Made with toilet paper rolls! Exciting and fun easy handmade toys
It’s a waste to throw away toilet paper rolls as they are! This time, we’ve gathered lots of fun ideas for toys you can make using toilet paper rolls, so try making them and playing with them before you toss them out! Since toilet paper rolls are already tube-shaped, you can make all sorts of things that make use of that shape.
There are plenty of options, from items you can make and display to things you can wear and play with, so pick your favorites and give them a try!
Make it with toilet paper rolls! Exciting, fun, and easy handmade toys (1–10)
Air Cannon Bazooka
Here’s how to make an air-cannon bazooka.
First, cut a toilet paper roll lengthwise and place it around the outside of a paper towel roll.
Cut construction paper to fit the gap between the two rolls and tape it so there are no gaps.
At this point, make sure the toilet paper roll can still move.
Cut construction paper to match the bottom of the toilet paper roll, then tape it on while filling any gaps.
Next, remove the paper towel roll and make slits on one end so that they are 1 cm apart and 1.5 cm long.
Fold the slit sections inward and place them over the toilet paper roll.
Finally, crumple five tissues, put them into a bag to form a ball, and you’re done.
Slide the rolls and give it a pop, and the ball will fly far—try making targets and have fun playing!
Marbles rolling
Here’s how to make a marble roller.
Prepare toilet paper tubes, scissors, marbles, and cellophane tape.
Cut the toilet paper tubes lengthwise, then connect three at a time along the cut edges using tape.
Next, take a tube that’s been cut in half, insert it into the connected tubes to link them together, and secure with tape—that’s it! Try rolling marbles through it and have fun.
You might find yourself wanting to roll marbles again and again!
catch-ball machine
Here’s how to make a game of catch machine! Prepare paper plates, toilet paper rolls, rubber bands, tissues, a pen, scissors, and clear tape.
Poke a hole in the center of a paper plate, place a toilet paper roll over the center, and trace a circle.
Draw lines from the center, and once you’ve drawn the 3 o’clock line, cut along all the lines.
Overlap the edges, tape both the front and back with clear tape, then draw a line about 1 cm at the center hole and cut it—this part is done.
Next, make four cuts at the top of the roll, hook rubber bands into the four cut points to form a cross, and tape over them.
Thread a second rubber band through the first and tie it like a bow.
Gently press the paper plate and the toilet paper roll together to combine them, then tape from the top to secure.
Crumple a tissue into a small ball, reinforce it with tape, and attach it to the rubber band section.
Make another ball that’s fluffy, about the size of the roll’s opening, and reinforce it with tape—done!
Hoppy Frog
Here’s how to make a fun, springy jumping frog.
First, prepare a toilet paper roll painted green.
Gently flatten the roll and cut it across the middle with scissors.
Next, use one of the halves to create the frog’s hands, feet, and eyes.
Make use of the roll’s curve when shaping the parts.
For assembly, attach the hands so their tips face forward, and fold the legs so they act like springs.
Glue these parts onto the other half of the roll.
Finally, attach the eyes, and you’re done.
Press the frog’s rear with your finger and it will spring forward with a satisfying boing.
It’s perfect for making and playing together at home, especially on rainy days.
pull-back car
Let’s try making a rubber band-powered car! First, decorate a toilet paper tube however you like using colored paper and markers.
Next, use an awl to make a hole in the center of four plastic bottle caps.
Make holes in the tube as well, insert bamboo skewers, and attach the caps with holes to make the wheels.
Once that’s done, tie a rubber band to the middle of the bamboo skewer on the rear wheels.
Pull the rubber band firmly through the inside of the tube toward the front, then secure it with a paper clip to finish.
Hold the body of the car, pull it back, and release—it will take off using the power of the rubber band!
wiggly snake
Let’s make a wiggly snake with addictively strange movements.
First, cut three toilet paper rolls in half.
Open up one of the halves, fold it in half, and crease it.
Fold both edges in toward the crease.
Round off the four corners of the folded piece to make a template.
Wrap this template around the remaining roll pieces and round off their corners to match.
Two of these will be the head and tail parts, so only round off one side for each of those.
Use an awl to make holes at the top, then thread four pipe cleaners through the holes to connect the body segments.
Finally, paint it and draw the face, and you’re done.
It might be fun to use lots of toilet paper rolls and make a really long snake!
boxing machine
Here’s how to make a boxing machine.
You will need three toilet paper tubes, a piece of cardboard, glue, tape, something to color with, and scissors.
First, gently flatten one toilet paper tube to make it oval.
Cut it at about one-third from the top; the smaller piece will be the head and the larger piece will be the body.
Make another one the same way.
Next, take a new toilet paper tube, make it oval the same way, and cut it in half.
Cut one of the halves into thirds, then cut one of those pieces into quarters.
Cut two of those pieces into half-circles—these will be the arms and gloves.
Color them to look like boxers.
Close one end of the body piece with tape, then attach the head and arm parts.
Tape the front of the closed end of the body to the cardboard base, and attach a leftover tube behind the body so the boxer leans back slightly.
When you flick the tubes, they bump into each other—your boxing game is complete!
Sparkling Kaleidoscope
Here’s how to make a beautiful “peeking” kaleidoscope.
Prepare construction paper, black origami paper, mirror-like sheets, beads, cellophane tape, a toilet paper tube, a ruler, OPP tape (clear packing tape), scissors, a bamboo skewer, and rubber bands.
Cut three pieces of mirror-like sheet to 3 cm × 11 cm and peel off the protective film.
Cut the black origami paper into quarters, and cut the construction paper to 4 cm × 15 cm.
Tape the three mirror sheets together side by side with small gaps between them, then form them into a triangular prism with the mirror sides facing inward and secure with tape.
Insert the mirror assembly into the toilet paper tube and tape one end closed.
Cover that end with the origami paper, secure it by wrapping rubber bands around twice, and poke a hole with the bamboo skewer.
Wrap the construction paper around the tube and tape it; shift it by 2–3 cm and tape again to complete the base.
Put in a slightly generous amount of beads, then seal with OPP tape whose stickiness has been reduced a bit to make the lid—and you’re done!
sushi
Perfect for pretend play like house or running a shop! Let’s make sushi using toilet paper rolls.
Cut a toilet paper roll into 3 cm-wide rings, then shape them to resemble the rice (shari).
Stuff some tissues inside, place a “topping” made from construction paper on top, and you’re done.
If you want to make makizushi (rolls), wrap the cut ring with black origami paper, and put rolled-up construction paper inside as the filling—it’s an easy way to make them.
It’s great that they’re so simple to create.
Try making delicious-looking sushi with the kids using a variety of “ingredients”!
glasses
Let’s make stylish glasses using a toilet paper roll.
Flatten the roll, then place one strip of tape horizontally and two strips vertically.
Make cuts along the roll, leaving the taped sections intact.
Add two vertical strips of tape on the back side as well.
Open the cut roll back into a tube shape, and on one side only, cut out the central square.
Open the roll so that the circular parts become the lenses of the glasses.
Finally, use a bendy straw to create the earpieces, and you’re done.
Use your favorite patterned tapes to design your own original pair of glasses!