Purple Monster Tube Buddy with Googly Eyes

Creating a Purple Monster Tube Buddy is the perfect hands-on craft for kids who love silly creatures and bright colors. This fun DIY project transforms an ordinary cardboard roll into a playful monster bursting with personality. Whether you're crafting at home on a rainy afternoon or preparing decorations for a Halloween party, this googly-eyed monster will bring smiles and creativity to the table.

Not only is this craft entertaining, but it’s also budget-friendly and uses upcycled materials, making it an eco-conscious activity for classrooms, birthday parties, or craft time with siblings. With large eyes, a dramatic tuft of hair, and a funky bow tie, the finished monster is equal parts adorable and hilarious. Plus, there’s plenty of room for personalization, so every monster will be totally unique.

Let’s get started with what you’ll need!

Materials Needed

• 1 cardboard toilet paper roll
• Purple craft foam or construction paper (8" x 4")
• Googly eyes (1.5" size, 2 pieces)
• Black foam sheet (for mouth and eyebrows)
• White paper or foam (for teeth)
• Purple felt or yarn (for hair)
• Purple mini pom-poms or small foam shapes (for hands)
• Purple patterned fabric or foam (for bow tie)
• Polka dot washi tape (optional)
• Scissors
• Craft glue or glue gun
• Pencil and ruler

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Tube Base

Start by making sure your cardboard roll is clean and free of any loose paper. If you'd like, paint it white or purple as a base coat and let it dry for about 15 minutes. This helps brighten the final colors and gives a smooth finish.

Step 2: Wrap the Roll with Purple Craft Foam or Paper

Measure and cut a piece of purple foam or construction paper to fit around your tube (typically 8 inches wide by 4 inches tall). Wrap it around the roll and glue it down securely. Make sure the seam is at the back.

Step 3: Add Facial Features

Glue on two large googly eyes near the top of the roll, leaving room for hair above them. Cut out a mouth shape from the black foam—an open, jagged shape works great for a silly monster expression. Glue it beneath the eyes. Add triangle teeth made from white paper and stick them inside the mouth. Cut and attach two small black foam shapes above the eyes for eyebrows.

Step 4: Create Monster Hair

For the hair, cut strips of purple felt or yarn approximately 3 to 4 inches long. Fan them out in a spiky shape and glue them to the inside rim of the tube at the top. Press and hold each section to ensure it sticks well. Let dry for a few minutes.

Step 5: Add Arms and Accessories

Cut out tiny monster arms using matching purple foam or use small pom-poms for a 3D effect. Glue them to the sides of the tube. Then, create a fun bow tie using patterned fabric or a checkered purple foam sheet. Fold it into shape and glue it to the front, just below the mouth.

Step 6: Final Touches

Add a strip of polka dot washi tape around the bottom of the tube for extra decoration. You can also draw eyebrows, blush spots, or freckles with markers to enhance the monster’s look. Allow all glued parts to dry for 10–15 minutes before handling the monster.

Customization Ideas

1. Colorful Monsters: Try using different colors for the foam and hair—green, orange, or pink monsters can all have their own charm. Mix and match googly eye sizes for added silliness.

2. Silly vs. Scary Faces: Create goofy expressions by varying the mouth shapes—give your monster a lopsided grin or a surprised “O” shape. For a spookier look, try sharp teeth and dark eyebrows.

3. Themed Monsters: Turn your monster into a character! Add a cape for a superhero monster, a crown for a royal monster, or even glasses for a nerdy look.

Educational and Seasonal Uses

This project is perfect for classrooms learning about emotions or character design. Ask kids to make a happy, sad, or surprised monster and describe its personality. For seasonal uses, this makes a fantastic Halloween decoration or party activity. During monster-themed parties, kids can create their own personalized creature to take home.

Printable Template

To make this craft even easier, we’ve included a printable template with all the key facial features: eyes, eyebrows, mouth, teeth, arms, and bow tie. Just print the sheet, let kids color the parts, cut them out, and glue them onto their own cardboard roll.

Using the printable template streamlines prep time and ensures consistency, especially in group settings like classrooms or parties. It’s a great way to encourage creativity while making the process manageable and fun for all ages.

Conclusion

The Purple Monster Tube Buddy is a delightful mix of creativity, color, and upcycling. Whether you're crafting at home or in a classroom, it brings out the fun in everyone involved. With endless customization options and a simple set of materials, this project is sure to become a favorite in your DIY lineup. So grab those googly eyes and get crafting!