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Kids get hooked on crafts with toilet paper rolls! Idea collection for elementary school students

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Many of you are probably wondering what to make for your summer vacation craft project.

So here, we’re sharing fun craft ideas you can make using a familiar material found at home: plastic wrap cores (cardboard tubes).

We’ve gathered lots of projects—like a lint-roller-style cleaner, hanging toys, and coin clappers—that you can play with and learn from once they’re finished.

All of them use easily sourced materials and have simple instructions.

Use this as a guide to get creative with your kids and make a one-of-a-kind original piece together!

Kids Get Hooked on Crafts with Toilet Paper Roll Cores! Idea Collection for Elementary Schoolers (21–30)

pen holder

Cute Masking! Wrap Core Pen Holder | How to Make a Pen Holder | LIMIA

pen holder

A perfect idea for a summer vacation independent project is making a pen holder.

If you use a plastic wrap core, you can easily make it with materials you already have at home.

Decorate it with colorful origami paper or fabric, and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind pen holder.

Every time you use it, the fun memories of crafting will come back to you.

It’ll make you look forward to the new school term, too.

With your very own pen holder, your studies are sure to go more smoothly! You’ll also learn the importance of recycling—two birds with one stone.

Everyone, 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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Let’s try making musical instruments from around the world

[Latin America & Education] Try it at Home: Let’s Make Musical Instruments from Around the World! [Rainstick]

Let's try making musical instruments from around the world

Let’s make a rainstick, a musical instrument from around the world that sounds like falling rain.

Prepare toothpicks, an empty plastic wrap tube, rubber bands, beads, fabric scraps, nail clippers, a hole punch or awl, and glue.

Start by making spiral-shaped holes along the tube.

It can be slippery, so be careful while punching the holes.

Insert toothpicks into the holes.

Use the nail clippers to trim any parts of the toothpicks that stick out, then apply glue over them to secure.

Cover one end of the tube with fabric and fasten it with a rubber band.

Pour beads in from the other end, then cover that end with fabric and fasten it with a rubber band in the same way.

Decorate the tube, and you’re done.

It’s a rainstick that produces the sound of rain or waves—give it a try!

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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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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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certificate tube

There are times when you think, “It’d be nice to have a tube I can roll things into,” like when you receive a certificate or need to take home printed materials you don’t want to crease.

Here’s an idea for making a certificate tube using a plastic wrap core! First, cut the main body and the lid from the wrap core, and seal one end with a circle of thick paper.

As is, the lid won’t close, so glue a slightly smaller wrap core—trimmed to just the right size—along the inside of the main body to act as an inner sleeve.

Finally, cover it with fabric or add decorations to your liking, and your custom certificate tube is complete!

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Nichirin Sword from the anime Demon Slayer

Make a Demon Slayer Nichirin sword using a plastic wrap core!

Nichirin Sword from the anime Demon Slayer

Even adults want to tuck a sword like the ones in anime and dramas at their side and play at sword-fighting! For you, we recommend making a Nichirin Sword from Demon Slayer, which became a hit with kids and adults alike.

If you prepare two plastic wrap cores with different inner diameters, you can make both the sword and the sheath.

Create the guard (tsuba) of your favorite sword using thick paper, punch a hole to pass the wrap core through, and cover the blade section with black or silver colored paper.

Decorate the handle as well, and attach gold origami to the top and bottom of the sheath to finish.

Your child would probably be delighted if you make one for them, too!

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