Toilet paper gets used up fairly often at my house. When it's gone all that's left is those little cardboard tubes. I remember playing with them as a kid, using it as a spy glass or making it into a rain stick. But then I grew up and they just became a reminder to grab out a new roll.

Recently I've become fascinated with the idea of up-cycling or taking something old or useless and giving it a new life. So I started looking for ideas of what to do with toilet paper tubes. I saw quite a few cute crafts for kids but since I don't have any children I kept looking.

Finally I came across the idea of cutting up toilet paper tubes into strips and making beautiful wall art. After looking around and getting some inspiration I designed this flower and I'm so excited to get to share it with you!

Supplies

You will need:

a few toilet paper tubes
scissors
ruler
pencil
glue
some bobby pins
spray paint
newspaper

Step 1: Cut Tubes

First take each tube and squish it flat with your hand. This will create a crease on either side.

Then use your ruler to mark lines spaced evenly across along the creased edge. Cut out these strips so that you end up with little pointy ovals. I cut my tubes into six pieces each but feel free to do more or less of you want.

Step 2: Glue Flower Together

To make the flower start by gluing two of your ovals together at the tips and place a bobby pin on them to hold them together while they dry.

Repeat until your flower has five petals. Now set your flower aside.

Step 3: Make Stem

Now we are going to make the stem. Grab four more ovals and cut through the crease on one end of them so they open up into one long piece.

Gently flatten two of them out. They should still have a slight curve to them.

Place them so their curves face opposite directions and glue the ends together with more bobby pins. It should look like a very tall skinny "s".

Grab your other two pieces you cut open and roll them up tightly around your pencil, then take them off. They should now look like little swirls. Position one on either side of your stem where you want them and glue and bobby pin them in place.

I like to place one just a little higher than the other as I think it gives it a nice look.

Step 4: Attach Flower to Stem

To attach the stem, take one end and glue it between two of your flower petals and add bobby pins.

Allow 10 mins for your glue to dry fully then remove the bobby pins.

Step 5: Paint

If you like the look of your art and want to go a head and hang it up without painting go for it! I decided to paint mine with some spray paint I had.

You can use regular paint or spray paint. Make sure if you use spray paint that you find a well ventilated place to use it. I did mine outside.

Lay out your newspaper and spray your flower from all angles. I had to do a few coats to get it all painted. Let dry for about and hour.

That's it. Please feel free to change or add anything to your project to make it your own. I'd love to see what fun designs you come up with.

Thanks for reading!