If you need activities to make with cardboard tubes or simple Valentine’s Day crafts for children, this paper roll love bug project is just what you need.
This uncomplicated recycled Valentine project offers plenty of opportunities for creativity. It is easy enough for preschool children and enjoyable for older kids as well.
Cardboard tubes can be transformed into countless Valentine’s Day projects. Place heart stickers on them to make cute heart-shaped mice, or decorate them as robots.
We also created a three-dimensional heart flower arrangement using a paper tube. Although it makes a lovely Valentine project, it can also be used for Mother’s Day.
Alternative materials
If some of the supplies listed for this paper roll love bug project are unavailable, consider these substitute options:
- googly eyes – sketch the eyes using a black marker
- wooden clothespins – use a pipe cleaner instead. Create two openings near the top of the paper roll and thread a pipe cleaner through them to form the antennae.
- colored doilies – make a circle from colored or white paper, then let the children decorate it with crayons or paint before attaching it to the back of the paper roll
Paper tube love bug project
What you’ll need:
Steps for making Valentine love bugs
First, coat the paper rolls in white paint and leave them to dry fully.
Draw heart shapes onto red paper, then trim them out.
Attach the hearts near the lower part of the paper rolls with glue.
Place the googly eyes near the top of each paper roll.
With a black marker, draw a smiling mouth below the eyes.
Secure a colorful doily to the rear of the paper roll.
Color two wooden clothespins in any shade you prefer. After they dry, attach coordinating pom-poms to their tops with glue.
Fasten the clothespins in place to serve as antennae.
Supplies
- cardboard tube
- craft paint: white and red (or another color you prefer)
- red construction paper
- black felt-tip marker
- wiggle eyes
- tiny wooden clothespins
- pom-poms
- small colorful doilies
- craft glue
Directions
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- Begin by painting the paper rolls white, then leave them to dry completely.
- Outline hearts on red paper and cut out the shapes.
- Glue the hearts onto the lower sections of the paper rolls.
- Position the googly eyes at the upper part of the paper rolls.
- Draw a smiling mouth below the eyes with a black marker.
- Attach a colored doily to the back of the paper roll.
- Paint two wooden clothespins in your chosen color. Once dry, glue matching pom-poms onto their tops.
- Use the clothespins as the antennae by attaching them to the roll.
Helpful notes
Alternative materials
If you are missing any supplies from the list for this paper roll love bug project, try these replacement ideas:
- googly eyes – illustrate the eyes with a black marker
- wooden clothespins – substitute a pipe cleaner. Punch two holes at the top of the paper roll and feed the pipe cleaner through them to create the antennae.
- colored doilies – cut a round shape from colored or white paper, and let the children decorate it before gluing it to the back of the paper roll