15 Awesome Things You Can Make With a Toilet Roll Tube

Upcycling not only allows you to make really awesome items but it also helps the environment and is great for your wallet! As toilet paper is one of the most essential items in our homes, we thought we'd show you some awesome ideas of how you can reuse your toilet roll tubes instead of throwing them away. 1. Gift Wrap Holders

It's so annoying when you take the cellophane off gift wrap and you don't have anything to keep it secure. Toilet roll tubes are slightly bigger than a gift wrap tube, so you can slide the tube down the gift wrap and this will stop it from unraveling. Thanks to Karima's Crafts for this handy idea! 2. Minions

This is a really simple and creative way to spend time with the kids: wrap yellow paper around the toilet roll tube, draw a face with a marker pen, attach arms, and use a plastic bottle lid for the eye. For full instructions, click here to see Crafty Morning's original how-to. 3. Party Hats

If your kids have a birthday coming up, why not save your empty toilet roll tubes and turn them into these pretty party hats? Just add your desired pattern onto the tubes and then cut the tube in half by creating triangles. Create two small holes in the tube and thread some elastic through them. Now, simply tie the elastic together at the ends and you have yourself a princess party hat. 4. Wire Holder

This is a genius solution to the eternal problem of tangled wire: just wrap up your wires and insert them into a toilet roll tube. You'll be protecting the coiled wires inside the casing and saving yourself a 10 minute struggle with the knots. For bonus points, decorate the toilet roll tube - find out how on IHeart Organizing. 5. Bird Feeder

Encourage wildlife to visit your garden by creating this easy-to-make bird feeder. Roll the toilet roll tube in peanut butter and then roll it again in bird seeds, then, simply slip the toiler roll tube over a branch. Alternatively you can punch 2 holes into the toilet roll tube, thread through string and tie onto a tree. Thanks to The Moffatt Girls for this fab idea! 6. Advent Calender

First, you need to find a piece of rectangle cardboard that's big enough to fit 24 toilet roll tubes on. Then, stick all the toilet roll tubes onto the cardboard using a strong glue. Next, get some brown paper and write the numbers 1 - 24; you will now need to put the presents into the tubes and stick the numbered paper over the top to secure them in. Stick smaller rectangles of cardboard to the top of the advent calender to create a roof and cut a piece of toilet roll paper in half, diagonally to create the chimney, and insert toilet paper for 'smoke'. Then, just secure some string to the back of the calender and hang up. See the full instructions on Morning Creativity. 7. Halloween Eyes

In the spirit of Halloween, use toilet roll tubes to scare away the ghosts! Simply evil eyes out of toilet roll tubes and insert a glow stick. Place these around your garden and in dark windows and you'll scare away anyone who passes! 8. Stamps

Toilet roll tubes are easy to manipulate so it's a great idea to use them as stamps for children to play with. Simply bend and mold the toilet roll tubes into your desired shapes and dip into paint! (make sure the children are printing it onto paper and not your walls).

9. Lighting

This is such a great way to add subtle lighting to your home. Simply cut the toilet roll tubes into rings and decorate each one. You can either use a hole punch to put a hole in the tubes or you can just push a pencil through. You'll be able to insert your fairy lights through the holes - so simple! Thanks Anna Lee Co for sharing this brill idea! 10. Plant Pots

Simply line the toilet roll tubes up in a plastic tray, then fill with soil and plant seeds. When watering your plants carefully trickle water down the middle of the plant pot, trying not to get the toilet roll tube wet. 11. Wall Art

This is so simple to make, and you can create whatever pattern you like! Simply cut toilet roll tubes horizontally and make sure they're about 2cms wide. Add glue to the desired area (this will depend on your chosen pattern) and stick another piece of toilet roll tube to it, hold together with a clothes peg until the glue has dried - carry this process on, until you have finished your pattern. 12. Speaker

This is one of the cheapest speakers we've ever seen! Grab a toilet roll tube and cut out a hole big enough to fit your phone through - the tighter the fit the better - and then add some legs to the tube to stop it from rolling over. When playing music off your phone the sound will instantly be louder due to the small space in the tube. 13. Vacuum Cleaner

There's often parts of our houses that we can'y reach with the vacuum cleaner. I bet you didn't know that you could use a toilet roll tube to make the end thin and more flexible so you can get into those hard-to-reach spots! Just slip the toilet roll tube over the end of the vacuum cleaner and squeeze the other end of the tube to make it thinner. 14. Gift packing tubes

Just cover your toilet roll tubes in funky wrapping paper and bend the tube at one end until it forms a closing. Then fill the tube with little treats through the end that's still open. Then, simply close the other end and decorate with ribbon. 15. Somewhere to stash your cash

This is a great idea for a present! Get a mason jar and put a toilet roll tube inside; around the tube add enough small sweets to hide it. Then put your money inside the tube - when they open the jar they will be very surprised! Alternatively, this is a brilliant way to hide your cash from prying eyes.