Looking for a fast, fun, and low-mess craft to keep little hands busy? This DIY Toilet Paper Roll Octopus is the perfect project! With just a few simple supplies, kids can create their own adorable sea creature in no time. It’s great for ocean-themed lessons, rainy day activities, or just an afternoon of creative play using materials you already have at home!

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Octopus Craft

This fun ocean-themed craft is super simple and uses materials you likely already have at home. Follow these easy steps to turn an empty toilet paper roll into a cute and colorful octopus!

Materials:

  • 1 empty toilet paper roll

  • Paint (any color you like for the octopus)

  • Paintbrush

  • Googly eyes (or draw eyes with marker) (The self-adhesive is the best)

  • Scissors

  • Glue or glue stick (if you need to glue on the eyes)

  • Black marker (for the mouth or extra details)

  • Optional: stickers, glitter, or sequins for decorating

Instructions:

1. Paint the Roll

Paint the entire toilet paper roll your chosen octopus color (like purple, blue, or pink). Let it dry completely.

2. Cut the Tentacles

Once dry, cut eight evenly spaced slits from the bottom up about halfway. These will be the octopus’s tentacles.

3. Curl the Tentacles

Gently roll each of the eight strips outward (use your finger or a pencil) to curl them slightly, making them look like wiggly tentacles. This is an optional step if you want the curling look. I just bent mine a little.

4. Add Eyes

Glue on two googly eyes near the top of the roll, above the tentacles. No googly eyes? Just draw some with a black marker or cut out circles from white paper.

5. Draw the Face

Use a marker to draw a smile or any silly expression you’d like. Add dots or lines on the tentacles if you want more detail.

6. Optional Decorating

Let kids personalize their octopus with stickers, glitter, or sequins. Some might even want to name their octopus and add a nametag! We added buttons to ours.

Learn about Octopus with this Toilet Paper Roll Craft

This craft isn’t just fun—it’s educational too! As kids create their toilet paper roll octopus, take the opportunity to teach them a few cool facts about these amazing sea creatures. Did you know octopuses have eight arms, three hearts, and can squirt ink to escape predators? You can talk about where they live, how they camouflage themselves, and why they’re such smart animals. Turning the craft into a mini science lesson helps kids connect art with learning—and makes the experience even more memorable!

Facts about Octopuses:

  • 🐙 They have eight arms – That’s why they’re called “octopus”! Each arm has powerful suction cups to help them grab and explore.

  • ❤️❤️❤️ They have three hearts – Two pump blood to the gills, and one pumps blood to the rest of the body.

  • 🩸 Their blood is blue – Unlike humans, octopuses have copper-based blood, which turns blue when it carries oxygen.

  • 🎨 They can change color and texture – Octopuses use special skin cells called chromatophores to blend in with their surroundings, even mimicking rocks or coral!

  • 💨 They squirt ink to escape – When scared, they shoot a cloud of dark ink to confuse predators and make a quick getaway.

  • 🧠 They’re super smart – Octopuses are known for solving puzzles, escaping tanks, and even opening jars!

  • 🌊 They don’t have bones – Their soft, squishy bodies can squeeze through tiny spaces—perfect for hiding in crevices.

  • 🐾 Each arm can “think” on its own – While they do have a brain, octopuses also have nerve centers in each arm, letting them react independently!

What Color Will You Paint Your Octopus?

This quick and easy octopus craft proves that you don’t need fancy supplies to spark creativity. With a little imagination and a recycled toilet paper roll, kids can dive into an ocean of fun. Whether you’re crafting at home, in the classroom, or during a summer camp, this cheerful octopus is sure to bring smiles and maybe even inspire a deeper curiosity about ocean life!