DIY Project

Recycled · Christmas · Kids

Toilet roll nutcrackers

Turn empty toilet paper rolls into little nutcracker soldiers with tall hats and big painted smiles.

Toilet roll nutcrackers
LevelIntermediate
AgesAges 6 to 10
Time1 hour plus drying
Cost$0 to $6

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

  1. Step 1: Mark the sections
    1

    Mark the sections

    Draw 3 lines around the roll. Top third is the hat, a thin band is the face, and the rest is the jacket and pants.

  2. Step 2: Paint the base colors
    2

    Paint the base colors

    Paint the hat black, the face a skin color, and the jacket red. Let it dry for 15 minutes.

  3. Step 3: Add the pants
    3

    Add the pants

    Paint the bottom 1 in black or blue for the legs.

  4. Step 4: Paint the face
    4

    Paint the face

    Dot on eyes and a wide mouth with a thin brush or a marker.

  5. Step 5: Glue on the beard
    5

    Glue on the beard

    Stretch a cotton ball thin and glue it under the mouth as a beard.

  6. Step 6: Add the gold trim
    6

    Add the gold trim

    Glue strips of gold paper across the chest and around the hat. Line up the whole army on a shelf.

Edie's tip

Paint 2 coats on the face. Cardboard soaks up the first one.

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