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Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

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5 from 12 votes
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Easy to make Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

Sometimes things just hit me. Take these cardboard tube coiled snakes as an example. I’m not sure why, but all of a sudden my mind said: “Hey, I think a cardboard tube cut into a coil would make a really adorable snake craft!”

It’s probably no surprise since I really do love turning cardboard tubes into something with character. So I hit the craft room, found a few tubes and some colorful paint, and today we have cute little colorful cardboard tube coiled snakes made from toilet paper rolls.

Orange, green and blue Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes!

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

This cardboard tube coiled snakes craft is a great way to teach kids the importance of recycling all while feeding their creative minds. This would make a great camp craft or activity for boys and girls alike. Or you can teach them about snakes in the classroom while they create recycled cardboard tube coiled snakes of their own!

You can use any colors you like. I chose bright colors for these just for the fun of it!

Easy to make Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

FIND THE FULL PRINTABLE VERSION AT THE END OF THIS POST!

What you’ll need to make Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes


Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes Steps 1 and 2

Paint the inside and outside of the cardboard tubes. You might need a second coat, just depends on the brand of paint you use and the color. Cut the tubes into coils, but if your cardboard is still a little damp it might not hold it’s round shape while you cut. Don’t panic! I’ve got you covered…

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes Steps 3 and 4

Take a tube from wrapping paper, or something similar, and wrap the cut cardboard around the tube loosely. Use the handle end of a paintbrush to add polka dots with a contrasting color of paint. LET DRY. Flip over to the other side and finish your polka dots.

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes Steps 5 and 6

Remove from the tube and wrap the painted cardboard in coil fashion around your fingers. Here’s where you can play with it a bit and position it the way you want to. Paint the end with red and let it dry.

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes Steps 7 and 8

Meanwhile, glue on googly eyes, I find it easiest to add the glue with a toothpick since they are small.

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes Step 9 and 10

Now that the red paint is dry, use some small scissors to snip the red end into a forked tongue. An easier option, if your kids are smaller, is to cut a forked tongue from red construction paper, snip the end of the cardboard to cut off the point, and glue that paper tongue in place instead.

Colorful cardboard tube coiled snakes craft

When the tubes are completely dry they are a lot easier to manipulate and shape.

How to make a cardboard tube coiled snake

Stretch them out for a coiled snake on the ground, or coil them up with their head popping out! Have fun!

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes collage

There’s no shortage of cardboard tube crafts here on the blog. If you’re looking for more fun ideas to do with the kids check out the list below!

Easy to make Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes
Print Project
5 from 12 votes

Cardboard Tube Coiled Snakes

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • 3 cardboard tubes
  • Tube from wrapping paper or similar tubular item
  • 6 googly eyes
  • Toothpick
  • White craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Acrylic craft paint in colors of your choice

Instructions

  • Paint the inside and outside of the cardboard tubes. Apply a second coat if needed.
  • Cut the tubes into coils, but if your cardboard is still a little damp it might not hold it’s round shape. Using a tube from wrapping paper, or something similar, and wrap the cut cardboard around the tube loosely. Use the handle end of a paintbrush to add polka dots with a contrasting color of paint. Let dry completely then flip over to the other side and finish your polka dots.
  • Remove from the tube and wrap the painted cardboard in coil fashion around your fingers. Place coiled cardboard on the table. Paint the end with red and let it dry. Meanwhile, glue on googly eyes, adding the glue with a toothpick since they are small.
  • Now that the red paint is dry, use some small scissors to snip the red end into a forked tongue. An easier option, if your kids are smaller, is to cut a forked tongue from red construction paper, snip the end of the cardboard to cut off the point, and glue that paper tongue in place instead.

This post was originally published on this blog on May 8, 2012.

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Comments

  4. ncba says

    i an sooooo excited about doing this. [it is actually pathetic how excited i am. my excitement is inversely proportional to how pathetically dull my life is.] i am going to try this to make twirlies outside my sliding glass doors to keep birds from flying inside. they dont fly in often, but chaos breaks out when they do. my dog barks furiously and tries to get them and i run around flapping my arms and yelling to try to get them out before she does. i’ll try marine varnishing them so they won’t self destruct at the 1st rain. i dont expect them to last long, but then i will get to make more which is even more exciting!!

    Reply

  5. Kim says

    I really like your crafts for my preschool kids but I wish you had a print option. I am having to copy and paste the crafts I like so I can print them and put them in my project book.

    Reply

    • Amanda Formaro says

      Thank you for pointing that out Kim. Some of my older projects didn’t have the printable version like the rest of them do and this was one of them. I’ve gone ahead and updated it so it has it now. :)

      Reply

  7. The Educational Tourist says

    Love this fun craft! If you use markers instead of paint (just because of the mess) it would be a great road trip activity or one before a trip to see snake charmers in Morocco!

    Thanks for sharing your creative idea!
    Natalie, The Educational Tourist

    Reply

    • Amanda Formaro says

      Hi natalie :) Markers would be fun, but the coils wouldn’t hold their shape. The paint is the secret weapon. Painting cardboard gets the cardboard wet, then you can shape it and it will dry to that shape and remain stiff.

      Reply

  12. Rebecca R. says

    So I really want to make these for my childcare kids, but I definitely don’t have access to 40 something toilet paper rolls. Any other way or material I could use instead?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  15. jet says

    cute. I think when you use old plastic containers and cut them like you did in a coil then you will have outside garden/balcony snakes.XD
    like this, thank you for the tute and the sharing;XD

    Reply

  18. Amandalishous says

    We are so doing this for Chinese New Year, this is the year of the snake….thinking reds and golds with glitter!!!

    Reply

  22. Kelly Showalter says

    Thank you so much for sharing such a cute craft! I tried this with my 2nd grade 21st Century Summer School students today, during Arts & Crafts. They totally loved it! The K/1st graders were looking at the snakes and can’t wait until they make it tomorrow! Such a winning craft with our school! Keep posting the great ideas! :-)

    Reply

  24. Jennifer Green says

    I just love these! I was searching for a snake craft for my Sunday School class for the story about Moses and the rebellious Israelites in the wilderness when God sent fiery serpents among the people and many of them died. The Israelites cried out to God to forgive them and God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a stick and lift it up. All the people had to do was look at it and they would be saved. Kind of a rough story for kids so I was looking for something cute. This is perfect! Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply

  27. Karen Howard says

    These are so cute-you could even wrap them around your wrist & wear as a bracelet! Adorable!

    Reply

  28. Terri says

    These are so cute! My girls and I are big fans of cardboard tube crafts. This is definitely going on the list of craft projects we want to do!

    Reply

  31. Katrina says

    Well, you got me with snakes. I NEVER would have guessed snakes. And I wouldn’t have thought maybe you were going to cut the tubes. ;)

    Reply

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