Paper Towel Role Caterpillar

This paper towel role craft project was one of the most fun we’ve done in awhile. Sophie had a ball with this craft and I loved it too because it was practically mess free! It involves gluing tissue paper on a paper towel role to make a colorful caterpillar. Usually when an art project is complete it just gets hung on the fridge but at the end of this art project Sophie had a new friend to play with! She played with her caterpillar all afternoon in the backyard.

The supply list is below but this is one of those projects that you can modify to use any art supplies you have on hand around the house so get creative!

Paper Towel Role Caterpillar Supplies

Paper Towel role
Several different colors of tissue paper
Glue stick
Hot glue gun
Pipe cleaners
Craft foam
Googly eyes
Bead for nose
Pom Pom (optional)

How to Make a Caterpillar from a Paper Towel Role

Let your child tear the tissue paper into small pieces and glue on to the paper towel role with a glue stick. Help them wrap 6-8 pipe cleaners around the body to make the legs. Cut a round circle for the face from a piece of craft foam and use a hot glue gun to attach it to one end. Add facial features using googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beads or any other craft supplies of your choice. (I hot glued these on while Sophie watched.)Bend one short section of pipe cleaner into a V shape and glue behind the head for an antenna. Sophie wanted her caterpillar to have a tail so we glued a pom-pom on the back! Pink of course!

As soon as we were done she was off to play with her new friend in the backyard.

Notice that his mouth is “open” rather than just being a U shape. Sophie specifically told me she wanted him to have a “talking mouth” so he could talk to her. Later we found that is also enabled him to eat. She took him in the yard and stuffed tiny bits of flowers into his mouth. Don’t tell her Daddy she was picking flowers from his yard! She even fixed him a lunch of leaves and acorns.

I picked Sophie’s hat up at Target’s dollar section 2 years ago at Easter time and it’s one of her favorite dress up accessories. Definitely need to grab her a new one this Easter… These pictures were obviously taken before the cold snap hit!