Tutorial: Toilet Paper Roll Trivet

It was destiny, plain and simple. You knew the toilet paper roll would show up here again. You knew I couldn't resist its curves and papery good looks much longer. You knew I'd dream up another something with it sooner or later.

You knew it, you wily thing.

So I made a trivet for holding hot things like pots and such. For instance, here is my TP roll trivet actively saving my table from the scalding teapot.

Nothing short of heroic, I'd say.

Would you like to see how I made it? Here I go.

Pretty self-explanatory, eh? You get the drift, I'm sure. But on the off-chance that you were wondering, you do need to cut up more than one TP roll to make a single trivet.  4 or 5 TP rolls cut into 1/4-inch (6mm) sections will do the trick for a one-layer trivet. Optionally, if you'd like to try a 2-layer trivet like the one pictured below, you'll need twice the amount of TP rolls and glue.

Note that I added cardboard circles to my trivets for strength. That is because they were hilariously floppy without them. I heartily suggest you support your trivet with a cardboard circle.

Isn't it nice to see the TP roll put to some practical use for a change? Yessiree, very practical indeed. I knew you had it in you, TP roll.

♥M

Video Tutorial: TP Roll Flower Gift Bow

Happy Saturday!

Lo's been re-teaching me how to edit video. Don't know if you remember my last attempt all those moons ago in the far distant past over here... Well, I'm back in the saddle. Here's my second little video tutorial.

A pre-Easter moving gift for you... Enjoy!

♥M

I should not fail to mention Lo's - that's my husband, btw - input in this project. Suffices to say, I would still be at the computer breaking things if it weren't for him saving me from myself. Thanks Lo. You are my love.

And thank you to Jill as well. For encouraging me back up on the video horse. So glad to have found you in the vast ether. Let's keep supporting each other ok?

Tutorial: Mini TP Roll Easter Baskets

Just in time for Easter, I'm making some tiny, wee, little Easter baskets entirely from recyclables. You in? Let's get to it!

For this craft you will need: a TP roll or two, empty cereal box OR tissue box, pair of scissors, regular hole punch, glue, pencil, ruler, exacto knife, and liquid acrylic paint and paintbrush (optional).

Step 1:   Using a ruler and pencil, find the center of the TP roll and mark a line all the way around it. With an exacto knife, cut the TP roll in two along that mark as below.

Step 2 (Optional):  Give your TP roll pieces a coat or two of liquid acrylic paint.

Step 3:  Mark a line 1/2 inch (13mm) from one edge of your TP roll piece. Using a hole punch, punch an even number of holes along this line all around the TP roll. I punched 16 holes in mine. Now punch the same number of holes along the other edge of the TP roll as shown below.

Step 4:  Take out your cereal box or tissue box, whichever you're choosing to use for your mini-basket, and cut off the end flaps. Now cut narrow strips along the length of either type of box. The strips must be able to slip into the holes in your TP roll so check to see if they fit before you continue. If you've punched 16 holes in the edges of your TP roll, you will need at least 9 cereal box or tissue box strips.

Step 5:  Gather your TP roll, narrow strips and glue. Curve the narrow strips by slowly running them between two fingers. Go slow to avoid getting a papercut. Ow.

Step 6:  At this point, note that you have a series of holes that is further from one edge of your TP roll than the other. See what I mean? The holes that are furthest from the edge indicate the top edge of the basket. Weave a strip through a top edge hole and through the corresponding bottom edge hole. Curve your strip around and weave it up through the holes on the opposite side of the TP roll. The ends of the strip should be jutting out of the top edge of the TP roll. Glue the strip to the TP roll as shown below.

Step 7:  This step is essentially the same as Step 6, but once you've woven the second strip into the holes immediately beside the first strip, you will curve it down and around the bottom and cross it over the first strip, weaving it into the adjacent holes on the other side. Repeat Step 7 for the remaining strips.

Step 8:  Trim the excess strip sections that jut out beyond the top of the basket. Take the last strip and form a handle by curving it and glueing it in place along the edge.

Every TP roll makes two mini-baskets. Make each basket unique by changing up the weave or paint colour, adding confetti embellishments, trimming the strips higher, or doing exactly as YOU please!

Come Easter morning, fill each mini-basket with a wee bag of mini-Easter eggs and hand them out to all of your favourite people.

I bet they'll be egg-cited!

♥M

P.S. HERE's a whole 'nother paper Easter basket for ya!

Cardboard Tube Clip-On Shelf Labels

There really is no need to...

... because I'm about to show you one of the simplest crafts to ever grace this blog. In fact, I'm fairly confident in asserting that it is probably one of the simplest crafts EVER in the history of ALL crafts. So don't fret, no. Just sit back. Relax. Take a load off. This won't take but a minute.

I give you the...

Let us begin.

All you need is love. And some form of cardboard tube. Like a toilet paper roll say, or a kitchen roll tube.

Ascertain how you'd like to label your shelves. I needed to be able to locate my painting and drawing supplies at a moment's notice, so that's what I chose to write on one of my tubes.

Now, take your tube. And now take your pencil.

Am I going too fast? Are you able to keep up with the sheer complexity of this craft? Good.

Now, write your chosen words in pencil on your chosen tube. I chose the words "painting & drawing". Don't be afraid to get VERY specific. Your children will thank you when you order them - or in my case, ask them nicely - to go to the "Painting and Drawing Shelf" to get the #47 red.

Trace around your words with a fine-tipped Sharpie.

Note: Sharpie is a very famous brand of marker here in North America. They are literally everywhere.

If you like, you can also add colour to your words with paint or colourful markers as below.

Alternatively, if you are down and out, you may decide to forego the labels entirely, and instead give yourself a lively boost with a few choice words of wisdom. "Be brave" or "Laugh" for example. As you know, it is essential to occasionally laugh or be brave. Sometimes both at once. So these tubular concoctions work perfectly to jog a sluggish memory.

Once you're done with the words, flip the tube to the other side (or 180˚) and cut it lengthwise as below.

Finally, it is time to place your tube on the shelf edge. Gently pry open the back of the tube and clamp it in place. It will look like it is eating the shelf.  It isn't of course. It's only a card tube.

And now you will never forget where you put your stationery supplies. If you do, be brave and/or laugh. But don't come crying to me.

Have a lovely weekend!

♥M

Check out another lovely toilet roll craft right HERE!