Paper Butterfly Toilet Roll Craft

My 4 year old daughter has been learning about bugs in her latest learning topic from school and she asked if we could make on theme. After looking through our arts and crafts box and recycling tub we decided on making a butterfly.

I cut out two wings out of black paper.

She then used different items to draw around on coloured paper.

I also showed her how to fold paper into four so she could cut out two identical shapes, she tried hearts and diamonds.

She got to practice using scissors as well as learning about shapes and symmetry.

Once she was happy she glued the shapes to the black wings and then we attached them to a toilet roll tube with sellotape.

Finally, she drew on a little face to complete her butterfly.

It was a super simple activity that she really enjoyed and time well spent on a rainy day.

Easy Toilet Roll Craft - Making Bangles and Bracelets for Play Shop Display

After days and days of glorious weather, the sun is having a day off! We've spent lots of time outside enjoying the sunshine and the children playing in the garden so now the weather's changed my daughter needed something to keep her occupied indoors.

When we're outside together she is constantly wanting to play shop or café. Using her imagination to tell me the day's specials, take my order and then run to the playhouse to get everything ready.

As she loves playing shop and also enjoys making things we decided to pass a few hours decorating some toilet roll tubes into bracelets and bangles ready to play jewellery shop.

All we needed was:

2 or 3 toilet roll tubes

1 kitchen roll tube

Some Sharpies, felt tips and/or paint

Glue (we used Modge Podge)

Anything available for decoration, we used buttons, sequins, ribbon, glitter and bits from old greetings cards.

I painted the kitchen roll tube white so the bracelets and bangles would show up better on her display.

Then I cut the toilet rolls, first to open them up and then into different shaped rounds.

We then had fun decorating them in lots of different designs.

Once any glue and paint was dry my daughter could display them on the kitchen roll stand ready to play shop.

This was so cheap and easy, and she had so much fun. And after spending time together doing the making she now gets to use what she's made in a game of jewellery shop.