Loo Roll Zoo Animals
Today is a very special day for Rainy Day Mum – our first ever guest post. As part of our advent activities we’re off to the zoo so I’m leaving you in the very capable hands of Maggy.
Hello! I am Maggy and I am visiting from over at Red Ted Art, where I regularly get crafty with my 2yrs and 4yrs old children, known as Pip Squeak and Red Ted. I also do lots of tutorials for teens and adults – so hopefully have something for everyone!
I am really pleased to be here today to share one of my crafts with Rainy Day Mum! Thank you for having me!!
Today we are making a Toilet Paper Roll Zoo!! I LOVE working with what I call “Loo Rolls”, as they are in abundance in our house and make for a cheap and yet surprisingly versatile crafting item. You can always use paper towl rolls cut in half if you prefer!
This craft was inspired by a book that the children love – especially my 2 year old:
I bought this book ages ago for Red Ted, who was less interested in it. Maybe it is an age thing, I don’t know? Pip Squeak (coming up to 20mths) adores it and has for quite some time. The books is simple: each double spread page has 24 animals depicted (you can see 12 on the cover). They drawn in a simple colourful style. As you turn the pages, the background changes in colour – e.g. blue, so that in that case the bunny and pig “disappear” as their body colour blends into the background colour (see cover, they are blue) and the child is asked “who is hiding?”… To mix it up a little, there is also a “Who is sleeping?” and a “Who is crying?” page etc. And the page that mine like best: “Who is backward?” For some reason, in our house this translates into “Who is showing us their bottom?”… and Pip Squeak loves tapping her bottom and saying “Po-Po” (in German). Very sweet, simple book with appeal to “design geeks”.
So.. to our craft:
Materials: Loo rolls, paint, bits of felt, glue , black marker pen for features and googly eyes (optional)
I tend to use acrylics for this kind of craft, as they don’t crumble when the children play with the animals afterwards. If you are not keen on acrylics you can mix poster paint with a little white glue (PVA glue), that also works.
The googly eyes are optional – on some of the animals I cut out paper eyes and I have to say, I prefer these, as they look more like the original book.
1. The kids painted
2. Once dried, I cut out some ears and some feet. Red Ted helped me stick on googly eyes and other features. E.g. for the lion’s mane, we cut a circular piece of felt with squiggly edges and cut a hole in the centre… For the elephant and rabbit we had painted an extra blue loo roll to cut ears from. The rabbit’s ears we glue on the elephant’s ear’s we “slotted” into “slats” we cut. And for example the cat’s ears are part of the original roll – I just cut the roll “down” – leaving two triangles.
4. And don’t forget the bottoms!!
Caution: you may be roped into making 24 animals – which quite some task… I reigned it in after 8, that was quite enough!!!!
We love our zoo and it plays happily along side our other loo roll crafts – maybe you would like to try some pirates (our favourite), monsters and penguins (ah these are not TP Rolls, but so cute!).
Do come and stop by at Red Ted Art – we would love to see you there one day or why not check out my sister site about “all things good” The Good Life Bloggers!
[custom_author=Maggy Red Ted Art]
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.