Recycle cardboard tubes and make art
An easy, inexpensive craft that keeps kids busy and creative. Display their art on the wall, or fridge, or use it to make inexpensive personalized cards or bookmarks.
What you need:
- Recycled cardboard tubes from inside rolls of kitchen towel, gift wrap or aluminium foil etc.
- Paint (poster paint, acrylic paint or washable tempera paint)
- Recycled lids or plastic containers to pour the paint into (these need to be wider than the cardboard tube and have a flat bottom)
- A piece of paper, recycled card or card stock
What to do:
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Choose the paint colours that you want to use. Pour some paint into a flat bottomed lid or plastic container. You will need one lid/container for each different coloured paint that you use.
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Dip one end of your cardboard tube into the paint. Make sure that the end is covered with paint and then use it to print circle patterns onto your piece of paper or card.
- If you use all of the paint on your cardboard tube and want to print more circles using the same colour, dip it back into the paint.
Top tip: If the end of your cardboard tube is uneven you may need to rock it back and forth a bit to make prints on the paper/card.
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Dip the other end of the cardboard tube (or another cardboard tube) into a different coloured paint. Use it to print more circles on your piece of paper/card.
Be creative; try overlapping your printed circles or using different coloured paints.
Try using other recycled materials, e.g. empty, washed out yoghurt pots, empty egg boxes, to print different patterns.
Activity develops: Fine motor and language skills and creativity.
