Cardboard Tube Binoculars

We’re approaching better weather every day, and while your little rugrats are experiencing cabin fever, pull this idea out of your hat and they’ll love you for it. This cardboard tube binoculars craft is a fun way to get excited for spring and summer time. What’s even better is that they can still utilize their binoculars while they’re stuck inside- similar to our DIY Kaleidoscope for kids!

Cardboard Tube Binoculars

This is such a fun and easy craft for kids, so let’s get started! You can most certainly substitute the camouflage felt with another pattern or solid color for your cardboard tube binoculars. These binoculars make a great camp craft or something fun for the kiddos to do on a rainy day. They are great for bird watching or a fun indoor adventure game too!

Looking for more fun spring crafts for kids? Try these Cardboard Tube Birds! Bursting with pretty spring colors, these cardboard tube birds go hand in hand with your kid’s binoculars.

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What you need for Cardboard Tube Binoculars

• 2 cardboard tube bathroom tissue tubes
• 1 sheet camouflage felt
• scissors
• white craft glue
• craft foam to match your felt
• 6 rubber bands
• 40″ piece of twine or yarn
• pen

Tip: If you like the idea of the camouflage felt but can’t find it, you can make your own by gluing different shades of the same color onto a like piece of felt or construction paper.

• Lay felt, design side down, on the work surface and cut felt in half.
• Roll up the cardboard tube inside the felt, gluing as you go. Trim off excess. Repeat for the other tube.
• Cut a strip of craft foam long enough to go around the end of the tube, about 3/4” wide. Glue the strip around the end of the cardboard tube, lining up the felt seam with the craft foam strip seam.

• Secure with a rubber band. Repeat for the other tube.
• Cut another strip long enough to go around the opposite end of the tube, only this time cut it 1/2” wide. Glue as above and secure with a rubber band.
• Place the tubes side by sides with the seams facing each other. Put a rubber band around both tubes to hold them in place.
• Use a pen to poke a hole in the side of the tube, about 1/2” below the 1/2” wide craft foam strip. Insert the end of your twine into the hole from the outside of the tube. Bring it through the tube and tie a double knot. Trim off excess and gently pull the twine taut. The knot will keep the twine from coming back out through the hole. Repeat on the other side.
• Pipe a generous amount of white craft glue in between the two tubes, lip over and do the other side as well. Let them dry completely, several hours or overnight, before removing the rubber bands and using your binoculars.

 I hope you enjoy the fun experience of creating your very own pair of binoculars. Let your children use their imagination, all while teaching them the importance of recycling and reusing by making this awesome recycled craft, you can even use these as a fun Earth Day craft for kids!

You can find tons more cardboard tube crafts for kids like these Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes, these Cardboard Tube Farm Animals, or this Cardboard Tube Batman.

This post was originally published on this blog on Feb. 21, 2011.

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Cardboard Tube Binoculars

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

• 2 cardboard bathroom tissue tubes
• 1 sheet camouflage felt
• Scissors
• White craft glue
• Craft foam to match your felt
• 6 rubber bands
• 40 ” piece of twine or yarn
• Pen

Instructions

• Lay felt, design side down, on the work surface and cut felt in half.
• Roll up the cardboard tube inside the felt, gluing as you go. Trim off excess. Repeat for the other tube.
• Cut a strip of craft foam long enough to go around the end of the tube, about 3/4” wide. Glue the strip around the end of the cardboard tube, lining up the felt seam with the craft foam strip seam.
• Secure with a rubber band. Repeat for the other tube.
• Cut another strip long enough to go around the opposite end of the tube, only this time cut it 1/2” wide. Glue as above and secure with a rubber band.
• Place the tubes side by sides with the seams facing each other. Put a rubber band around both tubes to hold them in place.
• Use a pen to poke a hole in the side of the tube, about 1/2” below the 1/2” wide craft foam strip. Insert the end of your twine into the hole from the outside of the tube. Bring it through the tube and tie a double knot. Trim off excess and gently pull the twine taut. The knot will keep the twine from coming back out through the hole. Repeat on the other side.
• Pipe a generous amount of white craft glue in between the two tubes, lip over and do the other side as well. Let them dry completely, several hours or overnight, before removing the rubber bands and using your binoculars.