40 Adorable Toilet Paper Roll Animal Crafts for Kids

Facebook Email Flipboard Pinterest Reddit

Looking for a fun way to reuse those empty tubes? These toilet paper roll animal crafts are just the thing! Whether you’re crafting with toddlers, planning a classroom activity, or just need something to fill a quiet afternoon, there’s something in this roundup for everyone.

From kangaroos to penguins, sharks to bees, these ideas are easy to follow and use basic supplies you probably already have at home. And if you’re new to using cardboard tubes for activities, check out our collection of easy toilet paper roll crafts for kids to get started.

Collage of animal-themed kids' crafts made from toilet paper rolls, featuring handmade creations like frogs, sharks, owls, pigs, bears, and dragons decorated with paint, paper, and googly eyes.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Read our disclosure policy.

Animal Toilet Paper Roll Ideas

Each animal on this list has its personality, color, and simple steps—without needing fancy materials or loads of prep. Plus, they’re great for practicing scissor skills, gluing, and imaginative play.

Kangaroo Toilet Paper Roll

Kids can transform a toilet paper roll into a cute kangaroo with a little pouch using simple paper cutouts and glue. They'll have a good time creating their kangaroo and then pretending it's bouncing around on make-believe adventures.

gluesticksgumdrops.com

Shark Toilet Paper Roll

An empty toilet roll becomes a fearsome shark with a big open mouth, fins, and pointy teeth. It's surprisingly easy to make, and kids get a thrill from creating their own mini "predator"—perfect for Shark Week or an ocean-themed afternoon. Kids will love diving into pretend play with their shark, making it swim and chomp through imaginary seas.

Related: Shark Name Craft

frugalfun4boys.com

Toilet Paper Roll Owls

Save those empty rolls to make adorable owls with big eyes. With a simple fold, the top of the tube becomes the owl's pointy ears, and kids can add paper wings and fun colors to give each owl its personality. They'll love creating a whole family of owl friends and displaying these cute critters as decorations or toys.

Also try: Arctic Owl Craft

Toilet Paper Roll Dog

You can use a toilet paper roll and a printable template to create a cute dog, making it a perfect project for young pet lovers. It's easy to assemble with paper ears, a tail, and a friendly face, and kids will have fun personalizing their pup to look like their furry friend.

This activity lets them channel their love for dogs into a hands-on activity and ends with an adorable paper pet to play with or display.

www.craftymorning.com

Toilet Paper Roll Squid

An empty tube transforms into a colorful squid with dangling yarn tentacles and a funny little head fin. Kids will enjoy painting or wrapping the tube in their favorite color and attaching the wiggly yarn arms that make the squid look swimming. This playful ocean project lets children explore an extraordinary sea creature and adds a splash of undersea adventure to art time.

www.thecrafttrain.com

Paper Roll Fish

This activity uses a clever "squash and cut" trick to turn a cardboard tube into a cute fish shape with a tail and fins. Kids will have a blast painting their fish in bright colors and adding details like eyes or scales, making each one unique. It's an easy recycled art that brings underwater imagination to life and shows kids a neat new way to shape a paper roll.

Related: Fish Bowl Paper Plate Craft

Toilet Paper Roll Turkey

Turn an empty toilet roll into a festive turkey with a fan of colorful paper feathers. Kids enjoy this simple Thanksgiving art activity because they get to choose bright feather colors and give their turkey a silly little gobbler and face. The finished turkey makes a cute homemade decoration for the holiday and a fun reminder of Thanksgiving creativity.

www.redtedart.com

Toilet Paper Roll Yak

This clever project uses just half a toilet paper roll to create a fuzzy little yak with horns and a shaggy coat. It's part of a fun alphabet activity ("Y" is for Yak), introducing kids to an unusual animal while they design. Children will enjoy gluing on bits of fluffy "fur" and assembling their yak, and they'll be proud to have made such a unique critter.

Also try: Yak Worksheets

www.redtedart.com

Axolotl Toilet Paper Roll

An ordinary toilet paper tube transforms into an adorable axolotl—the cute, smiley amphibian with frilly pink gills. This quirky project is easy (even for preschoolers) and uses simple supplies to create the axolotl's bright body and feathery head fins. Kids will be delighted to make such an unusual creature and show off their little "water dragon."

Toilet Paper Roll Penguin

An ordinary toilet paper roll turns into an adorable penguin with black-and-white paper (or paint) and a little orange beak. This winter project is simple, but lots of fun, and kids will love making their chilly Antarctic friends to play with. It's a great indoor activity for a cold day, and the finished penguin is perfect for pretend polar adventures.

totschoolresources.com

Toilet Paper Roll Bee

Kids can easily create a cute bee without messy painting from a toilet paper roll. This low-mess project has kids wrap the tube in yellow paper, add black paper stripes, and stick on paper wings to make a buzzing bumblebee. It's perfect for preschool or daycare since it's simple, clean, and fun.

Related: Bee Photo Craft

sunshinewhispers.com

Zebra Zoo Animal Toilet Paper Roll

Black-and-white stripes transform a plain paper roll into a playful little zebra. This zoo animal art is super cute and straightforward: Kids can draw or glue on the zebra's stripes, attach a paper mane and tail, and suddenly have their mini safari friend. They'll enjoy galloping their zebra around in pretend play and learning about this fantastic animal.

Also try: Zebra Paper Bag Puppet Craft

two examples of finished bee tp roll craft

Bee Toilet Paper Roll

Kids will be excited as they turn an empty toilet roll into a cute bumblebee with bright yellow and black stripes. This simple spring activity comes together quickly with a bit of paint or paper and some googly eyes, bringing a touch of the garden indoors. Children love making the bee and zooming around while pretending it's visiting flowers.

taminglittlemonsters.com

Butterfly Toilet Paper Roll

This project has a handy template that kids can paint and assemble to create a bright, fluttering butterfly. Kids express their creativity by coloring the wings however they like before gluing them onto the decorated toilet roll body. It's an engaging spring activity; kids love fluttering their finished butterflies around as if they're real.

Also try: Butterfly Name Craft

totschoolresources.com

Chicken Toilet Paper

Toddlers and preschoolers will love turning a toilet paper roll into a cheerful chicken for spring. This easy project uses simple shapes (with a bit of adult help for cutting) to make a cute chick or hen, complete with a little comb, beak, and wings. It's a perfect farm or Easter project for young kids, and they'll be proud to show off their fluffy little bird.

Elephant Toilet Paper Roll

You can create a miniature elephant from a cardboard tube with big floppy ears and a long trunk. This easy zoo-themed project brings a bit of that wonder from the zoo into your home, and kids will love making their gentle giant. After designing, they'll have fun pretending their elephant is trumpeting and stomping on a safari adventure.

www.artycraftykids.com

Spring Toilet Paper Roll

Celebrate spring by turning toilet paper rolls into a whole lineup of cute baby animals. Kids can easily make a frog, lamb, chick, and bunny with one free template. Each animal is made from a tube and decorated with simple cutouts for faces, ears, and more. Children will enjoy choosing which spring friend to create (or making them all) and playing with their colorful little farm and pond pals.

www.theinspirationedit.com

Toilet Tube Frog

This simple project turns a cardboard tube into a bright green frog with big eyes and a wide smile. It's a quick, fun activity perfect for a lazy afternoon—kids can paint the tube, add paper legs and googly eyes, and even stick on a long tongue.

Also try: Frog Paper Cup Craft

Toilet Paper Roll Bear

With a bit of brown paint and some paper cutouts, a plain toilet roll transforms into a cuddly little bear. This project is excellent for young "cubs" learning about animals—it's easy to make and lets kids add details like round ears and a friendly face. They'll have fun bringing their bear to life and might even use it to act out stories about bears in a not-so-scary way.

artsycraftsymom.com

Toilet Paper Roll Pig

Turn a cardboard tube into a cute pink pig with some paper and glue. This farm animal project is super easy—perfect for little kids learning about barnyard animals or the letter P—and children will have fun adding a curly paper tail and piggy nose to make it their own. These little pigs are adorable to play with and even pair well with a story like The Three Little Pigs for some extra fun.

Related: Pig Headband Craft

in-our-spare-time.com

Giraffe Toilet Paper Roll

This toddler-friendly activity turns a paper roll into a little giraffe with the help of a simple template and lots of glue. Little hands might need a grown-up to help cut out the giraffe's neck, head, and spots, but kids will love sticking everything onto the tube and seeing their giraffe come together. Toddlers and preschoolers will be delighted with their new zoo animal friend.

Also try: Giraffe Handprint Craft

Butterfly Toilet Paper Roll

In this fun spring project, a plain cardboard tube becomes a colorful butterfly. Kids can decorate enormous paper wings with all the colors and patterns they want, then attach them to the tube to make their butterfly ready to "fly." This project is simple and creative; kids will be proud to flutter their beautiful butterflies around the house.

www.thecrafttrain.com

Cardboard Tube Giraffe

You can make a fun giraffe using a cardboard tube by cleverly cutting and folding it to create the giraffe's long neck and legs. This creative approach means you don't need many extra pieces, and kids will have a blast painting the tube yellow and adding brown spots all over. The result is an adorable giraffe made from recyclables, perfect for sparking imaginative safari play or a lesson about wild animals.

Related: Giraffe Headband Craft

intheplayroom.co.uk

Cardboard Tube Tiger

An empty cardboard tube turns into a tiny tiger with orange paint and black stripes. This cute tiger activity is simple enough for kids, though they might need help cutting out the ears and tail. Celebrating something fun like the Year of the Tiger or a love for big cats is a great way.

Also try: Tiger Headband Craft

Toilet Paper Roll Chicken

Kids can create a clucking chicken out of a toilet roll by adding a bright red comb, an orange beak, and paper wings. It's a fun farm-themed activity where kids get to create an iconic barnyard friend with simple materials (and a free template to help). After it's finished, they'll have a blast making the chicken "cluck" and peck around in their pretend farm.

meaningfulmama.com

Toilet Paper Roll Fish

Kids can quickly turn a plain toilet paper roll into a cute fish with some paint and additions like fins and googly eyes. This project is budget-friendly and perfect for any fish-themed lesson or story time—whether exploring ocean animals or pairing it with a book like The Rainbow Fish. Kids will enjoy creating their colorful fish and making it "swim" around, mixing art time with imaginative play.

Related: Fish Handprint Craft

kidscraftroom.com

Jungle Scene Playset Toilet Paper Roll

Kids can turn a few toilet rolls into a jungle playset with adorable animals and leafy trees. With a bit of cutting, painting, and imagination, one tube could become a cheeky monkey swinging from a "tree" made of another tube. This activity isn't just about making one animal but creating a whole mini world.

Toilet Paper Roll Mouse

With this project, an empty toilet roll becomes a little gray mouse with big round ears and a curly tail. It's an adorable and straightforward project that fits perfectly with a farm theme or the letter "M" in the alphabet, and kids will have fun making their tiny mouse friends. Once they've made it, don't be surprised if they make it "squeak" and scamper around the room in playful make-believe.

www.theinspirationedit.com

Toilet Tube Dog

You can create an adorable puppy from a toilet paper roll using a simple template and colorful paper. This preschool-friendly activity lets kids choose their puppy's colors and glue on paper ears, a tail, and a cute face so each little dog is unique. Young dog lovers will be thrilled to make their paper pet, and they might even create a whole family of pups once they see how fun it is.

Also try: Handprint Dog Craft

meaningfulmama.com

Toilet Paper Roll Cow

This project turns a recycled toilet roll into a friendly cow with black spots, a pink nose, and little horns. The story inspires it: Click, Clack, Moo, making it a great companion project for that book or a lesson on perseverance (but it's plenty of fun on its own, too). Kids enjoy assembling their cow with the help of a free template, and afterward, they can use it to act out the story or just have some farmyard fun.

Related: Cow Handprint Craft

hand holding toilet paper roll beluga whale craft

Beluga Whale Toilet Paper Roll

This activity turns a cardboard tube into an adorable beluga whale—a friendly white whale kids might know from the "Baby Beluga" song. With a free template, children can easily glue on the whale's fins, tail, and even a cute spout of water on top, making learning about ocean animals extra fun.

www.thebestideasforkids.com

Toilet Paper Roll Frog

An empty toilet tube and a few bits of paper become a cute green frog with big googly eyes and a curly red tongue. It's a perfect spring project that's simple for kids of all ages, and they'll have a blast curling the paper into a funny long tongue and making their frog "ribbit." The project is quick and easy and adds a hoppin' touch of fun to any afternoon art time.

Also try: Popsicle Stick Frog Craft

conservamome.com

Dragon Toilet Paper Roll

Kids can create their dragon by coloring and gluing a printable template around a toilet paper roll. It's easy to bring a mythical creature to life—complete with wings and maybe even a flame—without complicated steps or mess. Children will love the roaring good times they have making this dragon and then swooping it around in imaginary adventures.

Related: Torn Paper Dragon Craft

www.mommymadethat.com

Ladybug Toilet Paper Roll

A plain cardboard tube can become a lovely ladybug with red paint (or paper) and black spots. This cute little bug project is easy enough for preschoolers and kindergarteners, and kids enjoy adding details like antennae and googly eyes to give their ladybug personality. The finished critter makes an adorable decoration, or a pretend garden friend that children can play with.

Also try: Ladybug Tissue Paper Craft

www.preschoolplayandlearn.com

Toilet Paper Roll Bunny

A simple toilet roll can become an adorable Easter bunny with a bit of paint and some paper ears. This fun spring activity is perfect for preschoolers: kids can paint the tube in pastel colors, glue on a pair of big ears and a cotton ball tail, and draw a sweet bunny face. It's an easy way to celebrate Easter, and kids will be proud to hop around with their cute little bunny creations.

Related: Easter Bunny Paper Craft

thepinterestedparent.com

Toilet Paper Roll Poodle

This project turns a toilet paper roll into a fancy poodle with fluffy fur made from cotton balls. Kids glue soft cotton onto the dog's ears, head, and tail to give it that grand, groomed poodle look, and they can add a cute face to bring their posh pup to life. It's an adorable project for little animal lovers, and the textured cotton fur makes it extra fun and tactile for kids to create.

thepinterestedparent.com

Toilet Paper Roll Teddy Bears

These toilet paper roll teddy bears are cute and cuddly-looking art made with paint and paper. Kids can paint the rolls "teddy bear brown" and add paper ears, arms, and a round snout to create their bear, complete with a friendly, drawn-on face. They'll have fun making a whole family of tiny teddies and might even use them for imaginative play or a homemade puppet show.

littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Bumble Bee Paper Roll

A toilet paper roll and some colored paper are all you need to make an adorable bumblebee. This project keeps things simple and mess-free by using construction paper for the bee's bright yellow body, black stripes, and little white wings instead of paint. Preschoolers will love how quickly their buzzing bee comes together, and they'll be excited to zoom it around as it "flies" from flower to flower in their pretend play.

Also try: Bumble Bee Headband Craft

www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Toilet Paper Roll Easter Bunny

These adorable Easter bunnies are made by wrapping toilet paper rolls in pretty paper and adding details like long ears and whiskers. It's a simple DIY Easter activity for kids, and the bunnies turn out so cute you can even use them as decorations or placeholders at the Easter table. Children will enjoy creating their bunny buddies for the holiday and showing them off to family.

Related: Bunny Paper Cup Craft

ourwabisabilife.com

Toilet Paper Roll Tiger

This super cute project turns an empty household toilet roll into an adorable striped tiger. It's simple to make with just the basic supplies you have at home (think orange paper or paint and some black marker stripes), and it'll keep kids entertained. Kids will take pride in creating their fierce tiger friend from scratch and enjoy making it roar through their imaginary jungle.

Also try: Brown Paper Bag Tiger Craft

More Fun Kid’s Ideas

100+ Best Animal Crafts For Kids
39 Easy Toilet Paper Roll Crafts For Kids
41 Adorable Winter Animal Crafts For Kids

Sam

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.

Facebook Email Flipboard Pinterest Reddit