Cardboard Tubes

Paper towel tubes and toilet paper tubes are great for crafting. I even found 100 “crafting” tubes (toilet paper tubes) for sale in an Oriental Trading magazine, which led me to find some on eBay. I was shocked that people buy them. If I want to do a craft and don't have any handy, I unroll my paper towels and reroll them without the tube. They might be a little loose, but they work with my paper towel holder.

For crafting time my sons made binoculars with those throwaway cardboard tubes. I took two paper towel tubes and cut them in half. I had each of my sons pick out their favorite paint color for their binoculars. My 4-year old had the idea to roll the tubes in the paint instead of using the paintbrush. Then my 3-year old had to try it because his big brother did it. Once their tubes were dry, I took packaging tape and wrapped the tubes together. They had hours of fun with the binoculars. They used them to look at birds, cars, and books.

Another craft from the cardboard tubes is to make dragons. I cut a paper towel tube in half and the boys rolled it in construction paper. We taped the construction paper to the roll and cut off the excess. We cut red streamers and taped them to one opening of the tube for the dragon's fire breathing. We cut out eyes and taped them on the dragon. The boys blew into the tube to make the fire (streamers) swirl around.

These crafts have become toys, and new toys solve any boredom problems. The boys are also very proud to show off their new toys they have made.