I’ve been pinning toilet paper roll projects for months now because, let’s face it…the thought of making something this gorgeous out of bathroom garbage makes our little hearts go pitter-patter, it’s the ultimate rags to riches craft story…but can I just be totally honest for a moment? The idea of saving rolls for months on end to create something crafty makes me want to gag.
I know. Patience isn’t a strength of mine.
When it comes to project inspiration, if it catches my attention…I want to do it NOW. Not in several weeks when my kids have used entirely too many sheets of toilet paper for 3 drops of pee, and plowed through an indecent amount of TP rolls for a little household of 4.
So while packing away Christmas paraphernalia last week, I spotted the two rolls of cheap wrapping paper I’d picked up a couple of days before Christmas – because last.minute.shopper is my middle name – and brilliance struck! Why save 3,256 toilet paper rolls…when you could simply cut up two cardboard tubes from wrapping paper?
Woah! You’re welcome.
Paper towel tubes work well too.
So, start gathering your tubes, people, and start creating fantasmagorical pieces of wall art! There is SO much out there in the line of creation ideas that if you simply search Pinterest for “Toilet Paper Wall Art”, you’ll be inspired to go purchase cheap wrapping paper simply for the tubes.
It was so fun watching the excitement bubble over the photos I was posting on Instagram and facebook as I chopped and assembled this mirror a few days ago…who knew toilet paper rolls could be so exciting?
I built mine based on this tutorial and design, simply tweaking the outside portion because I ran out of pieces, and actually really love the way it turned out.
What you’ll need to create a mirror like mine:
-
2 long tubes from wrapping paper rolls (or a good 20+ toilet paper rolls)
-
a 10 inch mirror (only $5 with a coupon)
-
a 10 inch embroidery hoop (less than $2.00)
-
a glue gun & glue sticks
-
spray paint
-
command strips (for mounting to the wall)
Start by flattening out your tubes by pinching the sides and running something smooth and solid down the length of the tube.
Then measure out your tube into 1/2 inch sections, simply leaving a dot as a guide. I cut mine with scissors because neither of my slicers took well to the thickness of the tube.
Use your glue gun to attach 4 flattened rings to each other – two little strips of glue on two inside ends of the ring will do, so you’ll actually only apply glue to two of the rings, attaching the remaining two rings in between those. Cindy has a fantastic tutorial on her blog, so I figured I’d just give you basics and not reinvent the wheel.
Stack those babies up until you have 26 circles (of 4 rings each), and then you’ll need 13 single rings to finish off the border. I used exactly 117 ‘rings’ to create my mirror.
Place your mirror on a flat surface (simply as a guide), and start attaching your completed circles to each other around the mirror with a dab of glue. You’ll fit 13 full circles around the mirror, and another 13 in the grooves around those, making two layers of circles. If you had more rolls/rings, you could keep going and really create a massive masterpiece.
I filled in the spaces with the remaining 13 single rings by simply gluing them in the small slits in between the rings, but the options are endless…there really is no right or wrong way to do this part.
I had a few rings left over (but not enough for an additional 13 rounds), so I created a little something extra for my studio…
Once the border of your mirror is completed, you can spray paint that and the 10 inch embroidery hoop.
If you’re not an embroidery person like me, don’t keep looking for a plain hoop that comes without the metal clasp…we simply use the inside wooden ring for this project. I have yet to figure out what to do with the outside hoop.
You’ll then attach your hoop to the mirror with your glue gun (it sits perfectly on the outside bevel of the mirror) – I sealed mine with an extra ‘seam’ of glue around the outside, where they touch.
Then place your TP roll design around your hoop & mirror and attach it with little dabs of hot glue to the hoop (you’ll want to make sure it lays flat against your surface so it’ll lay flat against the wall when you hang it).
Then simply use command wall strips to attach it to your wall. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Sure, changing the toilet paper roll doesn’t cause brain damage and we’re trying to get men worldwide to realize this…but when life DOES hand you empty toilet paper rolls…just create something lovely. Then smile when people admire your expensive wrought iron scrollwork mirror.
{If you’re feeling really…and I mean REALLY…adventurous and motivated with your toilet paper rolls, why not give this a whirl}
