Cardboard Roll Craft Garland: DIY Quilled-Paper Inspired Garland and Star

You would think I would be more embarrassed to ask my friends and neighbors for their old toilet paper tubes for this cardboard roll craft garland (that’s  paper-quilled inspired), but I’m not. I have no shame. I just had an idea I was so excited about that even though I have three girls (and go though about a pack of toilet paper a week), it wasn’t fast enough in the time frame that I needed. Though after this year, most of us should have a lot of these hanging around. Especially after the great TP panic of 2020. Luckily, when I made this, most neighbors are used to my weirdo requests so for a while I was a cardboard collection site and built quite a stash for my project. 🙂  If you’ve ever wondered what can you make out of cardboard rolls as a craft for Christmas… this project answers that question!

I can’t wait to share this project with you because it turns out so cool, looks high-end for a bunch of cardboard tubes glued together, and it cost almost nothing to make. It’s actually a really green  easy craft too, because it uses up something most people don’t even bother to recycle, they just throw away. It’s really a trash to treasure type of DIY.

You will need about 30 toilet rolls or paper towel rolls. Start asking. You can really get the kids on board too with some toilet paper roll crafts.

Make it: How to turn cardboard into hand-drawn star ornaments

Cut the paper towel tubes/toilet paper tubes as evenly as you can into 1/2 inch sections with a pair of scissors. They should be easy to cut a part since the cardboard isn’t as thick as a craft roll from something like wrapping paper.

To make the garland, start at the  top and glue the cut cardboard roll sections in this slightly off set flower pattern.This could be a cute craft for kids too, and keep them busy. You can use a dot of hot glue on each piece to hold your chain, but I found white tacky glue works just as well, it just has a slightly longer dry time.

Start adding and gluing pieces of cardboard alternately. As it builds it snakes around a little. It’s ok to have it bend a little, but keeping the cardboard chain as straight as possible while drying will make your chain look the best.

I glued them in a star pattern to create an accent piece to go with the garland. These would se so cute to hang in a kid’s room for the holiday season. They end up looking like a cross between cardboard stars and snowflakes.

Working your way out to the edge, you can make your star or snowflake as big as you like. These  After the glue is dried, paint with gold spray paint in a well ventilated area. I did mine in the yard. You could paint this with craft paints, but spray paint is faster. These almost look like metal sculptures when you are done. These would also be really cool in fun and bright colors.

Once it’s dry, hang! I styled my cardboard roll garland by draping it over a mirror. It has a very gentle bend to it. On the mirror I hung a boxwood wreath and put the cardboard star over it.

It’s hard to believe it’s made from cardboard craft rolls. I love how it looks so simple! It really looks like it’s made from metal.  This cardboard roll craft garland definitely a winner in the toilet paper tube crafts hall of fame.

Ignore me, just standing there, taking a picture.

I put the large one over my boxwood wreath to make it pop a bit.

This is one of my favorite no to low cost cardboard craft project. Cardboard is a such a great medium to make things out of and with all of the deliveries we get,  there is certainly a surplus!

I love something that is so inexpensive, but looks really pricey. So start calling your neighbors!!! Tell them you need their toilet paper rolls… it’s for Christmas decor and see what they say!

Want more holiday craft and decorating ideas? Check out my book Creatively Christmas!