Ahhhh….the master bedroom. It has eluded me for years, and I’m still trying to tackle it. It all comes down to one final element—art above our bed. I didn’t want to spend any much money; I was dealing with some difficult dimensions, and I wanted it to be VERY simple. How’s that for easy?
Here was my plan of attack–toilet paper or paper towel rolls. I tried using some wrapping paper rolls, but they were a little too thick to cut through easily, and they didn’t measure the same in width as the t.p. That stands for toilet paper—we’re tight like that.
I measured out the rolls by about 1 1/2” marks and cut them into their little strips. Once they’re all cut out, I glued the joints of them together. I used hot glue because I knew I’d be painting them. Plus, it’s waaaaay faster.
I’ve seen them attached and arranged in a variety of ways, but I was very careful not to make mine too flowery. I didn’t really want flowers, but I did want a soft pattern. (The canvas was from Michaels for $15—it remains unpainted.)
I took the rolls/now shapes to the basement and spray painted away. I would highly recommend using primer for this. Obviously, these suckers soaked up the paint. I followed up with some glossy white paint.
So here it is. Toilet paper wall art. For $15.00.
Because my bedding and curtains have gray in them, I liked that the insides of the shapes throw off a bit of a gray tint. If you’re looking for a more solid color, I would look into painting them a little more carefully inside—perhaps with a paint brush?
I’ll probably still play around with the shape of it. They’re easy to move around since I just attached with a little dollop (I like that word) of hot glue. When I get tired of it, I can throw out the rolls and reuse the canvas.
There’s some pretty good t.p. art out there. Googling it will provide you with a number of pictures, and you can just go from there.
*This is an “oldie, but goodie” project from 2011. I love that it’s still useful and decorative even years later!
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this is so cool! I think it's my favorite toilet paper art I've seen yet! 🙂
This is very nice! I wonder about spraying them gold for my Christmas tree which I have almost no ornaments for . I think I am going to try this.
So great how trash can become treasure!
Would also make a great topper for any gift !
Your sheets are incredible and the t.p. art is actually beautiful!
I'm saving it for my inspiration folder!
I love this! That is such a fun idea!
I love this!
That is so interesting and pretty! What an amazing idea.
What an awesome idea and a great way to recycle too!
What a great idea – this turned out beautiful!
I love this idea! Might have to copy it.
And I thought my t.p. roll fake fire from the Cub Scout Blue and Gold dinner was awesome. I now leave your blog feeling out done once again and like ka-ka. Hmph.
That's great! How creative!
What?!! This is amazing!
This is beautifully brilliant, seriously! I love it, great job! 🙂
I've been saving toilet paper rolls for months to make some kind of art. My husband is frankly tired of them being stuffed everywhere. They never seem to make it to the same location. lol. Some are still in the bathroom…one behind the door. One on the towel rack and a few on top of the dryer. It's ridiculous. Thanks for this great idea!
I absolutely love this! What a great idea and so simple who doesn't have tp tubes. Love it also becasue if you get bored or ant to change color no biggie.
That is really funny and really awesome. Love it!
I've thought about doing something similar for awhile now, but never just LOVED it. But I love how modern yours turned out. it's fabulous enough to get me on the ball! Thanks for sharing!
Wow!! I am BLOWN AWAY at this artwork! It's toilet paper and it's GORGEOUS! Love it. P.S. I'm a new follower. 🙂
I love it. My husband thinks it's crazy that we buy toilet paper just to be flushed down the drain, so we'd get another use if I made the artwork with the empty rolls. Thanks for the inspiration!
What a fabulous idea! Earth friendly AND decorative – love!
t.p. rolls… who woulda thunk it?? Amazing! I love it!
You clever clever girl. Gorgeous. And I really love those shams. Looking forward to seeing the whole reveal.
Wow that's awesome!
This looks wonderful, great idea! My hubbys been saving t.p rolls up, convinced I will use them for something, having seen this I might just try something. Thanks for sharing.
So creative! This turned out really cute!
What a great way to reuse and recycle. It is very upscale and no one would ever know it toilet paper rolls!! Great job!
i knew there had to be another use for them! i love it! you did an awesome job! bet this would be $ 400+ from PB! Lol!
Why in the world can't I think of things like that? I have no headboard and a room that will have been finished except for wall art for THREE years this summer. I really need to try this and put it to rest. Thanks!
You're brilliant; it looks great!!!
So cool! I love how simple and graphic it is! Thanks for sharing.
Finally, someone answered my question about whether you could paint the rolls! Love it!
This such a cute idea and so easy! I love the look. Thanks for sharing.
This has to be one of the best DIY projects I've seen of late– love love it!
~Kelly
simplykellyblog.com
The things one can make when one sets their minds to it is simply beautiful. This is truly nice! 🙂
Wowie! Amazing! Love it. You make it look so easy!
OMG! I love this! I have a huge slab of plywood painted dark chocolate brown as a headboard and I really need to dress it up a little. I think I found the perfect fit!
I wasn't sure how it was going to look when I first started reading. Seeing the end product I love it. How easy, and it looks great!
"JUST A GENIUS" is more like it!!!!!
WHAT IF you spelled a child's name out in these and painted each "letter" a different color? (Didn't have time to read all the comment yet so I hope this is not repetitive)
turned out fantastic! i've seen these around blog land and each time it blows my mind!!
wow wow wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm also collecting toiletpaperrolls to make then. ( maybe one day 😉 )
i like yours !
Ok, this seriously looks great! The only thing I think I'd change is to make the design a little more asymmetric and add a few more 'flowers' on the right. Just my opinion, I think it looks great as is, though, too. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today, too! 🙂
I love it so much!
I just love it! I have those Umbra "Wall Flutters" above my bed for a similar effect….but these were way cheaper and so much fun!
so stinking cute!!! I have plenty of those around b/c my 2yr old insist on unrolling every roll of TP in the house!
what a great idea!! Love it!
LOVE this! I'm not well-versed in tp art, but this has inspired me!
Cute! I LOVE the bedding – where did you find it?
that is way too fun! You have me inspired to start saving rolls!! wow… thanks!
You amaze me!
Ya know….I thought what in the heck could somebody possibly make that doesn't look cheesy with TP rolls…really? THEN I saw your amazing work. Truly classy, very beautiful!
what an amazing idea!!
Ho awesome and completely creative. If you need anymore toilet paper rolls, they are often round rolling around the floor of my kid's bathroom. If the roll actually does get changed, the empty roll can't possibly make it to the garbage can, because that would prove to be too taxing after the exhaustion of changing the roll.
Well I see everyone is LOVIN' the TP art… include me in on the love fest. Super cute and affordable!
Super Cute! I haven't seen any TP art yet…but I'm sure I will now! :]
Just. plain. gawwwwwgeous. Great job! And Happy Mother's Day!
Love this! I love the design, and the white! Very pretty! Who would've thought where the supplies came from, huh?! 🙂 Great job!
Saw this post on T&J's FB status today…that is seriously soooo cool!! Great job!
http://www.mejiamamma.blogspot.com
Ok, that is the coolest thing ever!! How in the world did you think of that? Oh, wait, you think of everything. 😉
looks fantastic! I've really been wanting to try a t.p. (we're tight like that to… wink wink) project too! LOVE what you did. So simple, but elegant (and definitely not flowery at all- nice balance!)
OMG!!!!! I absolutely love this!!!!!
What a super cute idea! I'm thinking about completing your project for my daughter's room…thanks for sharing. BTW, I'm your newest follower! =)
I am totally going to make this! It's gorgeous!
I'm going to feed my kids lots of extra fiber this week so that we can use double the toilet paper use and then I can start it that much sooner.
🙂
What an interesting idea – it looks great! Can't wait to show my daughter – moving into her first apt. after the dorm!
Speechless…that's all I can say. I am still getting over the fact that someone could make something that beautiful out of a toilet paper roll and that there is even such a thing as "toilet paper roll art". Once again, totally amazing.
Very clever! Happy Mothers Day! Big Hugs!!
Very cute, you'll have to share this on my Wednesday Blog party, 500dollarwedding.blogspot.com. I'm definitely bookmarking this and making one of these for my new house. Great stuff!!!! 🙂 Heather
So creative, doesn't get any prettier than this wonderful art you have designed. Im gonna share on my blog. Amazing!
So cute! I'm a new follower!! 🙂
By the way, would you PLEASE share some info about that gorgeous bedding???? I've been searching high and low for the right bedding for our master bedroom, and I would love to find something similar to this! Perfection!!! 🙂
Love your blog! 🙂
This is awesome!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
What a great idea! I am so using this for our living room- it needs a little something for the walls I think.
Oh how I love this!! Brilliant!! =) I came over from Decor Chick's linky party and so glad I did – I've heard of your blog before, but somehow never checked it out. L.o.v.e it and am a new follower! =)
Mara @ Super Savings
(just another blogger girl in MI) 😉
I'm gonna start saving my rolls! Thanks for the great idea. Check our the vanity I just stained….I'm tryin'!
Oh my heavens! So clever!!!!
Love the graphic simplicity.
Stunning.
GREAT post!
xx
A
What a great project, SOOOO stinkin' creative! I can honestly say that I never thought of using toilet paper in this way, lol.
~Jenna, SAS Interiors
http://www.sasinteriors.net
Love it! I have to know, where did you get the pillow shams/bedding? I truly love them, please!?!
What a fabulous idea…and oh so stylish!!! Another item I can add to my spa!!!
ok,…this is so cool!! im going to feature you on my blog!!
http://www.moddybee.blogspot.com
I absolutely LOVE this!! I'm going to try it and just hope I don't end up on craft fail!!! 🙂
I cannot wait to try this! Its so beautiful and fresh looking. Where did you get that beautiful bedding? I need to know.
My gosh girl just how cleaver can you get. Just when I think you have out done yourself, you come up with this beautiful T.P. Art… Never saw anything like this before. Awesome, Love it!
Mom
That's terrific! All this time I've been saving the rolls for projects with the boys. Forget that!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I'm going to do this as soon as I can. Thanks for this amazing idea.
Okay, this is crazy amazing! What a FABULOUS idea. Who knew? Toilet paper rolls. I'll have to keep this one in mind! Thanks so much for sharing and for the inspiration! XO Laura at bandbnest.blogspot.com
What a clever idea! Who would have thunk that a TP roll could be used like that. Thank you for sharing your art.
This is too stinkin' cute! I showed my hubby and he even thought it was genious.
Now seriously, where did you get that bedding because I need to get a print just like that to make throw pillows for my sofa!
~Beth
Just introduced to your blog via Ohdeedoh. Amazed at your creativity. I too love your bedding and would love to know it's source! Thanks.
I love it!!! What a great idea!
LOVE IT! I showed my hubby your pictures (the finished product first) and after he said how much he liked it, when I rolled up to the start he screamed out, “TOILET PAPER?!” 🙂 Men should never underestimate our power!
I have been saving my toilet paper rolls! 🙂 I am so doing this!
This is seriously amazing! I would love to try this. I would have never thought toilet paper rolls could make something so pretty!
I LOVE LOVE this!! Will make it I promise!!
I featured this on my blog:
http://cinsarah.blogspot.com/2011/05/favorites-friday-52711.html
This is awesome! 😀 I’ve been collecting tp rolls for a while in the hopes of making something along these lines, but haven’t done it yet. I LOVE yours!! xx
I LOVE this idea. I took inspiration from it and made one for daughter’s room. I used blue fabric and pink paint for the “flowers” or butterflys. I also blogged about my project here: http://www.fabulousdailydeals.com/2011/05/crafty-savings.html I linked back to your site too!
i love this so much that I pinned it!
http://pinterest.com/imzadi481/art/
Love this idea!!! I want to try it! What a great way to recycle:)
http://knowingmama.blogspot.com/2011/06/day-2toilet-paper-art-turned-magic.html
Here’s a collaboration version my friend and I came up with!!! 🙂 thanks for your wonderful idea!!
I tried several times to leave a comment on your blog, but it just wouldn’t go through. 🙁 Thanks so much for sharing it with me! It turned out so great! So cheap, too, right??
I’m going to have to fix that. I have the same problem too with another friend. So cheap and so fun! it’s currently hanging in my daughter’s play room. This idea totally brought our party together thank you!
That is just gorgeous! And who woulda thunk from toilet paper rolls!
Love your art! And I LURVE your bedding – do you disclose the pattern and/or where you found it? I enjoy your blog immensely – thanks!
Hi Janet. I found it at Urban Outfitters online. Thanks for the kind words!
Very inspiring, so I gave it a go.
Love your Blog!
http://sewingwithminimoz.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-toilet-paper-wall-art.html
This is awesome! I made my own version this weekend. I hope you don’t mind if I link back to your blog. So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
This is such a great project! I am featuring it in my [so cheap, so easy] series next Thursday (July 21). Just wanted to let you know!
Thanks!
I forgot to mention that I did link back to your blog to give you credit (of course)! My blog is http://www.tocrave.blogspot.com. Thanks again for the great idea!
I’ve been saving tp rolls for crafts with the kids, but now I have a new mission…WALL ART! Awesome!!
Totally love this but I’m also in love with your pillowcases. I love the pattern and colors in them-if you don’t mind, where did you get them?
Never mind-saw the answer in a previous comment.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Awesome, April! Thank YOU!
Hello! I found you from Money Saving Mom, and I love this idea! I have a frugal living blog and I like to feature was you can REUSE items and I would love to feature this post and any others that you would like to share that involve reusing objects! Send me an email if you are interested!
This is so cute!!!! I am totally going to do it! I love it.
Awesome, Emilee! Let us know if you do! It’s fun to see everyone’s take on a project!
Such a great idea i made a post linking back to you on my blog! http://www.thefrugalnavywife.com/2011/08/recycle-toilet-paper-rolls-into-wall.html
Thanks so much, Danielle! That’s really nice of you!
Chris, this is amazing! I just shared your post with my readers and encouraged them to stop over at your blog and check out the tutorial.
Michelle
from http://www.TrashToTreasureDecorating.com
post: http://www.trashtotreasuredecorating.com/2011/08/decor-going-down-tubesin-style.html
Thank you, Michelle! I am flattered! Again, thanks!
That is SO cute! And I love love love that bedding… where is it from???
I love this idea! I’m a Girl Scout Daisy leader and we’re going to try this for a “petal” project to help the girls learn about the different colors of the Daisy petals. It’s something the girls can take pride in and hang on their bedroom walls. Thanks for sharing it!
That’s a fantastic idea, Sarah! Love that you thought of that!
That looks fantastic!!
WOW I love it! I tought it was simplistic and beautiful.
This is beautiful! I linked to it here: http://twilighttreehandicrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-decorate-for-christmas-without.html
Love This! I knew I was savings those silly things are a reason! LOVE IT
Awesome, Jennifer! Thank you! 🙂
shut the front door! That is a great thing to do with them. Love it.
I tried doing this, but I am having a terrible time getting the paint to stick on my rolls. Do you have any trick to help solve that problem?
I love this wall art you made with the empty toilet paper tubes and how nice of you to share the tutorial as well! Hope it’s okay I’ve featured your project on my toilet paper roll craft round-up hub here:
http://jamiebrock.hubpages.com/hub/Clever-Crafts-Using-Toilet-Paper-Rolls
Thank you so much for sharing!
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for above our headboard.
Just in case you haven’t seen it yet, Stopping by to let you know you’ve been featured at
http://diycraftstomake.blogspot.com/2012/03/40-fun-toilet-paper-roll-craft-projects.html
Thank you, Peggy!
This is Sooooo wonderful! I introduced this report by my blog (in Japanese). Thank you. http://bitly.com/GKTP8t
very beautiful version for tp wall art. this is my version of it. http://bisozozo.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-first-artwork.html. hope you like it.
I am not a very crafty person, but I think I can pull this off. Love it!
Love, love, love this idea!!!!!!!
i don’t know what to say…i was literally holding onto my head due to the extent of jaw-dropping-ness of this project!! its amazinngggggg just gave me a great idea…i was planning on doing a mosaic Moorish design on my wall with paint but i think it would be so much more beautiful with dimension using paper rolls OMG
Hi! I LOVE this idea!!! Planning on making it for my bedroom, but I had some real quick questions. First of all, when you spray painted, did you glue the shapes onto the canvas first or spray the shapes separately and then glue them on? Also, how big was your canvas? That’s about the size I would like mine. Thanks for posting! This is fantastic!
Just re-read and wouldn’t you know it, you even mention the canvas stays unpainted. Derr! So I guess my only question is how big is your canvas?
Can’t wait to try this! I love the simplicity of it. I wanted something like this for my family room. Do you know if other colors have been used?
I love doing DIY projects and this one is gonna b next on my list? Just wondering where did you get your canvas? Or where can you get one for a good price?
Oops nevermind i see where you got it. But I cant wait to get started on this project, it’s gonna give my room a whole new look.
I have been saving my TP rolls, planing on doing this so time this week. One question when painting how dose that work? (details) Ty!! Great idea
Greetings from Finland!
I saw your project through Johnnie’s blog. Nice piece of art! I’m impressed what people can do with the rolls.
I love the way your wall art looks just the way it is 🙂