We love elephants here in Autismland. I collect them and have them in almost every room of the house. It seemed like a no brainer to use all the empty toilet paper tubes we accumulate during the week to make this fun elephant toilet paper tube craft (thank God for a large family for a season).
If you don’t have gray or light blue paper, consider painting the tubes instead. You could also paint the ears and stuff too. Use what you have and have fun. Crafts should be fun not stressful. This is me talking to myself more than anyone else.
How to turn a toilet paper tube into an elephant
Items needed for toilet paper tube elephant
- 1 clean cardboard tube, like a toilet paper tube (per project)
- Glue
- Scissors
- Printable Elephant templates
- Gray or light blue paper
- 2 googly eyes
Directions for making toilet paper tube elephant
- Cut out elephant ears using pattern
- Cut another sheet of paper to fit the cardboard tube, approximately 4 inches by 6 inches. Glue the paper to the cardboard tube.
- Cut two small tabs from the remaining scrap paper, approximately 1 inch by 2 inches. Glue these tabs to the flat edge of the elephant ears. Allow to dry.
- Attach the elephant ears to the sides of the cardboard tube and the trunk to the front.
- Glue the eyes to each side of the trunk.
- Allow the craft to dry completely before playing or displaying.
You can make one elephant or a whole herd. Use this craft to jumpstart a unit study on elephants or do a read a loud as the kids do the craft. Busy hands can still listen. Have fun and make memories.
