Make a pair of paper roll dinosaurs as a fun upcycling and DIY toy craft idea. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make both a diplodocus and a triceratops using our free printable template.
This craft was first published in 2015 and has been updated and reshared for today’s audience.
You might also like these paper plate dinosaurs
Do you have any dinosaur fans at your place? I have two. In the past, the girls and I have made dinosaurs from paper plates, and used plastic dinosaurs in both messy play and board games. Now we bring you toilet roll dinosaurs!
By cutting and folding toilet rolls (or any cardboard tube) you can make a Diplodocus and Triceratops, here’s how…
You will need:
- Cardboard tubes (one toilet roll per dinosaur or one paper towel roll cut in half will make two dinosaurs)
- Scissors
- Paint and paintbrush
- Permanent marker to draw on the eyes (optional, you could stick on small googly eyes or paint them on if you prefer)
- Dinosaur shape templates
Diplodocus
The diplodocus is very simple. Trace or sketch the dinosaur shape from the template onto a flattened cardboard tube first. It should look like this:
Cut it out…
Fold the tail and head down so that they point towards the ground
…and then paint and decorate.
Ta-da!
Triceratops
Trace or sketch the template shape on to a flattened toilet roll. It should look like this.
Cut out the body shape first.Then fold the tail down so that it points toward the ground as shown.
This part is the neck and horns. Fold the neck down and point the horns back up towards the sky.
Cut out the head shape.
Fold it horizontally to make it easier to cut out two slits for the horns, as shown below. They should be about where the two bulges are on the sides of the head.
This piece then slots onto the horns to form the head.
Paint and decorate. It might be easier to paint the head and body as separate pieces and then slot the head back on to the horns.
Can you see the obvious flaw in my triceratops design? I’ve forgotten to make a third horn – whoops! I’ve made up for it by painting one on, but you could cut a small pop-up one on the tip of the nose instead if you like.
And there you have toilet roll dinosaurs.
These happy dinosaurs are off to explore — raaah!
More Dinosaur Ideas
- Make a flying pterodactyl puppet on a string with our free printable template
- Here are 12 different dinosaurs you can make from paper plates
- Sew the cutest pair of dinosaur softies with our free printable pattern
- This dinosaur small world in a suitcase is perfect for road trips!
- Create a dinosaur-themed succulent garden that can double as a small world for imaginary play
Kate Lloyd says
How incredible. I love that you can turn a simple toilet roll into something like this. Love it!
Penny says
These are AWESOME! So simple yet they turned out excellent. I love recycling!
Melissa @ Honey Bee Books says
BRILLIANT! They are just too adorable and so clever. Your creativity is amazing.
Erin Burch says
Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing this! I never would’ve thought of it, but they’re so cute!
Carrie says
Thank you so much! My 4 y/o son and I just made these to hold our dyed Easter eggs. They are so easy and adorable.
Kate says
What a fabulous idea! Glad you found them easy 🙂
Roberta Leonarduzzi says
Super, I did with my 2 and a half year son, dinos addicted, and i add a third cut in the triceratopos, to do the third horn! thank’ you for ypur brillant ideas
Tina says
Just made them. The boys added smiling mouths to the design!
Kate says
I’ll bet they look gorgeous with the smiling faces!
PDMS course in chennai says
wonderful creation
Joyallwin says
BRILLIANT! They are just too adorable and so clever. Your creativity is amazing. Thanks for Sharing…………
Georgia says
So clever!
María Marchena says
Thanks! .Great idea, my son and i just made,look amazing.
Ellen says
Wonderful!My grand children will be in heaven!!
Kate says
Awesome, I hope they have fun 🙂
Azu says
So fun I could made them with my 3 y/o daughter, she found them so amazing! She has painted them, stickers mobile eyes and 2points for nose and a smile… So cute and east. I also added a third horn.
Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing & Crafting says
You are a total dino genius! I love all of these dinosaur crafts that you have!! 🙂 Lisa
Ed says
My 3yr old is begging for a stegosaurus.
I don’t have the creative brain power to make one that looks any good. Any idea?
Kate says
We have a stegosaurus paper plate craft he might like
https://www.thecrafttrain.com/sparkly-paper-plate-dinosaurs/
Also there is a stegosaurus softie sewing pattern
https://www.thecrafttrain.com/feltdinosaurs/