empty tp rolls.

[DanniJo85]

I have been hoarding empty toilet paper rolls for a while now. I don't know why. I guess I just had hopes for them. Any ideas of what I can do with them. All I can think of are those Christmas trees made by 3rd graders.

[PixieVal]

At my daughter's daycare recently, they stapled the ends flat, filled them with dried beans, decorated the outsides and used them for noisy shakers. If you don't have any little ones, I bet if you called around to some small daycares, they might have some interest in taking them off your hands!

[Bodkins]

Every time I have an empty roll I have to fight the urge to keep it, so I can sympathise with you!!  I all could think of was chinese lanterns and those bon-bon cracker things you see at Christmas, and dinky kiddy stuff...so I googled!! Here are a couple of things that I found interesting:

Creepy faces  : http://www.geekologie.com/2009/08/paper_art_toilet_paper_roll_fa.php

Tiny little diorama thingies:  http://blog.makezine.com/archive/paper_crafts/

Flowers and wreaths: http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2010/06/recycled-toilet-paper-roll-wall-decor.html#tp


..and I saw a fantastic light at Ikea yesterday (oooh, I so want this!!) - made out of paper.  It might be possible to do something similar out of tp tubes??  http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/40147463




I intended to post photos, but it won't work for me today Ahah! got it now...i think!

[DanniJo85]

Thanks for the awesome ideas! I'm gonna try making some creepy faces.

[PixieVal]

OMG! I love the creepy faces!!

[sipari]

 These i use in many crafts too. Here i made train for x-mas. First i made locomotive but i decided that it was a little bit boring so i added carriages. I Made two versions of it. Also cardboard and paper was very useful. Markings and gift wrappings are cut from junk mail.
I've been using rolls also for castles, cars, rockets, light houses, etc. There are so many things to make from these.

http://picasaweb.google.com/replicantsunite/TonttujunanPaivitys#

[lylacfey]

On the old Frugal Along thread one of our girls used them to make seed starters.

I give old TP rolls to my rabbit and guinea pig.

[FRAUGHT]

What can I add that can compare with the creepy faces? I also want to try this.
 When I was a florist I would make little birdhouses for wreaths or plants, wrap the tp roll with raffia. Make a hole in the tp roll a little more than half way down glue in edges of raffia. Make a flat roof, cone shape or other shape for a roof, cover this with pieces of bark, dried grass, what ever suits you, . stick a small dowel or stick in under the hole you made for a perch,  insert a pick on the bottom inside to stick into an arrangement or plant, shove in a little Spanish moss or other type of moss on the bottom inside of the tp roll and there you go.

[whatnow73]

My sister used them one Christmas to create Christmas bon bons - the cardboard structure works well and you can just wrap Christmas wrapping over it and tie the ends.

[Amal Kotay]

The diorama and creepyface things look cool!

Of course, for TP rolls, I'd use 'em as cases for LED flashlights designed as a lightsaber. The cardboard is strong enough to withstand the screws to hold the two TP rolls together - but it will need some reinforcing at the ends.

I wish I had empty TP rolls. D: