Cardboard Tube Standing Sculpture Art

Cardboard tubes in various sizes — paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper tubes

Washable paint and paintbrushes

Scissors (adult use for cutting slits)

Tape

Decorations — stickers, tissue paper strips, aluminum foil, feathers

Collect five to ten cardboard tubes of different lengths and widths. The variety makes the sculpture more interesting.

An adult cuts some tubes in half and cuts short slits (about 1 inch) into the ends of others. The slits allow tubes to interlock.

Let your child paint all the tubes in whatever colors they choose. Set them aside to dry completely.

Once dry, show your child how to connect tubes. Slide slit ends into each other, tape tubes side by side, or stack them vertically.

Build in any direction — tall towers, wide sprawling forms, abstract clusters. Let your child lead the design decisions.

Add decorations to the assembled sculpture. Wrap tissue paper around tubes, stick on stickers, attach foil antennae or feathers.

Display the sculpture as a standing art piece. These are surprisingly impressive when finished.

Start collecting tubes well in advance. Having a big pile of tubes gives your child more creative options.

The painting and building are two separate sessions if your child's attention span is short. Paint one day, build the next.

A sturdy base matters. Start with the widest tube or tape several tubes to a piece of cardboard for stability.

This is real sculptural thinking — your child is working in three dimensions, considering balance, and making design choices.

Take a photo of the sculpture from multiple angles. These constructions are often fragile and short-lived, but the photos last.