This cardboard roll wall art is one of those projects that looks surprisingly high-end once it’s finished, even though it starts with the most ordinary material in the house. By slicing 40 cardboard tubes into rings and stacking them into a swirling sunflower-inspired spiral, you get a full, sculptural piece with lots of texture and movement. I love projects like this because they’re budget-friendly, easy to work on in short bursts after dinner, and still dramatic enough to fill a blank wall beautifully.
If you’ve got a stash of paper towel or toilet paper rolls and a free evening, this is a very doable craft. I designed this version to look lush and polished rather than skimpy, so the finished piece has dense petal coverage, a defined spiral center, and a rich painted finish that makes the cardboard feel intentional instead of recycled.
Materials
40 empty cardboard tubes, standard toilet paper roll size or similar, about 4 inches long each
Instructions
1. Flatten any bent tubes gently with your fingers, then mark each tube into 1-inch sections so you’ll get 4 rings per tube and 160 rings total from 40 tubes.
2. Cut the tubes cleanly along the marks with scissors or a craft knife, keeping the rings as even as possible so the finished spiral looks tidy and balanced.
3. Pinch each ring lightly at opposite sides to form an oval petal shape, and set aside about 20 of the smallest-looking, neatest rings for the tight center spiral.
4. Paint the outside and inside edges of most of the pinched rings gold, then add a light dry-brush of warm yellow over the top so the petals have depth instead of looking flat.
5. Paint the 20 center rings dark brown on the inside with a touch of gold on the outer edges so the middle reads like a sunflower center while still tying into the rest of the piece.
6. Let everything dry fully, then cut a 6-inch circle from the cardstock to use as a hidden backing that will hold the spiral together.
7. Arrange the brown center rings first in a tight spiral on the cardstock circle, overlapping the sides slightly and hot-gluing each ring where it touches the next ring and the backing.
8. Build the next layer around the center using the gold rings, angling each petal slightly outward and overlapping the glued sides so the spiral begins to open up like a blooming sunflower.
9. Continue adding rings in widening rows, following the swirl rather than making perfect circles, and keep the petals packed closely so there are no obvious gaps.
10. Tuck a few rings slightly under neighboring petals as you glue to create a layered, full look with more dimension and stronger shadow lines.
11. Step back and check the outline, then add extra gold petals where needed so the outside edge looks rounded, generous, and evenly balanced all the way around.
12. Glue the twine loop to the back near the top, reinforce it with a small extra piece of cardstock if needed, and then seal the front with a light coat of matte sealer for a finished, durable surface.
Variations & Tips
Color shift: If gold isn’t your style, try cream, terracotta, or soft white petals with a bronze center for a more neutral wall piece that still shows off the spiral shape.
Cleaner cuts: I get the nicest rings when I mark several tubes at once with a ruler first, then cut slowly instead of trying to rush through the stack.
Make it larger: For a more dramatic statement piece, use 50 to 60 tubes and expand the outer layers with slightly wider spacing while still keeping the spiral packed and rounded.
Better paint coverage: Cardboard can drink up paint, so two thin coats always look better than one heavy coat and help keep the ring edges crisp.
Easy hanging: If the piece feels larger or heavier than expected, add two hanging loops on the back instead of one so it sits flatter against the wall.
Polished finish: A final matte sealer makes a big difference; it evens out the paint sheen and gives the whole project that finished look that makes recycled cardboard feel intentional.