When you become a parent, cardboard takes on a whole new meaning. It’s such a versatile material and kids love the stuff. Can’t get enough of it. Our recycling bin over the past few years has been raided so many times and cardboard has become such a precious thing that we rarely throw it out unless it’s been put to good use first.
Boxes become boats, rockets, houses. You can cut it, build with it, stick it, paint it, bend it. You’re not limited by anything but your own imagination and my wee boy has a very vivid imagination. We’ve had great fun with cardboard over the years and one thing that we all love is the humble toilet roll. Humble no more! Read on…
Binoculars – telescopes – robotic arms – stilts – you name it, we’ve done it. We even once took over the entire living room and built a massive marble run from fabric tubes, toilet rolls and plastic bottles. So whenever we get to the end of a roll of toilet paper we wonder what we can use it for this time.
Here’s a wee round up of some of my favourite things that I’ve seen other people do with their toilet rolls. I could post tons of stuff, but I’ve been selective and have chosen my top five.
1. Toilet Roll Sophisti-cats!
from mollymoocrafts.com
“They’re working cats, snappy dressers and love to shop!”
The mollymoocrafts blog is a must visit if you love recycling, crafting (with or without kids) and if like me, you can’t throw a humble toilet roll away without putting it to good use first. There are tons of ideas on this site to get your creative crafting juices flowing and not just with toilet rolls. The site is run by Michell McInerney, an Irish working mum (graphic designer) wife, and everything in between, who is inspired each and every day by really clever design and everything handmade. I absolutely love her Sophisti-cats and all the other creatures she’s made from toilet rolls! Why not check out her tutorial and have a go yourself!
2. DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Calendar
from morningcreativity.com
I know it’s 12 months until Christmas but I had to have this is my top five as this is one of my favourite things I’ve seen done with toilet rolls. I pinned this ages ago and am definitely going to give it a go this year as I know my son is going to love punching his hand through each tube to find the treasure within.
Erlend Johansen, the man behind the morningcreativity.com, posts up his creative projects on a regular basis. His site is full of lovely handmade things and tutorials on how to make them. Everything is beautifully photographed and simply explained. I love it. Check out this tutorial and you’ll soon find yourself clicking through all the rest…
3. Toilet Roll Garage
from cazadoradeinspiracion.blogspot.com.es
This is such a cool project and I’m going to start collecting toilet rolls for this now. At the moment my sons cars are all shoved in a green plastic box and I think he’d love having them on display like this instead – he’d be limited to 49 parking spaces though which might be an issue…
I found this project on Pinterest and the actual tutorial can be found here – I had to use Google Translate as the site is in Spanish, but the photos are pretty self explanatory.
4. Paper Roll Animals
from frugalfun4boys.com
I’ve made creatures and animals from egg boxes, but as yet, not from toilet rolls. I’m going to have to try these out and here you’ll find the simple instructions on how to make a lion family, an elephant, a monkey and a crocodile. I found Sarah Dees sight originally when looking for Lego tutorials to build different lego animals and discovered it’s a treasure trove of information and activities for kids of all ages. Love it!
5. Miniature Worlds
from anastassia-elias.com
Now I had to leave the best till last – these miniature worlds are just amazing – and all within humble toilet rolls. While most of us throw our toilet rolls into the recycling, Paris-based artist Anastassia Elias creates tiny magical worlds within hers. With simple back lighting the works are beautifully photographed and you’re instantly transported into the magic of each scene.
It must be such fiddly work but with amazing results.
So I hope you enjoyed that and I hope you’ll check out the 5 websites I’ve linked to. Will you look at a toilet roll in the same way again I wonder???
