Sometimes things just hit me. Take these cardboard 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 snakes made from toilet paper rolls.
You can use any colors you like. I chose bright colors for these just for the fun of it. 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. :) 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 on the other side and finish your polka dots.
Remove from 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. Meanwhile, glue on googly eyes, I find it easiest to add 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.
When the tubes are completely dry they are a lot easier to manipulate and shape. Stretch them out for a coiled snake on the ground, or coil them up with their head popping out!
Have fun!
- 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
- Paint the inside and outside of the cardboard tubes. Apply 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 on the other side and finish your polka dots.
- Remove from tube and wrap the painted cardboard in coil fashion around your fingers. Place coiled cardboard on table. Paint the end with red and let it dry. Meanwhile, glue on goggly 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 card board to cut off the point, and glue that paper tongue in place instead.
Amanda Formaro
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Love the snake, my wife and kids made their own version using Yogurt Pots – We would love for you to have a go and let us know what you think http://www.diythought.com/yogurt-pot-snake/
Hi Paul,
They are really cute, keep crafting!
but it was VERY hard cuting it.. it looks weird now.. i have no eyes on it thou XP
I’m sorry you had trouble with it. A good sharp pair of scissors is best and if you cut before they are completely dry and hardened it’s easier :)
this looks awesome!!
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!!
Haha that is SOOO fun!
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.
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. :)
So cute!!!! Could you do the dots before you cut? That would be much easier…or wouldn’t that work?
I don’t see why not! :)
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
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.
Simple yet creative. The kids will enjoy doing this.
Thank you Daulva!