Hello there!
  • From hosting a shrimp boil, celebrating holidays, making homemade scratch art paper, sewing gifts and throwing parties to cooking delicious food, you will find it all here at Skip To My Lou. The site is full of free patterns, downloads and I hope plenty of inspiration. Please hang out with me awhile and check it out!
read more >

Recycled Pillow Box Favors

Posted by  ·  August 31, 2010  ·  Last Updated: August 31, 2010
Share
Pin31
Yum
Reddit
Email
Tweet
31 Shares

You know that I save toilet paper rolls.

They can be made into so many things — mummies, rockets, Uncle Sam hats, flower party favors……………….

even cute pillow boxes perfect for a little favor!

Fold in one side of the end.

Then fold in the other side. Repeat on other end.

Open back up and give the toilet paper  roll a bit of paint. Be careful to not use too much paint if your toilet paper roll is extra thin.

Give it a nice shine with a light coat of clear spray paint.

Fill with candy and treats, fold back ends.

How about some for Halloween? The kids could have a great time making these for all of their friends.

62 COMMENTS
Filed Under: Party Favors

Leave a Comment

Comments

  1. Emily Dickinson
    Thursday, March 5th, 2015
    If you are not happy about using toilet paper rolls, please don't ruin other peoples' interest.
    Reply
  2. totee castillo
    Friday, September 26th, 2014
    Thanks for the wonderful idea on recycling those tissue roll cardboard, now I can reuse those roll left in our 40 hotel rooms. Thanks again
    Reply
  3. Aidan
    Tuesday, November 26th, 2013
    Great tips really fun things love doing them
    Reply
  4. cinnamongirl987
    Saturday, November 10th, 2012
    Germ-phobic people are doggin' the TP rolls. I tend to agree; but, paper towel rolls, while larger, would offer the same cute results!!

    I am going to make some for Christmas and paint them like candy canes.
    Reply
  5. Karina
    Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
    was looking in how to get usage of my toilet paper rolls. Thank you for helping : )
    Reply
  6. Merri
    Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
    So stinking cute! Love this idea!
    Reply
  7. skrilla girilla
    Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
    EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWww
    Reply
  8. Joe
    Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
    I feel the same way about TP rolls and food but just microwave for 10 seconds and it supposed to kill any germs
    Reply
  9. Lisa @ Snappy Gourmet
    Saturday, March 17th, 2012
    Wow, toilet paper rolls? I would have never guessed! Genius!
    Reply
  10. Marty Chamberlain
    Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
    I am not so sure I like the idea of putting food stuffs in a used toilet role. Hands get dirty in the bathroom. No thanks
    Reply
  11. Sherry Long
    Monday, November 14th, 2011
    Empty rolls are also great to start garden seeds/seedlings in then just plant the roll and all after the last frost!
    Reply
  12. Monica
    Monday, October 17th, 2011
    I just posted my first edition of "Links of Light Bulbs"...this one is a collection of TP roll crafts! I know! I save TP rolls too!
    Hope you check it out!
    http://www.equippingcatholicfamilies.com/2011/10/links-of-light-bulbs-1.html
    I enjoy your blog!...I'm a proud skip-to-my-lou subscriber.
    Thanks for sharing and for all the work you put into your blog.
    Reply
  13. Patti P(fluffs enough)
    Sunday, September 25th, 2011
    Great idea. I can totally see myself making these with the kids.
    The Clothspring blog
    Reply
  14. textiles4you
    Saturday, September 10th, 2011
    I just finished painting 11 of these for Halloween. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea!
    Reply
  15. Lori
    Sunday, August 7th, 2011
    I need to start saving tp rolls again. I used to save them and use them to make "cracker" party favors. Covered them with colored or patterned tissue paper to fit with the theme of the party. Cut tissue paper to fit with a couple of inches excess for each end of the roll. Pinch one end of the tissue paper closed and tie off with curly ribbon. Use the open end to fill with small candies and treats. When full, pinch off the end and tie with curly ribbon. Kids love receiving these and pulling them open. For older kids and adults you can purchase the "poppers" that will pop when they pull it open. Have fun!
    Reply
  16. maeve
    Sunday, May 8th, 2011
    Goodness, what a great idea, my husband will go loopy, now I have to collect toilet rolls ha ha
    Reply
  17. Tiffany
    Monday, April 4th, 2011
    These are so cute and simple.
    Reply
  18. Michele
    Sunday, November 21st, 2010
    You know if you just put the lid down before you flush you won't have all those germs flying all over the bathroom.
    Reply
  19. Michele
    Sunday, November 21st, 2010
    WoW AnyMouse, you must have control issues. We are all aware of what floats around the bathroom, The inside of the roll is not a likely to have contamination problems. Some of us just enjoy making things for friends and family. Keep your phobias to yourself.
    Reply
  20. Alex K.
    Friday, November 5th, 2010
    Cute idea indeed!--used to sub in the Montessori of the private school my mother works at, and they are always looking for neat and crafty ideas such as these, but I can just see some of the parents making a fuss over the sanitary of this despite the fact that their kids eat dirt and touch just about every thing with snot infested fingers!
    Reply
  21. AnyMouse
    Thursday, October 28th, 2010
    Neat idea. I would use paper towel rolls, rather than used Toilet Paper Rolls, considering the (e coli, strep, staph, parasites, cholera, salmonella, listeria ...) GERM and BACTERIA factor, from anything originating next to a TOILET. Especially, when mixing it up with kids, toys, and edible / food items - like candy. Maybe place gifts and candy in a sterile cellophane bag - before placing inside of tube?

    It looks time, expense and labor intensive. By the time one purchases the paint, and puts in the time, and work effort, one might as well have purchased a ready made, sterile gift box/bag.
    Reply
  22. ...love Maegan
    Thursday, October 21st, 2010
    CUTE!!!!!! so clever!
    Reply
  23. creativejewishmom/Sara
    Saturday, October 9th, 2010
    this is a brilliant idea! I sent one of my kids to the store to buy some toilet paper, and all they had was blue....the big surprise was that the inside of the tubes are also blue! Imagine my luck! So this is a perfect project for some little Chanukah treat boxes, thanks so much. I'm going to link to this right now on my international crafty linking party, hope that's okay, my readers are gonna love it! all the best, and thanks so much for sharing!
    Reply
  24. zoila Maza Tinoco
    Saturday, October 9th, 2010
    Saludos, me encantan estas manualidades.
    Reply
  25. Katie @ Riddlelove
    Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
    Annnnnd.... bookmarked!
    Reply
  26. Amanda
    Sunday, September 12th, 2010
    I saw this idea on the show "She's Crafty" but they used contact paper. I really like the idea of painting better. I used your photo and how to on my blog and linked both back to you. Thanks so much for posting this.
    Reply
  27. Evil1
    Monday, September 6th, 2010
    It's a really great idea, but somehow I find it disturbing that you can still tell it's made from a toilet paper roll... I really appreciate the craftsmanship, but I'll never make those, since I'd feel like I'm insulting the person I'd give this to.
    Drat... Maybe I'll try this by covering it up with tin foil or something... So it won't show it's true nature...
    Reply
  28. Robyn
    Monday, September 6th, 2010
    EWWWWW toilet rolls! In New Zealand teachers aren't allowed to use toilet rolls in classrooms because of hygiene concerns. The thought of food in toiiet rolls is kind of gross. On the other hand this would be a great idea with paper towel rolls or something like that. I love the idea just not the toilet rolls.
    Reply
  29. Infarrantly Creative
    Sunday, September 5th, 2010
    Oh Cindy those are stinkin adorable. I absolutely love recycled crafts. I an thinking of all the uses for these. Thanks for always inspiring love!
    Reply
  30. Andie
    Friday, September 3rd, 2010
    NO WAY! You're going to gift a food item inside something that comes from the TOILET room, REALLY?!?

    How about using wrapping paper rolls? Don't even think about paper towel rolls from the kitchen either.
    Reply
    • cindylouh
      Monday, September 6th, 2010
      If you are concerned with germs, paper towel rolls and wrapping paper tubes would make a great substitute and can be cut to different lengths.
  31. MaryBeth
    Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
    I use to save tp rolls too till I watched a special on t.v. about all the germs that fly all over the place when people flush the toilet. I just cant stop thinking about how many germs are on the tp rolls. I cant even bring myself to save them anymore. I will try this but I will use the rolls from the kitchen paper towels, they fold just as easily, hold more items and you dont have to worry about bathroom toilet germs on the tp rolls. - THanks!!
    Reply
  32. Lisa
    Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
    I am so glad that you admited to saving toilet paper rolls! How about doing a paper making tutorial using the rolls?!
    Reply
  33. gretchen
    Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
    I am so in love with this idea!!!
    Reply
  34. Jaki
    Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
    Great idea, I'm bookmarking this for Christmas...better start saving those TP rolls now!!
    Reply
  35. Sarah
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    I loved this post! I have a blog all about things you can make from recycled materials. I hope you don't mind that I put a link to it on my blog here http://recycledtoys.blogspot.com/2010/08/recycled-pillow-box-favors-from-skip-to.html
    Thanks for the great idea!
    Reply
  36. Michelle
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    What an awesome idea!! I am going to have my first graders do this craft at Christmas time and fill the "pillows" with candy to give to their parents. I think I will also prepaint the rolls myself then let them use stickers to decorate them!!! Thanks!
    Reply
  37. Marsha
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    WOW - and I thought I was the only one who saved those things!

    S.W.A.K.
    Reply
  38. Racheli
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    this is genious!!!!!
    Reply
  39. Arin
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    I'm already such a hoarder. Every broken dish becomes a future mosaic project, every bit of old giftwrap paper becomes a future decoupage project.... I'm afraid if I start saving my used toilet paper rolls, my family will have me committed! Clever idea. I'm adding it to my list of future projects....#872!
    Reply
  40. Arin
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    ..and I thought that I was the Queen of Recycling! I think I just lost my title! (passing my crown off to you) Long live the Queen! :)
    Reply
  41. Kelley
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Clever.... I am going to have to start saving the TP rolls.
    Have a great day!
    Reply
  42. Nic
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Wow super cute idea!
    Reply
  43. Roo {NiceGirlNotes}
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Oh, go ahead, girl. This is awesome.
    Reply
  44. Candice Nutter
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Now I have a reason for all my rolls...I am a hoarder of this little suckers - have the hardest time just tossing them in the trash...hahaha
    Reply
  45. Tammy
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    These are adorable!! You are the craftiest! I think I will tuck this away for Valentine's Day, too!
    Reply
  46. Alicia
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    LOVE this idea! The little one is excited to make these once we save up some rolls.
    Reply
  47. Kendra
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    What a great idea!!!! I will never throw another toilet paper roll away!
    Reply
  48. Kyla
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    These are fantastic! Halloween . . . here we come!
    Reply
  49. KT
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Super cute! I am wondering where you found that cute dot paint brush? I always use the ends of a pencil but your brush is wayyyyy easier! :)
    Reply
  50. Aimee @ HomeSpun-Threads
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Good idea. I'm wondering if decoupage with paper or fabric would work...
    Reply
  51. kim nath
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    So super cute and clever, love this idea!
    Reply
  52. Gwen @ Gwenny Penny
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Neat idea!
    Reply
  53. audrey g.
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Super cute ideas!!!! I've got tons of paper towel rolls, my daughter is a cheerleader and we use these to throw to the crowd at games. First we wrap them w/ green tissue paper, tie one end w/ star twisty stuff ?LOL, stuff w/ candy, then tie the other end. Easy to throw and fun!!!
    Reply
  54. Charlotte
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    super cute idea for classmate favors at Halloween!
    Reply
  55. gemgirl
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    great idea for Halloween, they get some candy with out messing up the whole bowl full with stickyhands. Thanks
    Reply
  56. Jo
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Oh man, this is the BEST idea! I will start stashing tp rolls away now for making my daughters' preschool classmates little Halloween goodies. Thanks!
    Reply
  57. amy
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    What a cute idea! Now, I know what I can do with those TP and paper towel rolls I save! LOL - thanks for sharing your idea! :)
    Reply
  58. Samah
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Oh my gosh! This is wonderful ... now I'll have to start collecting toilet paper rolls again! I just worked up the nerve to throw them all out
    Reply
  59. jenn
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    GENIUS! I love.Love.LOVE this! I'm going to try it. :)
    Reply
  60. Jennie
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Great idea! These would make DARLING place cards!
    Reply
  61. Melissa Howard
    Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    Great idea!! I have a mega stash of tp rolls right now. I keep meaning to make tp roll journals, but haven't got to it yet.
    Reply