Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Art of the Toilet Paper Roll

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.

toilet paper rolls

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.

paper towel rolls

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.)

paper roll art

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.

just a girl paper roll art

So here it is. Toilet paper wall art. For $15.00.

paper roll art

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?

just a girl toilet roll art

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.

just a girl toilet paper art

toilet paper art

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. No “big reveal” of the bedroom just yet. Still some things to do, but THAT was a biggie.

88 comments:

Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims said...

this is so cool! I think it's my favorite toilet paper art I've seen yet! :)

Perfectly Jenn said...

Your sheets are incredible and the t.p. art is actually beautiful!
I'm saving it for my inspiration folder!

Sarah said...

I love this! That is such a fun idea!

N. said...

I love this!

Debbie said...

That is so interesting and pretty! What an amazing idea.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome idea and a great way to recycle too!

Green Door Girl said...

What a great idea - this turned out beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I love this idea! Might have to copy it.

Kristen said...

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.

Amy Kinser said...

That's great! How creative!

Meg said...

What?!! This is amazing!

Unknown said...

This is beautifully brilliant, seriously! I love it, great job! :-)

Whitney said...

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!

Jocelyn said...

All I can saw is just wow! Can you please teach me to do such cute crafty things to brighten my home up?! Pretty please!

Those are just adorable, can I start copying you and going with the lighter colors now too?!

Playing It Cooley

Luisa said...

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.

Heather- Extra Frosting Please said...

That is really funny and really awesome. Love it!

Linds said...

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!

Unknown said...

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. :)

Lynette @ My Craft Discovery said...

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!

Kacey said...

What a fabulous idea! Earth friendly AND decorative - love!

Mindy said...

t.p. rolls... who woulda thunk it?? Amazing! I love it!

Unknown said...

You clever clever girl. Gorgeous. And I really love those shams. Looking forward to seeing the whole reveal.

Cap Creations said...

Wow that's awesome!

Amanda said...

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.

Wendys Hat said...

So creative! This turned out really cute!

Tracey said...

What a great way to reuse and recycle. It is very upscale and no one would ever know it toilet paper rolls!! Great job!

Sharon-The OKI StampQueen said...

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!

Southern Gal said...

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!

Kaye said...

You're brilliant; it looks great!!!

laxsupermom said...

So cool! I love how simple and graphic it is! Thanks for sharing.

Stacie said...

Finally, someone answered my question about whether you could paint the rolls! Love it!

Olga said...

This such a cute idea and so easy! I love the look. Thanks for sharing.

Kelly M. said...

This has to be one of the best DIY projects I've seen of late-- love love it!
~Kelly
simplykellyblog.com

adepejuglows said...

The things one can make when one sets their minds to it is simply beautiful. This is truly nice! :)

Unknown said...

Wowie! Amazing! Love it. You make it look so easy!

Unknown said...

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!

Jordan@the2seasons said...

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!

Stacy CUrran said...

"JUST A GENIUS" is more like it!!!!!

Stacy CUrran said...

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)

Unknown said...

turned out fantastic! i've seen these around blog land and each time it blows my mind!!

Traci Michele said...

wow wow wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moois van mie said...

i'm also collecting toiletpaperrolls to make then. ( maybe one day ;) )
i like yours !

Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d said...

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! :)

Meg said...

I love it so much!

Carol-Anne said...

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!

Amanda said...

so stinking cute!!! I have plenty of those around b/c my 2yr old insist on unrolling every roll of TP in the house!

Miranda said...

what a great idea!! Love it!

beckyj said...

LOVE this! I'm not well-versed in tp art, but this has inspired me!

Lizzie @ Emmerson and Fifteenth said...

Cute! I LOVE the bedding - where did you find it?

Kathy said...

that is way too fun! You have me inspired to start saving rolls!! wow... thanks!

Laura Lynn said...

You amaze me!

Anonymous said...

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!

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

what an amazing idea!!

Good Time Charlie said...

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.

Unknown said...

Well I see everyone is LOVIN' the TP art... include me in on the love fest. Super cute and affordable!

Unknown said...

Super Cute! I haven't seen any TP art yet...but I'm sure I will now! :]

Laurie in SC said...

Just. plain. gawwwwwgeous. Great job! And Happy Mother's Day!

Emmy said...

Love this! I love the design, and the white! Very pretty! Who would've thought where the supplies came from, huh?! :) Great job!

Mejia Mamma said...

Saw this post on T&J's FB status today...that is seriously soooo cool!! Great job!

www.mejiamamma.blogspot.com

Caley said...

Ok, that is the coolest thing ever!! How in the world did you think of that? Oh, wait, you think of everything. ;)

Ashley@ DesignBuildLove.co said...

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!)

Sew Frenzi said...

OMG!!!!! I absolutely love this!!!!!

Sweet Peas and Bumblebees said...

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! =)

Lesley said...

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.
:)

Deanna said...

What an interesting idea - it looks great! Can't wait to show my daughter - moving into her first apt. after the dorm!

Dream Mom said...

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.

Katherines Corner said...

Very clever! Happy Mothers Day! Big Hugs!!

Anonymous said...

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

Kimberly said...

So creative, doesn't get any prettier than this wonderful art you have designed. Im gonna share on my blog. Amazing!

Nicole said...

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! :)

Cindy @ Cinsarah said...

This is awesome!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!

Sarah said...

What a great idea! I am so using this for our living room- it needs a little something for the walls I think.

Mara said...

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) ;)

kate said...

I'm gonna start saving my rolls! Thanks for the great idea. Check our the vanity I just stained....I'm tryin'!

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Oh my heavens! So clever!!!!

Love the graphic simplicity.
Stunning.

GREAT post!
xx
A

Jenna, SAS Interiors said...

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
www.sasinteriors.net

Katie Morphew said...

Love it! I have to know, where did you get the pillow shams/bedding? I truly love them, please!?!

Carmel said...

What a fabulous idea...and oh so stylish!!! Another item I can add to my spa!!!

Moddy Bee said...

ok,...this is so cool!! im going to feature you on my blog!!
www.moddybee.blogspot.com

dandi mae said...

I absolutely LOVE this!! I'm going to try it and just hope I don't end up on craft fail!!! :)

That Girl said...

I cannot wait to try this! Its so beautiful and fresh looking. Where did you get that beautiful bedding? I need to know.

Barb said...

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

Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys said...

That's terrific! All this time I've been saving the rolls for projects with the boys. Forget that!

dandi mae said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I'm going to do this as soon as I can. Thanks for this amazing idea.

Laura said...

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

Mercedes@Mercedes Blend said...

What a clever idea! Who would have thunk that a TP roll could be used like that. Thank you for sharing your art.

Beth at southernfriedliving.blogspot.com said...

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

Anonymous said...

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.

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