TP Roll Transportation Roundup

Here's a roundup of some of my favorite transportation vehicles that we've created with toilet paper & paper towel rolls.  If you have any plane, trains, or automobiles you've created please share a link to your site in the comments.

Toilet Paper Roll Airplane 

Toilet Paper Roll Race Car

Cardboard Tube Train

Ikea Hack for Hot Wheels Track

This a super easy Ikea hack that I came up with the other day.  I used a RATIONELL VARIERA plastic bag dispenser to hold all of Cole's Hot Wheels Track that won't fit in a standard sized bin.  It attaches to the wall and makes it easy for him to grab what he needs.

12x12x12 - February

Just a reminder that it's the 12th of the month and that means it's time to get out your camera and capture at least 12 pictures of your family.  If anyone out there is doing this along with me I'd LOVE to see your pictures.  Post in the comments and I'll be sure to share them next week.

Toilet Paper Roll Groundhog Day Craft

Happy Groundhog Day!  Here's a really fun craft that we did last year.  We made a pop-up groundhog who could come in and out of his toilet paper roll hole.

I Love You Because Wall Art

Here's a little home project that I'd thought I'd share.  I know that Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but this is a lovely way to show your kids you love them the other 364 days a year.  I totally stole this idea from a pin I found on Pinterest.  I created my own signs and printed them as 5x7 pictures.  You can write on the glass with a dry erase marker and then wipe it off.  You can save my images below and use them for yourself or I've shared them on Shutterfly and you can order them through there if you would like.  Consider it my Valentine's Day gift to you, my loyal blog readers.

Toilet Paper Roll Valentine's Day Craft Projects

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and here are a few of my favorite past crafts that I thought I'd dredge up and share.

Toilet Paper Roll Heart Butterfly

Cardboard Tube Stamping {Make Your Own Wrapping Paper}

Paper Towel Roll Heart Garland

12x12x12 - January

I wanted to share a little project that I've started for 2012.  I'm hoping some of you will join me on this photo documentary project.  Last year I resolved to take 1 family picture of all 4 of us each month.  This year I'm doing something a little different.  For 2012 I'm going to be taking 12 pictures on the 12th of each month for 12 months.  Get it - 12x12x12!  I realize that the 12th of the month has already passed and that January is almost over and that if I were a better and more prepared blogger I would have put this up earlier.  But let's not dwell on my mistakes.  Let's focus on documenting the everyday loveliness of your family.

So here's what I propose.  Go and run and get your camera and take at least 12 pictures of your family, your life right now.  We'll count this as January and going forward I promise to post a reminder ON the 12th of the month instead of 2 weeks later.

Toilet Paper Roll Chinese New Year Crafts

Today is Chinese New Year, one of the most important holidays in the Chinese culture.  The celebration begins on the first day of the first month of the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with a lantern festival on the 15th day.  Here are a few crafts you can make to celebrate in your own home!

Toilet Paper Roll Dragon

Cardboard Tube Fire Breathing Dragon

Toilet Paper Roll Chinese Lantern

Toilet Paper Roll Valentine's Day Ladybug

Ladybug Supply List: 1 toilet paper roll, black paint, red construction paper, glue, scissors, pom-poms, pipe cleaner, google eyes

Begin by painting your toilet paper roll black and allow to dry.

Draw two hearts on the red construction paper.

Cut out your hearts (ladybug wings).

Glue the bottom of your hearts together and then glue black pom-poms on them.

Add your google eyes and pipe cleaner antenna.  We punched a small heart for the mouth and glued it on.

Book Suggestion: My daughter and son both love Ladybug Girl.  Ladybug Girl makes her own pint sized fun when her brother tells her she's too little to play with him.  This book is great for both boys and girls.

Life: 4 x 12 {Shutterfly Share}

Here's a peek at the photobook that I created with our monthly family pictures.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

2011 Photo Project

Last year I stole an idea from the fabulous Tara Whitney. She had posted about taking a family picture every month for the entire year in 2010.  I was completely inspired.  So my resolution for 2011 was to follow in her footsteps and take a family picture of the 4 of us every single month for an entire year.  I'm excited to share that I did accomplish my goal and I loved the pictures so much that I used them as our Christmas card for 2011.

I also created a photobook in Shutterfly.  I'll be sharing that project tomorrow.  For 2012 I have a new photo documentary project that I'm also going to be sharing in the next few days.

I'm pleased to share that my Toilet Paper Roll Fire Breathing Dragon was featured over on Fun Family Crafts.  Pop on over and check it out.

Under the Stairs Reading Nook

Hello, old friends!  I know, I know it's been a while.  A long while.  My only excuse is that in the last few months we moved into our new house, celebrated Halloween, my daughter's 2nd birthday, Thanksgiving & Christmas.  Factor into that getting our house unpacked and somewhat decorated and Christmas break from school and well, things just  got away from me.  

But I'm back... kind of.  I've been doing some blog soul searching and trying to decide if I should merge TP Craft with my other crafty From the Fence Post blog.  The jury is still out but for now you might see some projects that aren't exactly created with toilet paper rolls for a while.  

So here is a sneak peek of some of the awesome stuff I've been doing in the new house.  This is our under the stairs closet.  It was designed for storage and I think it might be my most favorite place in the entire house.  I transformed it into a hidden library for my kids.  I used rain gutters for the shelving and cut vinyl using a friend's Cricut machine (I borrowed one because I'm too frugal to buy one for myself).

I bought pet beds from Target for the floor pillows.  They are nice and large and have covers that unzip (and can be washed).  We added a few pillow pets and a blanket to make it nice and comfy.  In the 2 buckets at the back are their TAG & TAG Jr. Readers that they just love.  The quote is from Dr. Seuss.  Everyone who has come to visit so far has loved the transformation of this space and the kids love spending time in here. 

Thankful...

This year I have so many wonderful things to be thankful for.  Mostly, I am thankful that I get to wake up every morning to a home filled with these happy faces.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Cardboard Tube Turkey Feathers

Turkey Feather Supply List: 1 toilet paper roll, construction paper, google eyes, glue, scissors, feathers

Begin by cutting 5 or 6 slits on the end of your toilet paper roll about 1 inch long.  Bend them back so the stick out.

Pick out 5 or 6 different colored feathers.

Glue your feathers onto the pieces of the toilet paper roll. 

Cut a circle from some construction paper and add a beak and some google eyes.

Glue your face onto the front your toilet paper roll.