In this blog, we’re sharing a step by step guide to make recycled cardboard roll flowers. Everyone loves these eco glitter flowers! Perfect for gifts like Mother’s Day or Christmas, or a posy of long-lasting flowers to brighten any space. We run this activity with children 3-5 years old but it can be adapted to any age group. It’s a great way to show children reusing in action and uses up all those toilet rolls lying around.
This activity supports children’s fine-motor skills and fosters their sense of agency and creativity. We use a biodegradable glitter, BioglitterTM to make the flowers shine and sparkle. This provides a learning opportunity to explore the environmental impacts of microplastics like glitter, with children. For more information on how to switch to biodegradable glitter, see our Guide to Sparkling Responsibly.
What you’ll need:
- Toilet paper rolls or other cardboard rolls
- BioglitterTM or other biodegradable glitter
- Paint brush
- Kids craft glue or glue gun
- Wooden sticks, skewers or chopsticks
- Kids craft paint (optional)
- Old button (optional)
- Pot or jar to display your flowers (optional)
- Sand, small rocks or pebbles (optional)
Step 1: Cut the roll
Press the cardboard tube to make it semi-flat and then cut the roll into even strips. These will be the petals and leaves of the flower.
Step 2: Decorate your petals
If you are going to paint the petals or leaves, this is a good time to do it. Then let it dry. Add glue and eco glitter to your petals and leaves.
Step 3: Glue the petals together
Add a small amount of glue to the bottom edges of the petals and glue together to form a flower. A hot glue gun makes this task quick and easy. Leave to dry
Step 4: Add the pistil
Make the centre of the flower (called a Pistil) and glue this on. You can use old buttons to make the Pistil, or cut out old cardboard in a circle and add some glue and glitter.
Step 5: Put it all together
Glue the flower to the stem. If you are adding leaves, glue them to the stem. Leave to dry.
A great way to display or gift your flowers is to put them in a jar with some sand, small rocks or pebbles – cute!
The glitter used in this activity is Bioglitter™ from Glitterazzi, Melbourne, Australia. We are not affiliated or sponsored by Bioglitter™ or Glitterazzi in any way. But we love what they do! Buy Bioglitter™ from Glitterazzi in Australia.
We used Who Gives a Crap toilet paper for the cardboard roll flowers because not only is their toilet paper kind to trees, but they also give 50% of profits to building toilets in the developing world. Their toilet paper also comes wrapped in paper that’s great for reusing in arts and crafts!
If you try this activity, we’d love to see your pics! Please tags us @thelittlesproutsprogram on Facebook or Instagram.
