Paper Tube Wall Art

This beautiful wall art tutorial comes to us from Naturally Yours Events, an event planner based in Chicago, Illinois. Not only could you make a beautiful photo booth backdrop that later will function as an interesting art piece in your home, but you can make pretty much any shape you want using these steps. I simply must make a handlebar mustache!

Total cost: Less than $20
Total time: 4 hours

Materials
– 100+ paper tubes
– Paints and brushes
– Tissue paper
– Scissors
– Clear tacky glue
– Mod Podge glue

Instructions
If you choose to use packing tubes, make sure to cut them down to the size you want with a knife or small hand saw.

1. Take the tissue paper and cut out your desired shape. A heart shape was created for this project. It may help to draw your shape before cutting. After cutting, lay your shape on a flat surface.

2. Make sure the paper tubes are free of any left over paper, then paint them, if desired. Only a handful of the tubes were painted in this tutorial for more of a mixed look.

3. Place your tubes around the perimeter of your cutout shape.

4. Using tacky glue, begin to glue the tubes to one another. Pinch them together and hold for a few seconds to allow the glue to set.

5. Continue to layer rows of tubes until you have reached your desired thickness and shape, gluing as you go.

6. After the tacky glue has hardened begin to reinforce your tubes by painting the perimeter with Mod Podge glue. Don’t worry, it will go on white, but it does dry clear.

Additional tips:
– Ask your friends and family to help you collect paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper rolls and shipping tubes for this project. If you work in an office environment, ask the janitorial company if they could save rolls for you.
– Use rolls and tubes in a variety of sizes!
– Be eco-friendly! Use non-toxic, water-based paints.

Much thanks to Carlene from Naturally Yours Events for this tutorial. Photos by Shane Welch Photography. If you create paper roll wall art of your own, please share your photos by clicking on the “Submit Photos” link at the top of the page.