Stop Tossing Toilet Paper Rolls: Turn Them Into The Cutest DIY Mini Pumpkins

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If you're someone who diligently saves old jars, scraps of wood, and even toilet paper rolls, there are probably no words that will convince you to stop. Your "someday" pile might be driving somebody else nuts, but these are the materials that crafty DIYers depend on. And every once in a while, you'll find a project so charming that it makes all the patient collecting totally worth it. You can officially stop tossing toilet paper rolls, because once you start turning them into the cutest DIY mini pumpkins, you're never going to have enough. There are a lot of clever toilet paper hacks to make fall decor, especially pumpkins. But in this version, rings of toilet paper rolls are painted, then glued and formed into a 3D pumpkin shape. 

Decide whether you'll decorate the roll before or after you cut it, then flatten the toilet paper roll in half and cut it into rings about 1/2 inch wide. You can make them thicker or thinner to get different looks. These rings will make the ribs of the pumpkin, and you'll need four rings for each one. Heavy coats of paint are often too wet for soft cardboard, so use light coats of acrylic to hand paint your favorite colors and Halloween-inspired designs. You can also decorate the rings with stars and moons, orange and black stripes, polka dots, or faces for mini jack-o-lanterns.

Once the paint is dry, dab hot glue on the inside of one ring, then nest another inside it so that they crisscross. Press together until the glue is dried, then follow the same steps to nest and glue the other two rings. They should be evenly spaced like the ribs of a real pumpkin, but they can be a little tricky to fit together and squish into shape. As a tip, try to reposition the bands before the hot glue sets entirely. When you're done gluing the rings, cup the whole pumpkin in your hands and push the sides lightly until it pops up into shape. 

To top off the look, your pumpkins will need stems. Use green or brown pipe cleaner, more painted cardboard, construction paper, or a small bow. Some other ways to make this idea your own could include using spooky fabrics and festive scrapbook paper. Cardboard works great for decoupage, so you just need a bit of Mod Podge and tissue or thin paper to cover the entire roll before slicing.

One of the most whimsical and adorable fall decor DIYs you can make, these look great on a small entryway table, along a stair rail, or piled loosely in a bowl for an easy centerpiece. You could even string them into a festive fall or Halloween garland for your mantel. Twine, jute, beads, leaves, and charms can all be used for decorations along the garland. If you're hanging them on your porch, a coat of Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Coating may help to protect them from moisture and UV rays. And it can be used for other projects, like turning toilet paper rolls into a rustic fall wreath.