The first cardboard tube becomes a mummy.
The next gets crooked googly eyes.
Then, someone decides their mummy needs extra bandages. Before long, the table is filled with funny little Halloween characters waiting for names, voices, and their next adventure.
Some are wrapped neatly. Others disappear beneath layers and layers of gauze until only two wiggly eyes peek through. Children compare their creations, invent silly stories, and proudly line their mummies up for a Halloween parade.
That's what makes these Cardboard Tube Mummies so memorable. They aren't just another Halloween craft. They become tiny characters that children imagine, name, play with, and proudly display long after the glue has dried.
Whether you're looking for an easy Halloween craft for preschoolers, a creative way to reuse cardboard tubes, or a simple afternoon activity filled with imagination, these Cardboard Tube Mummies invite children to turn everyday recyclables into unforgettable Halloween fun.
If you're planning even more spooky fun this season, be sure to explore our Halloween Activities for Kids collection for hundreds of creative Halloween ideas.
Why Families Love Cardboard Tube Mummies
Some Halloween crafts are finished the moment the glue dries.
These mummies are usually just getting started.
Children immediately begin giving them personalities. One becomes sleepy. Another becomes grumpy. Someone makes a baby mummy. Another insists theirs needs ten more bandages because "he's really, really old."
The crafting quicky turns into imaginative play, and that play often lasts much longer than the project itself.
Parents love watching an ordinary cardboard tube become something their children proudly carry around for the rest of the afternoon. Before long, those little mummies have names, personalities, and stories all their own.
Supplies
One of the best things about this project is how little you need.
Most families already have nearly everything on hand.
You'll need:
- Cardboard tubes
- White paint (optional)
- Paintbrush
- Googly eyes
- Gauze or medical wrap
- Scissors
- Glue
- Construction paper (optional for extra details)
How to Make Cardboard Tube Mummies
Step 1. Prepare the cardboard tubes.
If you'd like brighter contrast mummies, begin by painting the cardboard tubes black and allow them to dry completely.
Skipping the paint works perfectly too. Once the gauze is wrapped around the tube, very little of the cardboard shows through.
Step 2. Add the eyes.
Glue on one or two googly eyes before wrapping the mummy.
Leaving the eyes slightly uneven gives every mummy its own funny personality.
Step 3. Wrap the mummy.
Begin wrapping strips of gauze around the tube.
Children don't need perfect wrapping. In fact, overlapping pieces, loose ends, and uneven layers make each mummy look even more charming.
Leave the eyes peeking through or partially cover one eye for an extra silly expression.
Step 4. Finish your mummy.
Once the gauze is wrapped the way your child likes it, secure the loose ends with small dots of glue.
Now comes everyone's favorite part.
Children almost always pause to admire their finished mummy before reaching for another cardboard tube. Some decide theirs needs more bandages. Others add paper arms, funny hair, tiny hats, or little Halloween accessories. Every finished mummy seems to inspire the next idea.
That's when one cardboard tube quietly turns into an entire collection.
Why Kids Love This Craft
Children naturally love projects that leave room for their own ideas.
No two mummies ever look exactly alike.
Some are wrapped tightly until only their eyes are visible. Others peek through loose bandages with goofy smiles and crooked googly eyes. Every little difference becomes part of each mummy's personality.
The wrapping itself is just as enjoyable as the finished craft. Children carefully wind the gauze around and around, deciding where to overlap, where to leave gaps, and how much of the eyes should show.
Then the storytelling begins.
One mummy is hundreds of years old.
Another escaped from a spooky museum.
Someone else's mummy needs a Halloween pet.
Without anyone planning it, a simple craft becomes an afternoon filled with imagination, laughter, and pretend play.
Tips for Success
A few simple tricks help this activity stay fun from beginning to end.
- Cut the gauze into manageable strips before inviting children to craft.
- White medical gauze creates a classic mummy look, but torn fabric strips work beautifully too.
- Younger children may enjoy using glue dots instead of liquid glue for attaching loose ends.
- Keep extra cardboard tubes nearby. Children rarely stop after making just one mummy.
- Allow each child to create their own unique characters instead of aiming for matching crafts.
Ways to Extend the Play
Once the mummies are finished, the Halloween fun doesn't have to end.
Children often invent entirely new adventures for the characters they created.
You might:
- Build a cardboard tube haunted house.
- Create pumpkins, ghosts, monsters, bats, and witches to join the mummy family.
- Hide the mummies around the house for a Halloween scavenger hunt.
- Use the characters during story time and encourage children to invent spooky (but not scary) adventures.
- Add them to a Halloween sensory bin or pretend play invitation.
The longer these little characters stay in children's hands, the more imaginative the play becomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this mummy craft best for?
This activity is wonderful for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary-aged children. Younger children may enjoy helping wrap the gauze while an adult assists with the glue.
Can I use toilet paper rolls?
Yes. Empty toilet paper rolls are the perfect size for this craft. Paper towel rolls cut into smaller sections work well too.
What can I use instead of gauze?
Medical gauze creates the classic mummy look, but white crepe paper, tissue paper, torn fabric, or even strips of paper towels can create similar results.
Does the paint have to dry first?
If you're painting the tubes black, let the paint dry completely before wrapping them with gauze. This helps the gauze stick more easily and keeps the project from becoming messy.
More Halloween Crafts Kids Will Love
If your children had fun making these cardboard tube mummies, here are a few more Halloween activities they'll be excited to try next.
Halloween Cardboard Tube Crafts
Ready to keep the creativity going? Explore our Halloween Cardboard Tube Crafts collection and turn more cardboard tubes into ghosts, pumpkins, witches, bats, monsters, vampires, and other playful Halloween characters. One idea quickly becomes an entire afternoon of imaginative making.
Stretch, squish, and decorate spooky ghost slime that children can transform into silly Halloween characters again and again.
Light, fluffy sensory play that invites children to scoop, swirl, and imagine friendly ghosts coming to life.
A soft sensory recipe that encourages scooping, molding, and imaginative fall play.
If you're planning your Halloween activities for the season, don't miss our complete Halloween Activities for Kids collection where you'll find hundreds of crafts, science experiments, sensory bins, art projects, and play ideas for every age.
More Cardboard Tube Craft Ideas
Cardboard tubes have a wonderful way of becoming whatever children imagine.
One afternoon they're wrapped in bandages.
The next they're flying through space, guarding treasure, or becoming funny little monsters with crooked teeth and giant googly eyes.
That's part of what makes crafting with recycled materials so rewarding. Children aren't starting with a finished toy. They're creating one from their own imagination.
A simple cardboard tube becomes the beginning of another story.
Final Thoughts
The best Halloween crafts aren't always the fanciest ones.
They're the ones children remember.
The projects where little hands carefully wrapped every strip of gauze.
The moments when someone laughed because their mummy accidentally looked surprised.
The collections proudly displayed across the kitchen table long after crafting was finished.
Long after Halloween is over, there's a good chance one little mummy will still be sitting on a shelf somewhere.
Because to the child who made it, it was never just a cardboard tube.
It was their mummy.
"Can we make one more?"
If these little mummies made you smile, save this idea on Pinterest so you'll have it ready for your next Halloween craft day!
