Have an enjoyable time with your children making binoculars from recycled toilet paper tubes. Wrap the tubes in black construction paper (or paint them black) for an authentic look, or let your imagination loose by decorating the cardboard tubes any way you like! The project includes tips for modifying the craft to make it simpler for younger children.
Your children will have fun peering through the colorful lenses to see a tinted world. With the binoculars hung from a cord around their neck, a world of make-believe play opens up for your child.
Related craft: Use red, blue and yellow cellophane to make a Spy Glass Color Wheel that teaches kids about combining the primary colors.
» » Basic Craft Box plus toilet paper tubes, cellophane and rubber bands. « «
Read through the project, then gather the materials needed for making the binoculars. Each pair of binoculars requires two empty cardboard tubes (4" to 5" long). Have the children collect empty toilet paper tubes—longer tubes work, too , but must be cut to size.
If you are doing the craft with a group, pre-cut the construction paper and cellophane to make the craft go faster. If you plan to paint the tubes black, you can do this in advance or have the kids do it the day before.
Cut a rectangle from black construction paper to wrap around each tube. Measure the length of the tube, usually 4" to 5", and cut two rectangles that are the measured length by 6".
Apply glue to the black construction paper and wrap it around the tube. Hold the paper in place while the glue dries, or put two or three rubber bands around the tube to hold the paper in place.
Tip: Your binoculars don't have to be black. Use any color of paper you like, or color white paper with your own designs!
Another option is to paint the cardboard tubes black.
Tip: For younger children, this step can be skipped or let them "dress-up" the binoculars with markers.
Cut two 4" squares of cellophane—the same color is usually best. Round off the corners with your scissors.
Tip: If you don't have cellophane, skip this step. Children will enjoy the binoculars without the colored lenses.
Place a piece of cellophane evenly over one end of the tube. Hold it in place and secure with a rubber band. The children may need help putting the rubber band over the cellophane.
Make an end cap for each tube to help hold the cellophane in place and give the binoculars a neater look. Cut a 1½" by 6" strip of black construction paper for each tube. Wrap the strip around the end of the tube with the cellophane (leave the rubber band on) and glue in place. Hold the strip in place with your hand or a couple of rubber bands until the glue dries.
Tip: Curl the strip to make it easier to wrap around the tube. Hold a round pen or pencil in one hand and put the strip between your thumb and the pen. Use the other hand to draw the strip over the pen.
Glue the two tubes together with white glue (Elmer's / PVA). Run a line of glue down the length of one tube, then press the tubes together. Wrap rubber bands around the tubes to hold them in place until the glue has dried.
Tip: Double-sided tape can be used in place of the white glue.
Cut a strip of colored construction paper, 1¼" by 10", to wrap around the binoculars. Wrap the strip around the joined tubes, toward the open ends. Apply glue to hold in place. A paperclip may be used to hold the ends together until the glue dries.
Tip: Decorate the strip any way you like. A single 1" circle that has been stamped with a nature image is a nice addition.
Tip: For younger children, this step can be skipped; however, the strip does increase the sturdiness of the binoculars.
Use a ¼" hole punch to punch holes on both sides of the binoculars at the open end. Cut a 26" to 30" length of black plastic lacing. Tie the lacing ends to the binoculars through the punched holes.
Put the strap over your head and hold the binoculars up to your eyes! Hey, everything turned red!
That's it! Your binoculars
are complete!