Lovely Play & Recreation

Make the most of it before you toss it! Practical, grown-up craft ideas using plastic wrap cores

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

“It feels like such a waste to throw it away!” “Isn’t there some way to use it?” Many of us probably think this when we’re holding a sturdy plastic wrap core.

In fact, with a little creativity, wrap cores can be transformed into handy, stylish accessories.

In this article, we’ll share craft ideas using wrap cores—like pen holders, trinket boxes, and kids’ toys—that adults will genuinely want to make.

With easily sourced materials, you can create original pieces that add fun to your everyday life.

If you’ve been unsure how to dispose of those wrap cores, why not enjoy making some lovely handmade items instead?

Make the most of it before you toss it! Practical, grown-up craft ideas using plastic wrap cores (11–20)

Infinite Chain

Let’s make a toy that infants will love! Here’s an idea for an infinite chain.

This infinite chain idea can be used at home with infants or in childcare settings.

It’s a fun item that shines during the stage when pulling is exciting! You’ll need a cardboard tube from plastic wrap, a plastic chain, tape, and so on.

Put the chain inside the tube and connect it into a loop.

Once the finished piece is secured to a wall or similar surface, it seems the chain can be pulled endlessly.

Give it a try!

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small accessory case

What's inside? What will you put in it? Make a cute little container using a plastic wrap core! You can put in snacks or earphones. Make lots and give them to everyone as gifts!

small accessory case

Here’s a craft idea for making a small container using a cut paper wrap core.

The materials are a wrap core (cardboard tube), thick paper, felt, and origami paper.

First, attach circular pieces made from thick paper to the cross-sectioned ends of the tube to create the container body and lid.

After sewing felt onto the outside of both the body and the lid, insert a slightly taller cylinder made from origami paper inside the body and secure it so it follows the inner wall.

Finally, decorate the lid, and it’s complete! For decorations, use whatever you like, such as felt pieces, large beads, or rhinestones.

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Christmas tree

[Christmas Craft] A recycled Christmas tree made with a paper cup, a plastic wrap core, and wheat clay! Great for weekend fun too! #shorts

Christmas tree

Let’s make and display them with ease! Here are some Christmas tree ideas.

When the holiday season arrives, many people probably want to decorate their homes with a Christmas tree.

Try making a small Christmas tree to place on a shelf or by the entrance.

You’ll need a plastic wrap core, wheat-based clay, a paper cup, construction paper, scissors, double-sided tape, and string lights.

Decorating the construction paper with stickers or adding cotton can really set the mood.

Be sure to give it a try!

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Masking tape cutter

I tried making a masking tape cutter using a plastic wrap core and cardboard 😊

Masking tape cutter

Here’s an idea for a masking tape cutter you can make using a plastic wrap core and cardboard.

Masking tapes tend to pile up, but with this idea you can organize plenty of them together.

It’s very simple to make: shape the cardboard into a box to match the length of the wrap core, then attach supports on the left and right for the core to rest on.

Use the cutting edge from the plastic wrap, too, to finish it as a cutter.

If you decorate the side opposite the blade with cardboard, it will also serve as a cover to hide the masking tapes.

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violin

[Summer Break Craft] Make a Violin with a Tissue Box and a Wrap Core! [You Can Play It!] Playable DIY Violin and Bow

violin

Many people take up music as a hobby in adulthood.

Some even attend voice training or music schools.

Here’s a craft idea for making a violin using a plastic wrap core.

The violin body is made from a tissue box, and the neck uses the core from a roll of plastic wrap.

You can make it quite realistic by adding a bridge that allows tuning and using fishing line as strings wound around eye screws.

Give it a try! You’ll also make a bow, so once it’s finished, you can actually play it.

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Toothpick holder

Toothpicks can make a space feel a bit too lived-in if you leave them out as they are, but how about making a case out of a plastic wrap core to hide them? With a lid, it stays dust-free and hygienic.

If you have a core—like from aluminum foil—that’s slightly smaller in inner diameter than the plastic wrap core, you can make a lidded container that fits snugly.

It’s also fun to decorate it with your favorite wrapping paper or fabric you have at home.

It could even make a nice gift.

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Use it before you toss it! Practical, grown-up DIY ideas using plastic wrap cores (21–30)

Advent calendar

An Advent calendar lets you count down from December 1 to Christmas.

Many have candies inside and are popular as gifts for children.

Let’s make an Advent calendar using a paper towel or plastic wrap tube! Put sweets inside the tube and cap the ends, then stack the tubes in the shape of a tree and secure them.

Attach construction paper with numbers written on it to the caps, add Christmas-themed decorations, and you’re done.

For the caps, try covering the ends with origami paper or gluing on circular pieces of cardboard.

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