5 ways to transform cardboard toilet paper rolls into little works of art for the home

The humble toilet paper roll, once saved only for elementary school craft projects, has become a staple element of DIY home decor. The flexibility, size and cylindrical shape of the rolls make them easy to manipulate into decor fitting any style from simple to elaborate.
Extremely lightweight, art pieces made from toilet paper rolls are ideal for wall decor. The projects below demonstrate the versatility of toilet paper (or paper towel!) roll decor: some mimic wrought iron or bronze work while others are bright and whimsical, and one is painted a bright color while another isn't painted at all!
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1. Chic decorative mirror

Cindy at Made2Style had been saving her toilet paper rolls for a long time, so when inspiration hit she was ready. She began by creating about 40 of these round shapes, each created by gluing four slices of toilet paper roll. 
The 40 rounds and a few "tulip"-shaped pieces were placed around an embroidery hoop. After spray painting with a metallic finish and inserting a mirror, the result was exactly the eye-catching focal piece Cindy had been hoping for.
2. Elegant clock
A clock served as the round base for this stunning piece of art. With a newborn at home, Kassandra la Hechicera realized that she really needed a wall clock, but she wanted something elegant. 
Kassandra's blog, The Attic of Kassandra, describes how she spent time studying photos of wrought-iron metalwork, then figured out how to create the curlicue effect with the toilet paper rolls. She loves the way it looks against the white bricks above her rustic fireplace.
3. Flowery wreath
Made entirely of materials found in the home, this flowery wreath is perfect springtime door decor. Maura of Happy Deal, Happy Day! made a round base from a brown paper bag, then glued toilet paper rolls to it to form the basic wreath. The result is a cute touch of country charm without spending a dime!
4. Faux-metal wall art

Mari used thin strips of balsa wood to frame the artwork she created and posted at In my own words. She recommends working on a ruled mat, especially if, like her, "precision work isn't really [your] thing." The finished product took a "short million hours" to create, but she loves it! 
Mari also noted that the piece creates a sort of optical illusion when viewed straight on; she recommends placing it on the side of a hallway so this won't be a problem. 
5. Cross

Crystal's Little Creations kept things simple and personal by crafting a lovely cross. The instructions emphasize the ease of working with toilet paper rolls by noting you can vary the width of the strips for depth, in addition to creating whatever shape in whichever color you desire.
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Are you ready to put your used toilet paper rolls to beautiful use? Please SHARE these projects if you're feeling inspired.