Toilet paper is obviously a household staple. But every time you throw away the empty toilet paper roll, you’re missing out on some seriously awesome ways to use them.
As it turns out, empty toilet paper rolls are far more handy and versatile than you probably ever imagined. Need proof? Here are 55 genius ideas on how to use them!
Wrap up cords in a toilet paper roll to keep them neat and organized. The best part is that you won’t have to untangle them! You can paint them or add colorful ribbon for a personalized touch.
2. Make a Butterfly Sanctuary
Love butterflies? Attract them by building them their very own oasis. Along with other supplies, like pipe cleaners, yarn, and some dried fruit in bottle caps – they’ll have their own little piece of heaven in your backyard.
Cover a roll with peanut butter, and then coat with bird seeds. Hang with a piece of string or place on a branch and watch the birds enjoy their feast!
Down to your last bit of yarn? Don’t let it get all tangled and hard to unravel. Wrap yarn around around a roll and keep it in one place.
5. Make Fun “Gift Poppers”
Fill empty toilet paper rolls with candies or other small goodies, wrap them in colorful paper, and tie the ends with ribbon for a fun “popper” style gift. Super fun for the kiddos!
Add some decoration to the walls by creating this decorative art mirror. First, cut the roll into smaller sections and then glue them together. Finally, place them around a mirror.
If interested, you click here for the full step-by-step tutorial.
How adorable are these tiny little party crowns? They are sure to be a hit at a kid’s birthday party or even just for some fun imagination time.
Want the full tutorial? You can find it here.
8. Nature-inspired Pencil Holder
Look in your backyard and find some twigs. Then glue these twigs to the toilet paper rolls to create a nature-inspired look. It’s always nice to bring a little nature indoors!
If you need a place to store pencils, pens, and other office supplies, then create this neat and cute stationary organizer. Spray paint numerous toilet paper rolls a solid color, and then attach each roll to a piece of cardboard or plate.
10. Create A Simple, Elegant Gift Container
Create this neat gift container to help store a small gift! They’re inexpensive, easy-to-make, and so incredibly adorable.
Find the full tutorial here.
Place toilet paper rolls in an empty drawer. Then roll your scarves up and fit them inside a roll for easy and convenient storage.
12. Create a storage container for toy cars
Rather than having your child’s toy cars scattered throughout the house, create this nice little toilet paper roll garage. It’s perfect and neat!
13. Make Floral-inspired Wall Decor
Fold and bend empty toilet paper rolls to create the petals of flowers. Glue them together and you’ll have beautiful cardboard ‘flowers’ for the wall. You can get creative by painting them or covering them with printed paper.
14. Fun Marble Game for Kids
Cut out empty toilet paper rolls and number them up to whatever number you’d like. Roll marbles into them for a fun game that enhances young kids’ coordination.
15. Toilet Paper Roll Party Lanterns
Create a fun, festive look for your next party using empty toilet paper rolls. All you’ll need is some paint, glue, and some wire. If you really want to make them shine, hang them under stringed lights!
You can find the full tutorial here.
Lots of wrapping paper tubes can become a big mess once you’ve started to unwrap them. Securely store wrapping paper by using a toilet paper to prevent it from unraveling.
Are you or your kids big video or computer game fans? This DIY piece of wall decor using toilet paper rolls is absolutely perfect – talk about a conversation starter!
Find the full tutorial here.
Cardboard is awesome for seed starters because the cardboard will degrade and decompose over time. This will allow your plants to grow and blossom.
Find out more details by clicking here.
19. Creative Wristband Bracelets
Another fun project for the young ones (or even for a costume) is to create colorful wristband bracelets. You can use paint, duct tape, or glue on different pieces of paper or jewels to show your personality.
20. Create Portable Fire Starters
Starting a campfire or a bonfire can sometimes be a bit of a pain – but not if you have a fire starter handy! Create your own fire starter by collecting lint from your dryer and stuffing it inside an empty toilet paper roll. You’ll have a crackling fire in no time.
The tutorial can be found here.
21. Homemade Eyeglass Case
If you lost or don’t have a case for your reading or seeing glasses, that’s okay! Just use an empty toilet paper roll and some fabric instead. The best part? No sewing necessary!
Find the full tutorial here.
22. Rustic Napkin Holders
All you need to make beautiful, rustic napkin holders perfect for Thanksgiving are some empty TP rolls, some burlap, and ribbon! You can also add little gems, charms, or acorns for an extra festive touch.
Two It Yourself has the tutorial.
23. Funky DIY Pin Cushion
This fun DIY craft will take a little bit of creativity but the payoff is worth it.
Michele Made Me came up with this idea and it’s not only practical for holding your pins and needles, but it’s also super cute!
24. Toilet Paper Roll Coasters
Protect your coffee table with these easy to make DIY coasters using 5 or 6 empty toilet paper rolls. They look complicated – but we promise they’re easy to make!
You can find the full tutorial here.
For this DIY project, you’ll need approximately 35 empty toilet paper rolls, a stapler, tape, scissors, a pen, and a lightbulb with an electric installation. That’s it!
Find out how to make it here.
Instead of handing out traditional or predictable party favors – why not think outside of the box a bit? These flower party favors are inexpensive and super cute. You can even fill them with yummy candy treats!
Carolyn’s Homework has the tutorial.
27. 4th of July Confetti Rockets
Bring your ‘fireworks’ inside with these awesome confetti poppers! Although they’re ‘explosive,’ they’re completely safe for the little ones. Just keep your vacuum handy.
Find out how to make them here.
This is by far one of the easiest crafts you can make for you or your kids! Just fold an empty toilet paper roll into a heart shape, then dip it into some ink or paint for an adorable stamp.
This is a beautiful way to cover your LED or faux candles (not safe for real candles!). With some creative folding, painting, and gluing – this is a gorgeous way to decorate a bland faux-candle.
Here is the full tutorial.
Create your very own “Koinobori” aka Japanese Flying Carp Fish with this fun idea. They are colorful, beautiful to look at, and a great craft to do with the little ones.
Fun Craft Kids has the tutorial.
Turn empty toilet paper rolls into a beautiful frame that looks like wrought iron – it’s so easy too! It’s a beautiful way to showcase your family photos without spending a lot of money on an expensive frame.
The step-by-step instructions are here.
32. Homemade Countdown or Advent Calendar
Counting down to a big holiday, birthday, or other anticipated event? Make your own homemade countdown calendar with those empty toilet paper rolls you’ve collected. Tiny trinkets or small pieces of candy can be placed inside.
Dollar Store Crafts breaks down the instructions here.
33. Kids’ Pretend Teacup Set
Remember having pretend teatime with all of your stuffed animals and toys as a child? Make sure your little ones don’t miss out on that fun memory by making their very own teacup set.
Find the tutorial here.
Empty toilet paper rolls are the perfect shape to mold your own DIY sidewalk chalk. Plus, the recipe is non-toxic so it’s safe for both your kids and your pets!
Red Ted Art has the instructions on how to make it.
This is one of the cheapest cat toys you can find and it’s probably the most fun they’ll ever have! Just cut the ends of the toilet paper roll into thin fringes and watch your kitty go to town!
36. Bathroom Air Freshener
Keep your bathroom (or any other room!) smelling fresh and fragrant with this easy-to-make air freshener. Just place some cotton ball inside an empty toilet paper roll and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Cover the top with a breathable cloth – and there you have it! Decorate the tube with any paint or paper you’d like.
37. Reversible Cardboard Earrings
Jewelry is expensive! So why not make your own? Plus, they’ll be personalized and one-of-a-kind. What’s better than that?
Fave Crafts has the step-by-step instructions.
Make your very own iPhone stand for less than $10! All you’ll need are some empty toilet paper rolls, Washi tape, scissors, a marker, and some push pins. How adorable is this?
Find the tutorial here.
39. Christmas Tree Holiday Decor
“Bring the holiday cheer to your home with this cute craft! Easy and fun to make, this is a great holiday activity for kids! If you need a great holiday craft to make with kids, this paper tube Christmas tree is just perfect!” says Fave Crafts. We agree!
Here’s how to make it!
40. Decoupage/painted paper chain
Here’s a fun craft that you might remember doing as a child–paper chains! But this time, it’s with toilet paper rolls. Get creative with them by adding decoupage or spraypaint (don’t forget about metallic paint!). Hang it up for decor at a kids’ party! Here’s
how.
41. Jewelry and Earring Holder
Using some paint, Washi tape, and few other common craft supplies, you can have your very own jewelry and earring holder. This also makes for a great one-of-a-kind gift.
Find out how to make it here.
42. Make musical instruments
As you can see, most of these projects are kid-oriented, so these ideas are wonderful for parents or teachers–we just love this one! Cover the opening of one side of the toilet paper with paper or fabric, fill a 1/4 full with beans or rice, then cover the other opening (or staple it shut). Now you have a fun shaker to shake along with the music.
43. Another party favor idea
Who knew that toilet paper rolls could be so cool to use for party favor holders? This idea comes from
Fave Crafts, and they suggest making little pouches to hold small party favors or treats. Head over to their
site for the details.
44. Scarf holder alternative
We showed you a fun way to store scarves in toilet paper rolls earlier and here’s another handy idea if you wanted to hang them instead of store them in a drawer. All you need to do is glue and secure toilet paper rolls (or sections of them) in a plastic hanger. Slip through the scarves and they’re organized, visible, and out of the way!
Bright, colorful wrist cuffs can be made with toilet paper rolls as we showed you earlier. But, if you want to make something a bit more dainty, delicate, and pretty, here’s another pretty idea. It’s perfect for playing dress up with the kiddos! Find the
tutorial here.
46. Harvest-themed napkin rings
Isn’t Fall wonderful? The changing of the leaves, the crisp, cold air, and all the fun festivities! Spruce up your dinner table while having fun with crafts by making these adorable harvest-themed napkin rolls. Wouldn’t these be charming at the Thanksgiving table? Step-by-step
instructions can be found here.
47. Professional-style desk holder
Obviously toilet paper rolls can be transformed into great desk and office supply organizers as we showed you on a previous slide. But if you’re looking for something a bit more professional-looking for a work office, this is a great project–and it only takes 15 minutes to make!
Here’s how.
This is another bracelet project using toilet paper rolls, but without having the actual toilet paper roll as a part of the bracelet. Wrap a doily around the toilet paper roll and use fabric stiffener to harden the doily in the cylindrical shape. Once dry, you have a beautiful cuff bracelet.
49. ‘Binoculars’ for the little ones
This is a cute craft that’s been tried and true for years–binoculars! They’re so simple to make and will create hours of fun for the kids in your life. Here’s how, according to
Simply Shellie:
- Take three rolls.
- Staple two of the rolls together at each end.
- Cut the remaining one down a side.
- Open the cut roll and lay it over the two, using the curves to encase them.
- Glue to secure the third roll.
- Decorate as desired.
- Punch 2 holes in the same end of the rolls – one should go through each of the encased rolls.
- Take a string and knot each end into an each hole.
Buying Christmas decor can be a bit of a pain-point for some people. You spend a bunch of money only to use the piece for a short time, then it sits in a bin for 11 months of the year, taking up space. Here’s a craft that you can do every year to spruce up your home during the holidays and you can either hang on to it or toss it!
Find out how to make it here.
If you need to transport a small knife while camping or moving, protect yourself and the knife blade by creating a makeshift knife sheath. Just flatten the tube, duct tape one end shut, and slide the knife blade right in. Use a paper towel roll for larger knives.
52. Make a fly or pest strip
Help catch mosquitos, flies, and fruit flies by covering a toilet paper roll with transparent tape (sticky side out, obviously!) and hang it where needed. Great for patios and kitchens where these pests are a real bother.
If you have calf-length booths that tend to flop over when you’re not wearing them, stuff in some empty toilet paper rolls to help them keep their shape. Now, the fabric won’t fold over and crease. Use paper towel rolls for taller boots.
54. Transport important documents
When a document folder isn’t available, you can transport important documents by gently rolling them up and sliding them through a toilet paper roll.
Do you love crafting and sewing? If you do, then you know the struggle of having scraps of fabric strewn about your craft room or area. Keep them organized all in one space by stuffing them in empty toilet paper rolls. Make them beautiful by painting or decoupaging them!
Bet you didn’t think those empty toilet paper rolls were so amazing, right? Not only can you make beautiful home decor, but the crafts are just endless! So, stop throwing them out and get crafty instead!
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