Cardboard Tube Hippo Craft

Gah. Hippos are so cute, aren’t they?

And, this cardboard tube hippo craft is about as cute as it gets. Those eyes, those teeth, that nose. Yep, these are super-cute!

So, let’s get crafting! Grab some cardboard tubes and we’ll make some hippos.

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Supplies Needed for Your Cardboard Tube Hippo Craft

Empty cardboard tube (from a toilet paper roll or a paper towel roll cut to size)
Small piece of thin cardboard (from a cereal or cracker box)
Two different shades of grey craft paint (a darker color and a lighter color)
White craft paint
Glue
Googly eyes
Black marker

How to Make Your Cardboard Tube Hippo Craft

Begin by painting your cardboard tube with the darker grey paint for the body of your hippo. Also, paint your smaller piece of cardboard with the same color of paint.

Let each piece dry before you move on to the next step.

This is a great time to take a book break! Try a hippo book like Fiona the Hippo or Hippos are Huge! while you’re waiting for the paint to dry.

After the paint is dry, cut two circles from your thin piece of cardboard for your ears.

Use your black marker to color in the center of each circle. Only the top half of your ear will be showing on your hippo, so make sure you can also see the black in the middle.

Next, use the lighter color of grey to paint an oval in the top half of your cardboard tube. This is going to be the hippo’s snout.

Use your white paint to make two square teeth at the bottom of your snout.

Once the paint on your snout is dry, draw two long ovals with your black marker for your hippo’s nostrils.

Glue your eyes above the snout and glue your ears directly above your eyes. You’ll want to glue the ears to the inside of your tube so they peek up from the top.

Add your hippo to your cardboard tube zoo or make a whole bloat of hippos for pretend play. (A group of hippos is called a bloat. Did you know that? I didn’t!) No matter what, just have fun playing with your super-cute hippos!

You May Also Like One of These Animal Crafts

Koala Bookmark Craft for Kids

Cardboard Tube Elephant Craft

Cardboard Tube Tiger Craft

10 Happening Hippo Crafts for Kids at Artsy Craftsy Mom

My Must-Have Kids Craft Resources

Crafting with your kids is so much easier when you keep a few supplies on hand. I keep a supply of recycled materials, such as cardboard tubes, cardboard boxes, newspapers, paper scraps, egg cartons etc. as well as supplies such as paint, construction paper, and glue that we use often. Here are some supplies you may want to keep on hand to make many of the crafts that we share here.