These adorably fluffy creations are a fun and super easy craft to do with the kids. Cardboard tube lambs are also a great Easter craft that they will enjoy decorating and being able to display around the house when they are finished.
Why we love this project
These super cute lambs are made from cardboard tubes, cotton balls, felt, and pipe cleaners. They are adorable and fun to play with, and also make a great classroom project, perfect even for preschoolers. This cardboard tube craft is a fun way to teach your children the importance of recycling. A full demonstration is available on video too!
RELATED – You might also like this project – Sheep Painted Rocks
Helpful Project Information:
- Age Level: 6 and up
- Mess Factor: Medium
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Time to Complete: Less than 30 minutes
- Cost Estimate: Less than $2.00
Craft supplies you will need
How to a Make Cardboard Tube Lambs
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!
- Using the pattern, cut out the head and ears from black felt. Glue the ears to the back of the head and glue the googly eyes to the front. Set head aside.
- Roll a cotton ball briefly in your hand, then cut into 3 pieces. Cut the 3 pieces into halves or thirds. Repeat for all cotton balls. Set aside.
- Cover the cardboard tube with white craft glue. Place the pieces of cotton onto the glue until the cardboard tube is completely covered.
- Glue the head to the “front” of your cardboard tube. Glue the black pom-pom to the back for the tail.
- Cut the two black chenille stems in half. Wrap the chenille around a small paintbrush or pencil to coil it. Slide the coiled chenille off and repeat for the other three to create the legs.
- Use instant grab glue or hot glue to attach the legs inside the bottom of the cardboard tube.
Expert Crafting Tips
- If you’re worried about using toilet paper tubes, you can use paper towel tubes instead.
- This is a fun craft to turn into a mobile craft kit. Collect the supplies and add them all to a zipper seal sandwich bag. Great as a take-along project or as a party favor.
- Have leftover cotton balls? See our Handprint Lamb for Easter as well!
Easter is coming and so is spring! The fuzzy little lamb is symbolic of both, so why not sit down with your kids and put some of these fun cardboard tube lambs together.
More Easter Crafts
- Handprint Lamb for Easter
- Printable Easter Scavenger Hunt
- Handprint Easter Lily
- Cardboard Tube Chicks
- Easter Play Dough
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Cardboard Tube Lambs
Supplies
- 1/2 cardboard toilet tube
- 5-6 cotton balls
- 2 black pipe cleaners
- black felt
- 2 small wiggle eyes
- medium black pom-pom
- white craft glue
- hot glue gun or instant grab glue
- pattern for lamb head and ears
Craft tools
Instructions
- Using the pattern, cut out the head and ears from black felt. Glue the ears to the back of the head and glue eyes to the front. Set head aside.
- Roll a cotton ball briefly in your hand, then cut into 3 pieces. Cut the 3 pieces into halves or thirds. Repeat for all cotton balls. Set aside.
- Cover the cardboard tube with white craft glue. Place the pieces of cotton onto the glue until cardboard tube is completely covered.
- Glue the head to the “front” of your cardboard tube. Glue the black pom-pom to the back for the tail.
- Cut the two black chenille stems in half. Wrap the chenille around a small paintbrush or pencil to coil it. Slide the coiled chenille off and repeat for the other three to create the legs.
- Use instant grab glue or hot glue to attach the legs inside the bottom of the cardboard tube.
Video
Expert Tips & FAQs
- If you’re worried about using toilet paper tubes, you can use paper towel tubes instead.
- This is a fun craft to turn into a mobile craft kit. Collect the supplies and add them all to a zipper seal sandwich bag. Great as a take-along project or as a party favor.
This post was originally published on this blog on March 19, 2011 and has since been updated with new photos.
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GERRY says
ADORABLE!! MY SENIOR CRAFTY GROUP WILL LOVE THESE..WE’LL BE FILLING THEM W/CANDY AND BAGGING FOR “EASTER” HAND OUT..KIDS AND FAMILIES
Rosa says
Merci beaucoup Thanks you !
Marilyn Mason says
Today, the daycare preschoolers & I made the cardboard tube lambs. Thank you!
Amanda Formaro says
How fun, thanks for sharing!
Hop 'n' Play Daycare says
I cut cardboard tubes of foil, gift wrap or paper towel cardboard tubes into three tubes because teachers & child care providers were informed not to use toilet paper tubes for craft usage. The cardboard tube lambs are an adorable, easy, fun & inexpensive kid friendly Easter craft. Thank you for sharing many creative, easy, fun & affordable craft ideas with us!
Ruth Scally says
I love all your craft ideas for seniors also. I am an activity director for a large assisted living facility and my folks love your ideas. thanks
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you so much Ruth, I really appreciate that! :)
Gerry says
Every year I make my co-workers a little something for Easter..Missed this for this year..but..they’ll be getting the whole flock next year!!!!thanx
GeGe Quinn says
Thanks for the CUTE idea Amanda (and my sister for sending me link)! Im having my Sunday school kids make these for Easter. I just made one to show them and it was very easy,glad i watched video to see that i put the half of tube the right way !
admin says
That’s awesome, have fun! :) :)
kmegamom says
Hi, I just love these little lambs, but when I clicked on the link for the patterns for the face and ears it doesn’t work? I guess I can just make my own by looking at the pictures and try to get close. These are so cute, I want to try to make them with my 4 year old and 2 year old grandsons, they love crafts.
admin says
Sorry about that, I’ve updated the pattern link. Try this one :) https://craftsbyamanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lambpattern.pdf
Amanda says
I'm sorry about that. It should be fine, but someone else said there was a problem too. I would need your email address in order to grant you direct permission to the document. Sorry!
Anonymous says
I want to make these, the lamb is so cute! When I tried to open the template file, it wouldn't work. I could open the instructions link though. Is there something wrong with it? Thanks:)
The Autocrat: Haley says
Oh man! Those are just too stinkin' cute!
Brimful Curiosities says
Love the fat, fluffy look. Adorable sheep.
mermaid says
Very cute! Love them :)
RedTedArt says
Oh, these are ADORABLE!! How cute did they turn out! Fab use of the TP Roll!!
Thanks for joining Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
marybt says
Okay. That is super cute! I am printing these to put in my Sunday School craft file. Thank you for sharing!
MessyMissy says
Those turned out so cute!! I would love it if you would link this up to my Marvelous Mess party. Each party I pick one project to feature on my sidebar for a week!! Here is the link: http://bit.ly/i5BHt8
Amanda says
HI Anon – It's really something you have to experiment with. Electric vs a gas oven, differences in temperature, etc. I have had some hats curls up, and others go out flat. You have to adjust the temp and just keep trying, I do suggest doing 1 at a time until you find the right combination :)
Anonymous says
OK…so I tried the easter bonnet….mine ended up looking like pilgrim hats instead…what did i do wrong? What kind of cups…mine had ridges…HELP
Rachel at Sun Scholars says
Those are so cute!!! I love them!
I'd love to have you share this at my For the Kids Link Party! Stop by and check it out!
http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-kids-friday-3.html
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
So cute!! And you're great on video, Amanda. Good job!
Katrina says
Great vid, Amanda. I love your Chicago/Wisconsin North Midwest accent! ;) Can't wait to see more videos.
Tracy says
What a cute idea! Totally adding it to our to-do list!
My Kids Make says
cute cute cute!!!
Kelly says
This will make a perfect easter craft for my daughter!!!
xoxox
http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/
Amanda says
Thank you CaraRose! I forgot to add the pattern but just added it. Thanks for pointing that out :)
CaraRose says
cute little lamb…I don't see the pattern for the head and ears…what am I missing.
CMom says
That was great. I think I'll try it with my four year old! Thanks!
Tiffiny Felix says
Eeek! I LOVE these!! They are *so* cute! :)