Looking for a fun and sustainable project to do with the kids this Halloween? These adorable treat boxes are made from recycled paper towel or toilet paper cardboard tubes. They can be filled with small, wrapped candies, trinkets or stickers and given to friends, neighbors and classmates as a unique and thoughtful gift or party favor! Plan ahead so there is time for the paint to dry.
Supplies
- Something to cover workspace
- Cardboard tubes (paper towel or toilet paper)
- Scissors
- Tempera or acrylic paint in colors that match the characters you want to make (orange, yellow, white, pink, green, black, skin tone, etc.)
- Pencil
- Paintbrush
- Water cup
- Colored pencils or paint pens
- Hole punch
- Stapler
- Ribbon, raffia, yarn or twine
- Candy, mini toys or stickers to fill containers
- Black construction paper or cardstock (if making witches and cats)
- Optional: googly eyes and glue
Directions
- Cover your workspace with an opened large paper bag, placemat or plastic cloth.
- Pro tip: For white and orange treat boxes, paint tubes white first and allow to dry.
- If using paper towel tubes, cut each one into sections about 4” long.
- Continue below with directions for each “character” you want to make. Then return to the next step (#5)
- Once dry, place a few candies, stickers or small toys inside. To close the decorated tube with treats inside, pinch the bottom and staple closed OR punch a hole and secure with ribbon, twine or raffia (the ribbon method makes treat boxes reusable).
GHOST TREAT BOX: Paint the tube white and allow to dry; if using brown cardboard tubes, ghosts look better when painted with two coats of white (drying in between coats). Pinch one end of the tube and staple shut. For a scalloped bottom edge, pinch it in the opposite direction as the top, then draw and cut curves (see photo). Draw eyes and mouth or adhere googly eyes. Continue with step #5 above.
“BOO!” TREAT BOX: Paint the tube orange and allow to dry.* Pinch one end of the tube and staple closed. Pinch the bottom in the opposite direction as the top, then write “Boo!” on the front. Continue with step #5 above.
CAT: Paint tube black and allow to dry.* Push top edges of tube down to create ears (see photo); they should stay down without staples. Cut a tail from black paper or cardstock and glue or tape to the back. Pinch bottom in same direction as top; then draw face with paint pens or colored pencils. Continue with step #5 above.
CANDY CORN: Lightly draw pencil lines to divide the tube into three sections. Paint bottom section yellow, the middle orange, and the top white. Allow to dry.* Pinch the top of the tube and staple closed. Pinch the bottom of the tube in the opposite direction and add face details. Optional: Round corners of points on bottom. Continue with step #5 above.
WITCH: Staple one end of the tube closed. Working on a side with a point facing you, lightly draw a face (circle) in pencil and hair in the middle third of the tube. Add a long triangle that goes from under the “chin” to the bottom of the tube for the dress (add stripes if you wish). Paint the round shape (face) above the triangle. (See partially painted witch below.) Paint the dress solid or in stripes. Paint the rest of the tube black and allow to dry. Once dry, add face details with paint pens or colored pencils.
To make the hat brim, trace and cut a 4” circle out of black paper. Fold the circle in half and cut a slit in the middle about ¼” from the edge. Slide the circle over the top of the tube and glue in place. Continue with step #5 above.
Pro tip: To promote even drying, put painted tubes over paint bottles (or other small containers).
Alyssa Navapanich is an award-winning art educator who teaches art to elementary school kids in East San Diego County.
