleaner antennae in different lengths, and a wide grin.

Seasonal Creatures

• Pumpkin: Paint orange, score lines with a skewer for ridges, add green paper stem and black triangle eyes for jack-o'-lantern.
• Christmas tree: Paint green, stack three tubes (large, medium, small) and decorate with dot "ornaments."
• Easter chick: Paint yellow, add orange triangle beak and paper wing nubs, googly eyes.
• Snowman: Stack two or three tubes of different heights. Paint white, add fabric scarf, button eyes, carrot nose from paper.

Functional Creations

• Binoculars: Tape two toilet paper rolls side by side. Decorate and look through.
• Marble run: Cut paper towel tubes in half lengthwise for open channels. Tape at angles to create a marble run track on a wall or box.
• Stamps: Bend the end of a tube into a shape (heart, triangle) and use as a paint stamp.
• Treasure chest: Cover a tube with brown paper, add a paper clasp and "gold" details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you paint cardboard tubes neatly with preschoolers?

Roll the tube in paint rather than painting it — pour paint onto a plate, roll the tube through it like a paint roller. This coats the cylinder evenly without the tube collapsing from pressure. A second method: hold the tube vertically and paint the outside with a foam brush while an adult holds it steady. Lay horizontally on a wire rack to dry without flat sides.

How do you make cardboard tubes stand upright?

Flatten the bottom of the tube slightly into an oval shape — this creates a wider, more stable base. Alternatively, glue a circle of cardboard to the bottom. For permanent displays, fill the tube with dry sand or rice before sealing the bottom — the weight stabilizes it.

How many toilet paper rolls should I save before starting?

For a group project, collect at least 2 tubes per child plus extras. For home play, save as you use them — a family generates enough in 2–3 weeks for a substantial supply. Store in a paper bag in the art supply area. Cardboard tubes can be stored indefinitely as long as they stay dry.

Related crafts: Recycled Robot Sculptures | Construction Dramatic Play | Bird Feeder Making