Christmas Craft Ideas Using Paper Towel Tubes

There are lots of Christmas craft ideas that are fun for kids and teach recycling at the same time. One of the easiest things to recycle for Christmas crafts is paper towel tubes. Toilet tissue tubes can also be used. These Christmas craft ideas are easy to make and inexpensive.

Make Christmas Angels With Paper Towel Tubes
For each angel you will need a paper towel tube, small styrofoam ball slightly larger than the tube's diameter, wire, stiff paper, metallic paint, glitter, tacky glue or hot glue.

The first step is to paint the styrofoam ball all over with the metallic paint. Another option is to cover the ball with muslin cloth and glue. You can add a mouth and eyes with black paint or a marker or leave it plain. Let dry thoroughly. Next, add rafia to the ball for hair.

Cut the paper towel tube into whichever length you wish for the angel body. Then paint it with the metallic paint. Or cover the paper towel tube with glue, then sprinkle glitter all over the cardboard tube.

After both the paper towel tube and styrofoam ball are dry, attach the ball to the tube with tacky glue or a hot glue gun.

The angel wings are next. Use pretty metallic paper. Fold it in accordion pleats. Another option for making the angel wings is to bend copper wire into wing shapes. You can cover the wire with festive fabric if you like. Next, attach the angel wings to the back with hot glue or tacky glue.

The last step is to take the copper wire and twist it into a halo ring. Leave some copper wire straight to stick into the styrofoam ball at the top in the back.

Make Napkin Rings With Paper Towel Tubes
Cut the paper towel tubes into rings about one inch wide. Each paper towel tube will make about 12 napkin rings. The paper towel rings can be decorated in many different ways. They can be spray painted bright Christmas colors. The paper towel napkin rings can then be decorated with glitter glue. Or cover them with plain glue and then cover them with glitter. Fabric strips or festive ribbons can be wrapped and glued around the napkin rings, as can Christmas wrapping paper. Unique beads can be glued to them. Try wrapping the paper towel tube napkin rings with pretty yarn. You can use paint pens to write anything on the homemade napkin rings, whether it's a holiday message or the names of your guests.

Make a Christmas Candle with a Paper Towel Tube
This is a cute and cheap Christmas decoration for kids to make. All you need is a paper towel tube, construction paper in Christmas colors, and glue.

Use glue to cover the paper towel tube with white construction paper or whichever color you wish for the candlestick. Choose the color you want for the base next. Use this color to cut out a circle from construction paper slightly larger than circumference of the paper towel tube. Glue this to one end of the paper towel tube.

Cut out two pieces of construction paper shaped like flames. On the opposite end of the tube from the previously glued construction paper circle, glue the flame shapes. Glue them directly across from each other, on opposite sides of the tube.

Decorate the candle and its base however you wish. Use stickers, glitter, paint, beads, or whatever you like.

Have fun with the kids making these easy Christmas craft ideas. If you like these Christmas crafts, read my other Christmas related articles.


By Angela Harris