✨ A Craft Filled with Magical
Continue your underwater adventure with a cheerful DIY Toilet Roll Crab! Using an empty toilet paper roll and a few colourful pieces of paper, children can create their own little crab complete with claws, wiggly legs, and a happy face.
This simple recycled craft pairs perfectly with the Toilet Roll Octopus and is easy enough for preschoolers and young children. Make both and start building your very own cardboard ocean world!
The Craft
You’ll only need:
- 1 empty toilet paper roll
- Red or orange coloured paper
- Extra coloured paper or cardstock
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue stick
- Black marker
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Crayons or markers
- Stickers or paper circles for decoration (optional)
✂️ Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Colour the Toilet Roll
Wrap the toilet roll with red or orange coloured paper. You can also paint it and leave it to dry.
Step 2: Make the Crab Legs
Cut six small strips from coloured paper or cardstock. Fold each strip slightly to give the legs some shape.
Glue three legs onto each side of the toilet roll.
Step 3: Make the Claws
Draw and cut out two large crab claws from red or orange cardstock.
Cut two additional strips of paper for the arms, then glue a claw onto the end of each strip.
Step 4: Attach the Claws
Glue one claw arm to each side of the toilet roll, just above the legs.
Gently bend the arms upward so your little crab looks ready to wave!
Step 5: Add the Face
Glue two googly eyes near the top of the toilet roll or draw your own eyes.
Add a big happy smile with a black marker.
Step 6: Decorate Your Crab
Add colourful dots, hearts, bubbles, or other fun patterns to give your crab its own personality.
Step 7: Ready for an Ocean Adventure!
Your toilet roll crab is complete! Place it beside your Toilet Roll Octopus and let your underwater adventure begin.
🌱 Educational Benefits
🦀 Introduces Ocean Animals
Children can learn about crabs, their claws, legs, and where they live.
✋ Develops Fine Motor Skills
Cutting, folding, gluing, and decorating help strengthen hand-eye coordination.
🔢 Encourages Early Counting
Children can count the crab’s six walking legs while assembling their craft.
🎨 Inspires Creativity
Kids can experiment with colours, patterns, expressions, and decorations.
♻️ Promotes Recycling
Shows children how an empty toilet roll can be transformed into a fun homemade toy.
🌊 Encourages Imaginative Play
Pair the crab with other handmade sea creatures for storytelling and pretend ocean adventures.
🎉 Wrap-Up
The DIY Toilet Roll Crab is a simple and colourful addition to your recycled under-the-sea craft collection. With a toilet roll, some coloured paper, and a little creativity, children can create a friendly crab that’s perfect for both display and imaginative play.
And don’t stop with just one sea creature! Put your octopus and crab together to start creating a whole recycled ocean family.
🌊 Little Mandu Tip: Next, add a Toilet Roll Fish to the collection. Once you have several sea creatures, use a cardboard box as the ocean backdrop and turn the entire collection into a mini underwater play scene.
For more creative kids’ activities, visit Little Mandu’s Crafts Corner.
