Paper Tube Animals

Practice paper construction in this art lesson: paper tube animals.

🎨 Studio Brief #1

Turn a toilet paper or paper towel tube into a standing animal.

🎯 Your mission

If it cracks, that's part of the story.

⚡ The twist

If it cracks, work the crack into the design.

What you'll learn · 1 of 2

Turn a toilet paper or paper towel tube into a standing animal.

What you'll learn · 2 of 2

Paint it, add paper ears and tails, and create a whole menagerie.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

paper construction3D craftingcharacter design

You will need

Construction paperGlue stickWashable markers

Step 1 of 4

Paint a paper tube the base color of your animal.

Step 2 of 4

Cut ears, wings, or horns from paper and glue them to the top.

Step 3 of 4

Draw a face with markers.

Step 4 of 4

Add a paper tail. Stand your animal up—the tube is the body!

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 The oldest known sculpture is 35,000 years old — a tiny mammoth carved from ivory.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Ruth Asawa wove sculptures out of wire she learned to bend in a kids' camp.

You did it!

Next: Paper Tube Animals (Part 2)All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Pots, cups, sinks, statues — anything you can hold started as squishy stuff.

🏆 Try this week: Sculpt with playdough or even mashed potato. The tool doesn't matter.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Tell me about the part of your sculpture you're proudest of.”

💡Share card

Share this art project

Send it to a parent looking for a 15-minute screen-free creative win.

Paper Tube Animals

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

Share this art project

Paper Tube Animals

Done with art? Try something else

Your Cart (0)