Make an adorable paper roll owl craft. This idea is easy enough for younger kids while older kids and adults can add their own creative flare with colour and pattern.

This fun kids craft was first published in 2020 and has been updated and reshared for today’s audience.

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.

But their wisdom is a myth. Some birds really are intelligent. The crow, for example, can figure out how to use a vending machine. Parrots can outperform four-year-olds on intelligence tests, and even to match the performance of adults in memory tests.

Owls can’t do that—but that doesn’t make them any less craft-worthy! They have the ability to fly silently (making sneaking up on prey easier), and have very keen eyesight.

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.

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

This is something I’m about to fix with this simple toilet paper roll owl craft. We’ve actually used a paper towel roll cut into two in place of the toilet roll—but either will do.

I LOVE paper roll crafting because it’s fun, cheap, and easy enough for ages ranging from preschoolers (with some adult help) and up. Also check out our lizards, frogs, bats, and fish for some more paper roll animal crafts.

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:

1. Squash your paper towel roll flat
2. Measure it and draw a line halfway, so you get two owls the same size.
3. Cut the paper roll in half
4. Gently indent the top two edges so the edges poke upwards like an owl’s pointy ears
5. 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.
6. Paint the body shape in a solid colour, and the wings in a contrasting colour.
7. Using a cotton ball, dab a section at the top of the roll for the face in the same contrasting colour as the wings.
8. 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!
9. Sketch and cut out a beak shape on another scrap of cardboard, and paint it grey.
10. 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.
11. 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

Print

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

1. Squash your paper towel roll flat
2. Measure it and draw a line halfway, so you get two pieces the same size
3. Cut the paper roll in half
4. Gently press the top two edges inwards so the folded ends poke upwards like an owl’s pointy ears
5. 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.
6. Paint the body shape in a solid colour, and the wings in a contrasting colour
7. Using a cotton ball, dab a section at the top of the roll for the face in the same contrasting colour as the wings.
8. 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!
9. Sketch and cut out a beak shape on another scrap of cardboard, and paint it grey.
10. 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.
11. 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