Some crafts are cute. This paper roll bunny is something else entirely. With its tall white ears, pink heart nose, rosy cheeks, and little paws hugging a pink belly — it is the kind of craft that makes people stop mid-conversation to pick it up and go “oh my goodness that is adorable.”
And the best part? It is made from a toilet paper roll, some white and pink construction paper, and a little bit of paint. That is genuinely it. No special supplies, no expensive kits, no complicated techniques — just basic craft materials transformed into something that looks like it belongs in a children’s boutique window display.
This bunny works beautifully as an Easter decoration, a spring classroom project, a birthday party activity, or honestly just a Tuesday afternoon when someone needs something to make with their hands. It suits ages four and up with some adult help on the cutting steps, and older kids can handle most of it independently with just the hot glue supervised by an adult.
Make one and see what happens. Spoiler: you will end up making at least three more.
What You’ll Need
Materials:
- Empty toilet paper roll
- White acrylic or tempera paint
- White construction paper or cardstock
- Pink construction paper or pink cardstock
- Small black googly eyes or black acrylic paint for eyes
- White craft glue or glue stick
- Hot glue gun (adult use only)
- Black fine-tip permanent marker
- Pink marker or pink pencil crayon (for cheeks)
Tools:
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Paintbrush
- Ruler
Before You Start — A Few Notes
White paint on cardboard needs patience. White is one of the trickiest colors to paint on kraft brown cardboard because the brown shows through. Plan for two solid coats minimum, possibly three. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. Rushing this step is the one thing that makes the finished bunny look less polished.
The ears make the bunny. Tall, slightly narrow ears with a soft pink inner lining are what instantly read as bunny. Make them taller than you think they need to be — ears that are too short look more like a cat. When in doubt, go taller.
The face is everything. A heart-shaped pink nose, rosy pink cheeks, and precise black whisker lines are what give this bunny its irresistible personality. Take your time on the face details — five extra minutes on the face makes the whole craft look ten times more special.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 — Paint the Roll White
Paint the entire exterior of the toilet paper roll in bright clean white. Use a flat brush and apply smooth even strokes all the way around. The first coat will look slightly streaky and patchy — that is completely normal on cardboard. Let it dry for at least fifteen minutes then apply a second coat. The second coat should give you a clean solid white surface. If any brown is still showing through in spots, a third thin coat will sort it out.
Step 2 — Cut the Ear Shapes
From white construction paper, cut two tall narrow ear shapes — each one about twice the height of the toilet paper roll, gently pointed at the top and slightly wider at the base. The shape should feel elegant and bunny-like, not round like a bear ear or short like a cat ear. Then from pink construction paper, cut two slightly smaller versions of the same ear shape — these become the pink inner ear lining. The pink pieces should be notably smaller than the white pieces so a clear white border shows around all edges when layered.
Step 3 — Assemble and Attach the Ears
Glue each pink inner ear piece onto its corresponding white outer ear using a glue stick — centered with even white borders visible all around. Let dry. Then using hot glue, attach the two completed ears to the inside top edge of the painted toilet paper roll — pushing the flat base of each ear down into the opening of the roll slightly and gluing to the inner wall. Position them close together in the center top, standing tall and parallel. They should rise dramatically above the roll opening.
Step 4 — Cut the Belly Circle
From pink construction paper, cut a large oval or circle shape for the bunny’s pink belly — it should be wide enough to span the center front of the roll and tall enough to cover roughly the lower half of the front surface. This pink belly patch is what gives the bunny its dimensional stuffed-animal quality. Round the edges generously — this should look soft and plump, not geometric.
Step 5 — Cut the Paws and Feet
From white construction paper, cut two small oval paw shapes for the front arms — each one slightly elongated with three small rounded indentations along the top edge to suggest toes. Then from white paper cut two slightly larger rounder foot shapes for the bottom feet. From pink paper, cut small pink toe pad circles — three small circles for each foot and three for each paw — these get glued onto the white paw and foot shapes as toe pads. The toe pad detail is small but makes the paws look incredibly sweet and detailed.
Step 6 — Glue the Pink Belly
Using a glue stick, apply glue to the back of the large pink oval belly piece and press it firmly onto the center front of the roll — centered horizontally, positioned in the lower half of the roll above where the feet will sit. Smooth it down from center outward to prevent any bubbling or lifting edges. Hold firmly for thirty seconds. The pink belly should sit flat and smooth against the white roll surface.
Step 7 — Assemble the Paws and Feet
Glue the pink toe pad circles onto each paw and foot shape using a glue stick — three circles per piece, evenly spaced. Let dry. Then using hot glue, attach the two front paw shapes to the sides of the roll in the middle section, angled slightly inward as if the bunny is holding something. Attach the two feet to the very base front of the roll, positioned side by side pointing slightly outward like a bunny sitting with its feet in front of it.
Step 8 — Create and Attach the Face
From pink construction paper, cut a tiny heart shape for the nose — small enough to sit between where the eyes will go but large enough to be clearly heart-shaped. This is the defining feature of the face. Take your time with this piece. Then using black googly eyes or carefully painted black dots, position the eyes on the upper front of the roll — centered, spaced evenly, positioned in the upper third of the roll above where the nose will sit.
Using hot glue, attach the googly eyes first. Then glue the tiny pink heart nose centered below the eyes. Using your black fine-tip marker, draw a short vertical line dropping from the bottom point of the heart nose, then a curved smile line branching left and right from the bottom of that line — this creates the classic bunny mouth. Draw four or five whisker lines extending outward from each side of the nose area. Finally using your pink marker or pencil crayon, color two soft round rosy cheek circles on either side of the nose — these should be blended softly at the edges rather than hard outlined circles.
Step 9 — Final Assembly Check
Stand the bunny upright and check that everything is secure — ears standing tall, feet sitting flat, paws attached at the right angle, belly smooth, face details all in place. Adjust anything that has shifted. If the bunny tips forward due to the ear weight, add a small dot of hot glue inside the back base of the roll to create a slightly wider back base contact point. Give the face one final look and add any extra whisker lines or cheek color that would make it more expressive.
Step 10 — Your Bunny Is Complete
Set it down, step back, and look at what just happened. A toilet paper roll became a bunny with tall pink-lined ears, rosy cheeks, a tiny heart nose, little paws, and the sweetest sitting pose. It took less than an hour and it cost almost nothing. And it is completely, genuinely adorable.
Fun Variations to Try
Easter egg bunny: Instead of a plain pink belly, cut a large Easter egg shape from white paper, decorate it with colorful stripes and dots before gluing it on, and have the bunny’s paws “hold” the decorated egg. Perfect Easter version.
Grey bunny: Paint the roll soft grey instead of white, use lavender for the inner ears and nose, and give it grey felt or paper paws. Elegant and sophisticated.
Black bunny: Paint the roll matte black, use white paper for the inner ears, give it bright blue eyes, and use a white marker for the whiskers. Dramatic and striking.
Bunny family: Three sizes using a full paper towel roll, a whole toilet paper roll, and a toilet paper roll cut in thirds. Mama, papa, and baby bunny lined up together.
Personalized Easter basket tag: Make a tiny version and write a child’s name on the belly — instant personalized Easter basket label that also works as a keepsake.
Tips for Best Results
White paint needs two to three coats on brown cardboard — there are no shortcuts here. Each coat needs to be fully dry before the next goes on or the color will lift and mix.
Cut the heart nose smaller than you think it needs to be. A tiny precise heart reads as more charming and intentional than a larger one. If your first attempt comes out too big, cut another one.
The whiskers look best when drawn with a confident single stroke rather than hesitant scratchy lines. Practice on scrap paper first, then draw them on the bunny in one smooth pull of the marker outward from the nose.
A white fluffy pom-pom glued to the back of the roll as a cotton tail is optional but absolutely recommended. It is the detail that makes everyone go “oh that is so cute” when they pick the bunny up and see the back.
Display and Gift Ideas
A paper roll bunny on a spring windowsill surrounded by a few real daffodils in a small vase looks like intentional seasonal home decor. Make one in white and one in grey and display them as a pair.
For Easter, make one for every place setting at the Easter table — write each guest’s name on the front and use them as place cards that double as take-home gifts.
A classroom set of twenty bunnies all slightly different — some with blue eyes, some with grey ears, some holding decorated eggs — displayed on a shelf together is one of the most charming spring classroom displays imaginable.
Pack one in an Easter basket instead of buying plastic grass filler. The bunny itself becomes part of the gift and it will be kept long after the chocolate is gone.
Final Thoughts
Spring crafting does not get sweeter than this. A white bunny with tall pink ears and a heart-shaped nose made from something you were about to throw away — it is the perfect combination of simple, satisfying, and genuinely beautiful.
Make it for Easter. Make it for spring. Make it because it is Tuesday and someone in your house has craft supplies and thirty minutes to spare. Any reason is a good reason to make this bunny.
Happy crafting and happy spring.