Keep Your Old Toilet Paper Rolls To DIY Adorable Fall Sunflowers

Unfortunately, the leftover tubes from toilet paper rolls quickly accumulate. But for the eco-conscious, everyday objects are constantly being saved from their fate in the trash bin. If you have an abundance of these cardboard scraps lying around, you can create a unique piece of art with toilet paper rolls and make adorable fall decor. Paper flowers are nothing new, but the shape of the tubes is perfect for an easy hack to craft sunflowers. With a pair of scissors, some hot glue, and a little paint, you'll transform the boring recyclables into simple yet beautiful home decor that's perfect for the autumn season.

While a pack of sunflower accents is about $4 at Michaels, this upcycle allows you to make similar cardboard decorations for free. Rather than overspending on fall decor, this fun project will get your home into the autumnal spirit without breaking the bank. Using paint and brushes from your existing craft supplies will prevent this DIY from costing a cent.

By making a bunch of these DIY sunflowers, you'll be able to add soft warm colors that bring the feeling of fall to your space. The flowers could be used to decorate your mantle, glued to an indoor wreath, or turned into a seasonal wall hanging. The faux florals could become a cute centerpiece or bookshelf decorations. Because they are rather small, they'll be able to fit in small corners and nooks to add decor anywhere.

For each flower you want to craft, you'll need about three empty toilet paper rolls. Two will form the petals, while the other creates the center of the sunflower. If you don't have enough toilet paper trash to make your desired number of flowers, you can also upcycle empty paper towel rolls into home decor.

Use scissors to cut all three tubes horizontally into about twelve pieces. Eight will be used to create your flower petals, and the other four will be the center of the sunflower. To give the cardboard rings more of a true sunflower petal shape, trim both ends of each into a soft point. For the center of the flower, cut the loops open to make cardboard strips. Cut many small slits into one long side of each strip. Now, begin rolling and gluing these pieces together to form a textured sunflower center. Alternatively, skip cutting and roll the strips for an easier design.

To transform empty toilet paper rolls into adorable fall decor, paint and assemble the separate pieces. Brush a yellow pigment onto both sides of the petals, and color the middle portion brown or black. Apply a dab of hot glue to the underside of the flower's center and press the tip of a petal into it. Repeat to connect all the petals onto the flower side by side. For fuller flowers with more petals, cut the tubes into smaller strips or use extra TP rolls.