Mixed Media Painting Using Toilet Paper Rolls

Recycling Those Throw-Aways Into Flower Power Art Projects!

© Jenn Greenleaf

Mar 6, 2009

Rather than throwing away those toilet paper rolls, start collecting them in a shoebox or a plastic container for simple arts and crafts projects. There are so many ways to craft with these rolls, including incorporating them into mixed media paintings. Not only is this project kid-friendly, it is also an opportunity to teach about the importance of recycling.

Toilet Paper Roll Project Materials

• Stretched canvas or canvas board (any size 4 in. x 4 in. is fine)
• Newspapers to cover workspace
• Acrylic paint
• Paint or sponge brushes
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Scissors
• Bone folder
• Small containers of water
• Green tissue paper
• Green glitter glue
• White glue or gel medium adhesive
• Old book pages
• Distress ink (in a spray bottle)
• Iridescent beads (they look like smooshed marbles)

Toilet Paper Roll Project Instructions

1. Create deckled edges on the book pages by tearing them right along their edges. Place them on top of the canvas so there is no white showing in order to figure out how many pages are needed. Remove the book pages and set them on newspaper. Spray each book page lightly with distress ink. Set them aside to dry completely.
2. Take out one or two toilet paper rolls, and make seven cuts that are about a thumb width apart and leaving about an inch and a half at the bottom of the tube. Bend each piece back to form the flower.
3. Flip the toilet paper roll over and make four equally spaced cuts about a half an inch long, and then fold each cut piece inward toward the center of the flower. This creates a base for gluing the flower head to the canvas.
4. Round our or scallop the ends of each flower pedal, paint them a color of your choice, and set the piece aside to dry completely. [Note: a round corner punch will work great here.]
5. Cover over the canvas with the book pages using white glue or gel medium. Smooth out any bubbles and creases using a bone folder. Apply a color wash (choose a jewel tone for a bold look) on the edges of the piece, and paint the edge black.
6. Add hot glue to the back of the center of the flower head, and press it into the top right corner of the canvas. Add a dob of hot glue to the back of each flower pedal’s tip, and press it down on to the canvas.
7. Add a dob of hot glue to the back of each bead before placing them on to the flower pedals. Add one to the tip of each flower pedal and, if it doesn’t seem to be enough, add another.
8. Hand paint a flower stem and leaves. Allow it to dry completely, and then trace it with green glitter glue.
9. Hot glue a ball of green tissue paper to the center of the flower head (any color tissue paper will work fine depending on the look you’re going after).
10. Paint colorful dots all around the painting use a paintbrush with an angled head or the edge of a sponge brush.

Toilet Paper Roll Project Variations

• Add floral brads randomly on to the old book pages before adhering them to the canvas.
• Use decorative paper, rather than old book pages.
• Add glitter glue to the edges of the flower pedals in addition to the flower’s stem.
• Use more than one flower head, rather than just one.
• Embellish the piece further using seed beads and white craft glue (you may need to use a needle or tweezers for placement).

Use these mixed media paintings as Mother’s Day gifts, baby shower gifts, Easter gifts, or birthday gifts. Remember, whenever using a hot glue gun, children should stand back and allow the parents to handle this. There are some really strong kid-friendly adhesives available for those who choose to forgo the hot glue gun. Customer service representatives at craft stores have great suggestions for alternatives.

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