Simple Crafts: TP Roll Star Christmas Ornament

I never trash toilet paper rolls. :) They are on my "collecting trash for crafts" list! So, if you have any loo rolls around your house, you're ready to make this simple star ornament for your Christmas tree.

This craft is great for all kids age 6 and up (school age kids) and, with this little craft, they will help their teacher bring some shining in the classroom this Christmas!

Instructions are simple and so is the craft. If you have any questions what-so-ever, leave them in the comment box at the end of the page.

On the picture above, you can see all things you'll need to prepare your toilet paper rolls for turning them into stars for your Christmas tree. I've also shownall the stages from whole toilet paper roll to cut and painted strips.

List of supplies:

- toilet paper rolls - one roll = one ornament (+ little extra)

- ruler, pen, scissors

- white paint (or any other you prefer) and brush

First, you need to flatten toilet paper rolls. After doing that, take pen and ruller and mark places to cut strips. My strips are 1,5 cm wide (0,6 in). You'll get 6 of them from one roll and you need 5 for each of the stars.

Now, paint your strips to white (or any other color you like) and let them dry. I didn't paint them on the inside since they were already white. But if you choose other color, you should also paint them from inside.

I've shown on the picture all the stages of the stars - from drawing them on thin cardboard to finished star coated with alu foil.

Supply list:

- pieces of thin cardboard or construction paper

- scissors, pen

- aluminium foil

First you make yourself a template star. Make sure it's not bigger than 8 cm (app. 3 in) because it will be too big for TP roll strips. Than, use that template to draw stars on thin paper or construction paper. Make as many as you want to make ornaments. You can place them only on front or both on the front and back side of the TP roll star.

Cut them.

Now it's time to coat them in alu foil. You need to be extra careful with this because alu foil is very thin and easy to tear. What I did is this - I cut squares approximately the size of the stars. Than place carboard star in the middle. Cut alu foil in between 2 arms and fold on the arms. Do the same on all sides and cut the extras. If you don't cut the extras, your stars might be too thick for gluing later on.

Do this with all stars.

Now, you should have tp roll strips all painted and cardboard stars coated before gluing them together. All you need at this point is multipurpose glue.

First you glue 5 toilet paper strips into stars. You can see on the picture on the right that I have used cloth pins to pinch them together. It was easier for me as I didn't have to hold them until glue is dry.

After you glue tp roll strips together, simply add glue on the back of your shiny alu foil star and glue it on the front (and back if you like).

And you're done!

We're all ready for decoration! Further down, I've added a place where you can add your own ideas for decorating these star ornaments!

Do you recycle your toilet paper rolls? What do you make of them?

Do you have some other ideas for ornaments from toilet paper rolls?