Are your little rugrats suffering from cabin fever? Try this clever idea out and they’ll thank you: make a cardboard tube binoculars craft that they can still use indoors – much like our DIY Kaleidoscope for kids! They’ll love using the binoculars even while stuck inside!
Cardboard Tube Binoculars
Here is an incredibly fun and simple craft for kids! Feel free to substitute camouflage felt with another pattern or solid color when making their cardboard tube binoculars.
These binoculars make an awesome camp craft or rainy-day activity for kids! Perfect for bird watching and even indoor adventure games!
What you Need
Tip: If you like the look of camouflage felt but can’t find any locally, make your own by adhering different hues of one hue onto a piece of felt or construction paper in random positions.
How to make Cardboard Tube Binoculars
On your work surface, place felt with its design side facing down. Cut two half pieces from each fabric piece; lay them out design-side down and fold over one cardboard tube within each felt sheet as you glue. Trim away excess felt before repeating this step for the second cardboard tube.
Cut a long strip of craft foam wide enough to wrap around one end of your tube, approximately 3/4″. Use glue or double-stick tape to adhere the strip around its circumference while aligning its felt seam with that of the craft foam strip seam, then secure with a rubber band. Repeat these steps with both tubes.
Cut an additional strip long enough to wrap around the opposite end of the tube and cut it 1/2″ wide; glue as before and secure with a rubber band. Place both tubes side-by-side with their seams facing each other and secure with another rubber band to keep them secure.
Utilize a pen to punch a hole in one side of the tube, approximately 1/2″ below a 1/2″-wide craft foam strip. Insert one end of your twine through this hole from outside, pull through, and tie a double knot around its circumference before trimming off any excess and gently tautening the twine taut; this knot should prevent it from coming back out through its hole later. Repeat on other side.
Place two tubes side-by-side. Pipe an even amount of white craft glue through their center tubes, lip over, and complete the other side as well. Allow this step to dry for several hours or overnight before taking further steps with your binoculars.
Hope you and your children will have fun making their very own pair of binoculars! Use their creativity while teaching them about recycling and reuse. Make this recycled craft as part of an Earth Day activity for kids!