Thursday, December 5, 2019

Cardboard Creations

Whether you are crafty or want a fun activity with your kids, there are tons of cute crafts using toilet paper cardboard cores. All you need to do for inspiration is Google "TP roll crafts". Just a couple examples:
12 Crafts from Country Living
195 Pins from Pinterest

Not to mention there are dozens of tutorials on YouTube, and even folks selling the tubes on Etsy and Amazon!

The good news is, you have this free craft supply in your home already. You can also use paper towels cores or wrapping paper tubes.


I decided on creating some festive winter snowflakes and poinsettias. For each, you'll need 1-2 TP rolls or 1 paper towel roll. You will cut a TP roll into 6-8 strips or just over 5/8".

On the left of this picture I show the roll cut into 8 strips; at the top is the 8 strips glued together and clamped at one end; on the bottom right is what the glued strips look like when un-clamped.


Once un-clamped, glue the first and last strips together to form all strips into a circle shape. You just need a little glue on each strip to connect them. Too much, and the "petals" won't fan out. 


Now that you have a circle of petals, you can both paint the cardboard (I used red for poinsettias and white or light blue for snowflakes) and start to embellish your design with additional strips. See the strip folded in half to create a leaf for my poinsettia or add layers to my snowflake. Feel free to experiment - after all, all snowflakes are unique! Glue and use paper clips to hold in place while the glue dries.


Once you are happy with the shape, line the edges with glitter glue, or dip in glitter!


What do you do with you new lovely creations? Decorate your tree or mantle:


Or embellish a gift bag:


Or use instead of a bow on a package: 


In the spring, mix it up with different colors to create different types of flowers.

Your supplies cost is cheap or almost free. The cardboard is free, and paint and glitter can be acquired from:

  • a neighbor via Buy Nothing or Freecycle
  • your local thrift store. Most have some art supplies in their housewares section. 
  • art supply-specific reuse stores like Seattle ReCreative