Cardboard Tube Animals
Empty toilet roll tubes become owls, foxes and giraffes with paint, paper scraps and glue.
By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 8 September 2026
Cardboard tube animals are a satisfying way to work through a stash of saved toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes. Each tube becomes a body, and children choose ears, wings, spots or a long neck from paper scraps and craft leftovers to decide what animal it turns into. It is a project with several short stages, so it suits a session with a break in the middle rather than one continuous sitting.
What you need
- 2-4 clean cardboard tubes
- Washable paint or coloured paper for the base
- Scrap paper, felt or card offcuts
- Scissors (adult use for young children)
- Glue stick or PVA glue
- Googly eyes or a marker pen for faces
Step by step
- 1
Paint each tube in a base colour, or wrap it in coloured paper if you would rather skip drying time.
- 2
Decide together which animal each tube will become based on its colour.
- 3
Cut ears, wings, a beak or spots from scrap paper and card.
- 4
Glue the features onto the tube, holding each piece for a few seconds until it sticks.
- 5
Add eyes with googly eyes or by drawing them on with a marker.
- 6
Stand the finished animals up in a row once fully dry to make a little cardboard zoo.
What kids learn
Planning and sequencing
Deciding what an animal needs before cutting and gluing gives children a chance to practise planning a project in stages.
Fine motor control
Cutting small shapes and positioning glued pieces accurately can help children practise scissor and hand control.
Animal knowledge
Talking through what features an animal needs, such as long ears or a beak, links their existing knowledge to the craft.
Make it easier
Pre-cut a set of ears, wings and spots so a younger child only needs to choose and glue.
Make it more challenging
Ask them to research one real animal's markings and try to replicate the colours and patterns accurately.
Safety and supervision
- Adults should cut small or fiddly shapes for children under five.
- Googly eyes are a choking hazard for children who still mouth objects; use drawn eyes instead.
- Use washable paint and protect the table before painting the tubes.
Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.
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wondercraftkids.com
Cardboard Tube Animals
Ages 3-8 · 30 min · uses recycling
Ages 3+ · Some mess
Suggested pin description
Cardboard Tube Animals: Empty toilet roll tubes become owls, foxes and giraffes with paint, paper scraps and glue. Ages 3+, 40 minutes total, some mess. Full step-by-step instructions and a materials list at WonderCraft Kids.
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Frequently asked questions
How many tubes do we need to save up?+
Two or three is enough for one session, but saving four to six over a couple of weeks lets you make a small collection.
Can we use kitchen roll tubes as well as toilet roll tubes?+
Yes, the longer kitchen roll tube works well for animals with long necks such as a giraffe.
