This paper roll owl craft is easy enough for kids of all ages and you can add your own creative flair with colour and pattern on their tummy feathers.

You might also like our paper roll swans

Owls have the reputation of being wise old birds. I like to imagine them like the owl in Winnie the Pooh stories, sitting in a warmly lit hollow tree home with a library of books, ready to answer any questions.

Their wisdom, unfortunately, is a myth. Some birds are considered amongst the most intelligent of animals, like the crow for example, who can problem solve and figure out how to use a vending machine. Parrots, on the other hand, have been shown to outperform four-year-olds on intelligence tests, and even to match the performance of adults in memory tests.

Owls can’t do that. But, just because they’re not as wise as we think they are doesn’t make them any less amazing in their own way. They have the ability to fly silently (making sneaking up on prey easier), and possess some of the keenest vision and hearing in the animal kingdom.

Another cool owl fact is that they can turn their head up to 270 degrees. That’s three-quarters of the way around – take that crows!

Plus, they’re so beautiful with their fluffy feathers and big round eyes, I decided I needed to make some from paper rolls.

Surprisingly, after being a creative blogger for around 8 years, I haven’t thought to include any owl crafts up until now.

This is something I’m about to fix with this simple paper roll owl upcycling project.

Let’s make it …

How to make a paper roll owl

You will need:

Paper towel roll (one roll makes two owls, plus you’ll need an extra scrap of it for the beak and wings)
Scissors
Paint (I’ve used only two colours – dark brown and white)
Paintbrush
Cotton ball
Yellow construction paper
Black Marker
Glue

How to:

Squash your paper towel roll flat
Measure it and draw a line halfway, so you get two owls the same size.
Cut the paper roll in half
Gently indent the top two edges so the edges poke upwards like an owl’s pointy ears
On an extra scrap of squashed paper roll, draw two wing shapes and cut them out. This will give you four wings, two for each owl.
Paint the body shape in a solid colour, and the wings in a contrasting colour.
Using a cotton ball, dab a section at the top of the roll for the face in the same contrasting colour as the wings.
Paint a pattern on the body for the feathers. I’ve done wavy lines, little short lines and small curved lines – but be as creative as you like!
Sketch and cut out a beak shape on another scrap of cardboard, and paint it grey.
On a small scrap of construction paper draw two eyes in lead pencil first, then go over them in black marker when you’re happy with them. Cut them out.
Glue on the eyes, beak and wings, and you’re done!

Use your finished owls to decorate your mantlepiece, or you could even add a loop of string to the top and turn them into a Christmas ornament.

Owl-themed books for kids

Yield: 2 Owls

Paper roll owl craft

Upcycle a paper towel roll into a pair of decorative owls

Materials

Paper towel roll (one roll makes two owls, plus you’ll need an extra scrap of it for the beak and wings)
Paint (I’ve used only two colours – dark brown and white)
Paintbrush
Cotton ball
Yellow construction paper
Black Marker
Glue

Tools

scissors
ruler

Instructions

Squash your paper towel roll flat
Measure it and draw a line halfway, so you get two pieces the same size
Cut the paper roll in half
Gently press the top two edges inwards so the folded ends poke upwards like an owl’s pointy ears
On an extra scrap of squashed paper roll, draw two wing shapes and cut them out. This will give you four wings, a matching set for each owl.
Paint the body shape in a solid colour, and the wings in a contrasting colour
Using a cotton ball, dab a section at the top of the roll for the face in the same contrasting colour as the wings.
Paint a pattern on the body for the feathers. I’ve done wavy lines, little short lines, and small curved lines – but be as creative as you like!
Sketch and cut out a beak shape on another scrap of cardboard, and paint it grey.
On a small scrap of yellow construction paper draw two eyes in lead pencil first, then go over them in black marker when you’re happy with them. Cut them out.
Glue on the eyes, beak and wings, and you’re done!

More Woodland animal-themed crafts

Make a paper roll fox using our free template
Print and create a woodland animal paper play set
Upcycle plastic bottles into cute woodland animal planters
Here is a sweet paper woodland animal wreath
If you’re a book lover, you’ll love these free printable fox bookmarks