DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids: Toilet Paper Roll Craft Ideas for Moms

 

I know it is early, but it never hurts to start planning for some Christmas crafts to do with your children or grandchildren.  Here are some cute ideas.

Small hands gripping scissors, eyes wide with excitement, glue smudges on their cheeks—these are the memories I love to make around the holidays. There's something special about turning ordinary supplies into keepsakes. Toilet paper rolls, often tossed out without a thought, take on new life as cheerful Christmas ornaments. They’re easy for kids to handle, gentle on your budget, and a gentle nod to being kind to the planet.

With these quick projects, kids feel proud seeing their creations sparkle on the tree. Moms can relax knowing the mess is minimal and the materials are safe. Every step is filled with laughter and a sense of accomplishment. Let’s turn the simple into something magical and fill your home with joy that starts at the kitchen table.

See these ornament ideas come to life on YouTube.

Why Toilet Paper Rolls Shine for Christmas Ornament Fun

Toilet paper rolls truly shine as the unsung heroes of Christmas ornament fun. These humble tubes bring color, cheer, and endless imagination to your kitchen table, all without breaking your budget. When holiday magic is found in the everyday, even the simplest materials can transform into treasures—especially when little hands are part of the process.

 

Photo by Magda Ehlers

Eco-Friendly Benefits for Modern Families

Toilet paper rolls make ornaments that don’t just dazzle, they also help the planet. By rerouting these tubes from the trash to the tree, I give my kids a hands-on lesson in kindness for Earth. Using recycled materials cuts down on waste, which means every ornament is a step toward cleaner holidays for everyone. According to the guide on eco-friendly fun with recyclables, simple acts like these help conserve resources and minimize our impact on the environment—one ornament at a time.

We teach our kids that wonder can begin with what’s already in our home, not just what’s bought from a store. Each ornament becomes a small symbol of sustainable holiday cheer.

Budget-Friendly Holiday Joy

Homemade Christmas ornaments shouldn’t empty your wallet. Toilet paper rolls are free and always on hand. No need for expensive supplies when cardboard tubes are perfect for snowmen, reindeer, or glittery stars. The beauty of this? You reduce costs but not the fun.

If you want more proof that making Christmas memories doesn’t need a big budget, check out these cheap Christmas crafts for kids. Even simple items can be turned into sparkling keepsakes with a little tape and a lot of imagination.

Here’s why moms (and kids) love using toilet paper rolls:

• No extra cost—they’re already in every home.
• No trips to the craft store on busy holiday weekends.
• No guilt over pricey ornaments that might get broken.

Creativity Unleashed with Every Tube

With toilet paper rolls, there’s no wrong way to start. The blank cardboard becomes snowmen with felt scarves, silly elves with painted hats, or glitter-covered shooting stars. Kids can cut, color, paint, or sticker them any way they dream. If the result looks a little crooked or lopsided? That just adds to the charm.

To help kids put their creative stamp on Christmas, I like to keep these supplies on hand:

• Crayons or washable markers
• Non-toxic paint
• Scraps of ribbon, fabric, or felt
• Yarn, stickers, and plenty of glue

This open-ended freedom sparks ideas and builds confidence. Every roll gives kids a canvas, and every finished decoration is a point of pride. For parents worried about recycled materials, rest easy—these projects bring smiles, not stress. According to this resource on creative projects using recycled materials, using old items for new memories helps your family form traditions that matter.

Toilet paper rolls aren’t just recycled—they’re revived, reimagined, and ready for tree-trimming joy.

Quick Tips: Getting Ready for Ornament-Making With Kids

Spread out the newspaper, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for giggles! Prepping for a Christmas ornament session with kids sets the mood for fun and keeps things stress-free. A little planning helps everyone—toddlers, grade-schoolers, or big kids—take part safely and with big smiles.

 

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Gathering Supplies Before You Call the Kids Over

Before inviting tiny helpers to the table, gather everything you’ll need. This keeps little hands from wandering through drawers or scurrying off mid-project.

• Toilet paper rolls (clean and dry)
• Washable markers or crayons
• Non-toxic paints
• Safety scissors (rounded tips for toddlers)
• White glue or glue sticks
• Yarn, ribbons, or string
• Googly eyes, buttons, pom-poms
• Newspapers or old sheets for the table

Having materials ready keeps the excitement high and the waiting to a minimum. If you want more helpful hints on choosing age-friendly supplies and prepping, these arts and crafts tips for families will help you start out strong.

Prepping the Toilet Paper Rolls

Give each roll a quick check. Make sure they’re sturdy and free of leftover tissue. For younger kids, cut the tubes ahead into smaller rings or shapes, so their focus can stay on the fun of decorating.

• Flatten rolls gently to make painting easier.
• Use adult scissors for tricky cuts or notches.
• Consider pre-cutting string holes if you’ll be hanging the finished ornaments.

If your child is older and ready for careful scissor use, let them cut their own shapes (with supervision). For toddlers, it’s safest for parents to handle all cutting tasks in advance.

Taming the Mess Before It Starts

Let’s be real: glue, paint, and paper bits love to travel. Keep the chaos in check by setting up a dedicated workspace.

• Cover the table with newspaper, a washable mat, or an old bedsheet.
• Keep damp cloths or baby wipes nearby for quick cleanups.
• Use shallow bins or trays to corral supplies.

Expect a little mess—it means the fun is real! If you’d like more tips on simple mess management, you’ll find plenty of creative ideas in this guide on mess-free crafts for kids.

Safety First for Every Age

Safety makes everyone happier, especially curious toddlers. Some quick pointers:

• Always supervise kids, even older ones.
• Skip small decorations with little ones under three to avoid choking hazards.
• Use non-toxic, washable materials and safe, rounded scissors.
• Store sharp or strong adhesives out of reach.

You can find more details about age-appropriate choices and best practices for safe DIY time in this post on art and craft safety for children.

Inviting Kids to Create Together

Set the project’s pace so everyone has time to enjoy each step. Give each child plenty of space and their own set of supplies to minimize arguments. Let mistakes become part of the design—quirks are what make these ornaments keepsakes you'll treasure for years.

A well-set table turns a simple afternoon into an easy, memorable family tradition.

Star and Snowflake Ornaments: Classic Shapes Made Simple

Homemade ornaments fill the tree with memories, and there’s no shape more beloved at Christmas than the star or the sparkling snowflake. These shapes help little hands practice cutting and folding, while leaving plenty of room to decorate big. You don’t need fancy tools—just a pile of toilet paper rolls, some creative supplies, and a little patience as glue dries and colors mix. Let’s turn simple tubes into joyful snowflakes and stars that shine and shimmer from your tree.

How to Make Easy Toilet Paper Roll Snowflakes: Walk through simple snowflake shapes for small hands. Suggest ways to decorate with paint, glitter, or sequins.

 

Photo by Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare

Snowflakes are a favorite for toddlers and younger kids. Each one turns out unique and can be as simple or detailed as you want. Here’s my favorite process for making snowflakes from toilet paper rolls:

1. Flatten the tube and cut it into rings, about half an inch wide.
2. For a classic snowflake, use 6 rings. Pinch them into points so each section looks like a flower petal or teardrop.
3. Arrange the rings in a round shape, then glue where each side touches—hold for a few seconds so it sticks well.
4. Layer extra rings or smaller pieces for more “branches” if kids want a fancier snowflake.

Painting snowflakes white or silver before glueing makes them shiny and bright. Once they dry, decorating is the real fun:

• Squeeze school glue along the edges and sprinkle with glitter for a frosted look.
• Dab on sequins or tiny pom-poms as if they’re snow crystals.
• Paint with blues, purples, or gold for a pop of color.

Kids can also add popsicle sticks for extra structure or fun shapes, as shown in some tutorials like these toilet paper roll snowflake ornaments. Glitter or ribbon makes them shimmer under holiday lights. Finish each snowflake by threading a loop of yarn or ribbon through one of the holes—now it’s ready to hang.

Folded Star Ornaments for Sparkle and Shine: Show the process of creating and assembling the star shape. Suggest finishing touches: colorful ties, raffia, buttons, or bells.

When making stars, I love folding and layering toilet paper roll pieces to create a dimensional effect. Kids love to see flat cardboard transform into something that pops out from the tree. Here’s a simple step-by-step for making classic five-point stars:

1. Start with a clean tube and flatten it. Cut the tube into rings, then cut each ring open so you get five strips.
2. Fold each strip in half (so the bend is crisp), then pinch the ends to make the star’s arms.
3. Lay out the five folded strips in a star shape, with the pointed ends meeting in the center.
4. Use a glue gun (adults should help!) or tacky glue to secure where the arms overlap.

Once the star dries, let the fun part begin:

• Paint the star bright yellow, metallic silver, or in a rainbow of shades.
• Add sparkle with glue and chunky glitter on the tips.
• Tie on raffia, colorful baker’s twine, or yarn for hanging.
• Hot glue on a button, bead, or jingle bell right in the middle.

For more inspiration, the idea of combining different materials, like folded fabric stars, can spark new ways to use ribbon, felt, or even scraps from old clothes. Every star ornament becomes a memory, sparkling with personality and a sense of pride each time you look at your Christmas tree.

Animal and Character Ornaments: Reindeer, Angels, and More

Turning a humble toilet paper roll into a character that brings smiles is like sprinkling a little extra holiday joy around the house. Animal shapes and classic Christmas figures let your kids give each ornament a face, a silly style, or just a dash of sparkle that’s all their own. Whether you’re aiming for reindeer with wobbly antlers, angels with shiny wings, or Santas with big white beards, these ideas use simple supplies and a lot of imagination.

DIY Reindeer Ornaments With Personality

 

Photo by cottonbro studio

Bringing Rudolph and his friends to the tree is easier than you might think. Start with a painted toilet paper roll—brown is classic, but your child might want rainbow reindeer or even a blue one. Once dry, set out the extras:

• Glue on googly eyes or draw big friendly eyes with a marker.
• Stick a red pom-pom or bead for the nose—Rudolph needs his signature shine!
• Cut short twigs or twist brown pipe cleaners for antlers and glue them to the top or sides.
• Add a smile or a silly tongue for extra expression.

Get creative with poses! Use pipe cleaners as legs to make your reindeer stand. Lay your roll flat and glue felt hooves underneath if you’d rather hang it on the tree. For even more character, let kids glue on a bow tie or scarf from tiny scrap fabric.

Kids can find adorable inspiration and templates for reindeer ornaments in this guide to toilet paper roll reindeer crafts. Mixing and matching supplies turns every reindeer into a unique member of your own North Pole herd.

Making Toilet Paper Roll Angels and Santas

Toilet paper rolls become magical when you turn them into angels or Santas. For angels, paint the roll white, cream, or pale yellow. Once the base is dry, show kids how to use simple materials for the details:

• Cut big wings out of white or gold paper and glue on the back.
• Draw a sweet face with a rosy nose and cheeks.
• Wrap shiny tinsel or metallic pipe cleaner for a halo.
• Dress the angel in a skirt made from doilies, tissue, or even cupcake liners.

Santas are just as easy and fun. Paint the roll in red for his suit, leave a strip plain for the face, and add a black belt with a buckle using marker or a paper strip. Ideas to finish Santa:

• Glue on a cotton ball or white yarn for the beard.
• Make a cone-shaped hat from red paper and glue on a bit of cotton at the tip.
• Draw or glue eyes, and add pink for chubby cheeks.
• Use a scrap of felt for Santa’s mittens or boots.

Explore more ideas with this handy tutorial for a paper roll angel that breaks down each step for a keepsake you'll love to hang. With every character you make, kids can tell a Christmas story through their ornaments—each roll becomes a tiny friend to celebrate the season.

Let your kids dream up extras, like elves with pointy hats and ears or even a snowman family with scarves and top hats. The simpler you keep the supplies, the bigger their imagination can grow.

Creative Touches: Turning Ornaments Into Keepsakes

A simple cardboard tube, when decorated by tiny hands, becomes much more than an ornament. It turns into a story, a memory, or even a little treasure. The real beauty of homemade Christmas ornaments is how easy they are to make unique for every child and every year. I always encourage adding personal details, using old craft bits, or even bringing in unexpected materials from around the home. These creative touches transform a fun afternoon into a bundle of keepsakes you’ll love uncovering each December.

 

Photo by Any Lane

Adding Names, Dates, and Glittery Initials

Kids light up seeing their name, the year, or their initials on an ornament. It gives every decoration a personal touch no store-bought option can match. Try these simple ideas for writing on ornaments:

• Use permanent markers or metallic paint pens to add names or dates.
• Cut glittery letters from sticky foam sheets for initials that sparkle.
• Write a short holiday message, like “Merry Christmas 2024,” along the edge.

Markers in gold, silver, or red really pop against painted cardboard. For more inspiration, browse creative ways to personalize homemade ornaments and see what catches your eye on this board of personalized Christmas ornament ideas.

Handprints, Self-Portraits, and Photos

Little hands grow fast, but a painted handprint or traced shape helps remember just how small they once were. Here are my favorite ways to preserve those moments:

• Coat a palm in white paint and press onto a painted ornament for a snowman “handprint.”
• Draw faces, add real yarn hair, or let your child make a mini self-portrait on each roll.
• Print wallet-sized family photos and glue them to the finished ornament, bordered by glitter or ribbon.

Each year, these keepsakes show a timeline of growing kids and changing styles.

Using Leftover Craft Supplies and Found Materials

Turning leftovers into magic is part of the fun. I never throw out tiny scraps, old buttons, or random bits of ribbon—they all find their way onto a new ornament at some point. Some ways to stretch your supplies:

• Glue mismatched buttons for eyes, noses, or snowflake centers.
• Use leftover ribbon or yarn for hanging loops or decorative bows.
• Mix torn scraps of wrapping paper into festive collages.

According to this guide on upcycled Christmas craft ideas, buttons, fabric remnants, and even tags from gifts can spark new creations. Using what’s at hand teaches kids about reusing and makes every ornament that much more meaningful.

Bringing Nature and Everyday Finds Into the Fun

Sometimes the best materials come from a walk outside or a search through kitchen drawers. Natural objects and forgotten bits can bring an earthy, whimsical feel to any project. Consider these easy touches:

• Tiny pinecones, acorns, or twigs glued to the top for hats, arms, or antlers.
• Small pieces of twine as scarves or belts.
• Shells, sticks, or even painted pasta shapes for extra interest.

Explore more ways to use what’s around your home in this set of eco-friendly recycled Christmas decor ideas.

Celebrate Each Child’s Personality

The best ornaments capture your child’s mood, favorite color, or even a silly joke from the season. Let siblings each choose their own style or assign a “theme” for the year—animals, superheroes, family trip memories, anything goes. Mix and match supplies, snap a photo of each creation, and write down your child’s explanation in a holiday journal. When you decorate the tree together in future years, you’ll each have a bundle of keepsakes that tell stories, not just fill branches.

Conclusion

Every toilet paper roll ornament holds the fingerprints and laughter of your child, a little reminder that joy can bloom from the simplest things. These homemade treasures bring back the feeling of small hands at work, a table sprinkled with glitter, and the sound of shared stories. With each star, snowflake, or reindeer, you’re not just decorating a tree—you’re building a collection of memories, year after year.

Let this be more than a project. Savor the mess, the crooked smiles, and the quiet moments with your kids. Invite everyone to add their own flair and look forward to pulling out these keepsakes every December. Thank you for making time to create with love. If you have a favorite ornament or a new idea, share it—your story might inspire another mom to make magic from a simple cardboard tube.

Creative Ways to Use Leftover Fabric Scraps: Cozy Projects for a Charming Home

 

Whether you’re an avid sewer or a casual crafter, chances are you’ve got a stash of leftover fabric scraps too pretty to part with. Instead of letting them sit in a bin or drawer, why not turn them into something useful, beautiful, or just plain fun? Today I’m sharing 10 cozy, family-friendly ideas that will breathe new life into your fabric bits—and add a little homemade charm to your home.

 

1. Patchwork Coasters

Small squares of leftover fabric come together beautifully in patchwork coasters. Just sew 4–6 squares together, add a layer of batting and a backing fabric, and topstitch around the edges. These not only protect your tables but also make your morning coffee or evening tea feel extra special. They’re a great project for using even tiny scraps and can be made in seasonal color themes.

Try it with: cozy flannel, cotton prints, or even denim scraps.

 

2. Fabric Bookmarks

A sweet and simple project! Cut rectangles or strips of fabric (around 2” x 6” is a good size), and add a bit of fusible interfacing or sew two fabrics back-to-back. Use pinking shears for a decorative edge or add a little ribbon loop at the top. Fabric bookmarks are lightweight, colorful, and make lovely gifts tucked into books or journals.

Perfect for: rainy day crafting or stocking stuffers.

 

3. Scrappy Garland

Bring joy to your mantel, bookshelves, or a child’s room with a fabric scrap garland. Cut triangles, hearts, or rectangles and hot glue or sew them onto twine or bias tape. Mix patterns and colors for a boho look, or go monochrome for something more modern. Hang them for parties, holidays, or just everyday whimsy.

Seasonal idea: use red and green prints for Christmas or pastels for springtime.

 

4. Lavender Sachets

Sew two small squares of fabric (around 4” x 4”), leave a small opening, and stuff with dried lavender, rice, or polyfill scented with essential oils. Then stitch the opening closed. These are wonderful to tuck into drawers, keep with linens, or place under your pillow for a calming bedtime scent.

Bonus: These make lovely hostess gifts!

 

5. Mason Jar Covers

Give your pantry or homemade gift jars a vintage touch. Cut circles slightly larger than the jar lids, place over the top, and tie with ribbon, lace, or twine. You can also add a tag or label for an extra thoughtful touch.

Especially cute for: homemade jams, cookie mixes, or bath salts.

 

6. Fabric Magnets

Use small bits of fabric to create cute refrigerator magnets. Wrap scraps around small buttons, wooden circles, or bottle caps, and secure with glue. Add a small magnet to the back, and voilà! Fun little accents that brighten up your kitchen or workspace.

Idea: Make a set using coordinating fabrics for a cohesive look.

 

7. Scrap Fabric Wreath

Take a wire wreath form or embroidery hoop and tie strips of fabric all the way around, using a simple knot. Fluff the strips to create fullness. It’s a no-sew project that adds seasonal charm to any door or wall. Mix plaids for fall, florals for spring, or neutrals for year-round appeal.

Let kids help by picking out colors and tying knots—it’s a great group craft!

 

8. Mini Quilt or Mug Rug

A mug rug is like a little placemat for your coffee and snack—somewhere between a coaster and a quilt. Use scrap squares or strips to piece together a top, then add batting and a backing. It’s a fantastic way to practice quilting skills on a small scale and makes a cute desk or nightstand accessory.

These also make heartfelt, handmade gifts!

 

9. Hair Accessories

Make bows, headbands, or scrunchies from your scraps! You can sew a simple bow and attach it to a clip or make a quick scrunchie with a strip of fabric and elastic. These are adorable for kids, but grown-ups can enjoy them too.

Great for birthday party favors or mother-daughter craft nights.

 

10. Embellishments for Cards & Journals

Small fabric shapes can be glued onto greeting cards, scrapbook pages, or journals to add texture and a handmade flair. Use heart or flower punches for clean shapes, or simply cut small rectangles or tags. Mix them with paper, lace, or buttons for charming layers.

Tip: Store small shapes in a tin so you’re ready to craft when the mood strikes.

 

Final Thoughts

Fabric scraps may seem like clutter, but they’re really creative gold just waiting to be used. These simple projects offer ways to make your home cozier, your gifts more thoughtful, and your time more joyful—all with what you already have on hand.

So next time you finish a sewing project, don’t toss those trimmings. Embrace the beauty of a little scrap and make something meaningful.