Craft Paper Roll Holder

craft paper roll holder
Difficulty
Starter Projects
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Make a craft paper roll holder! Free step by step diy plans to build your own craft paper roll holder.

 

Tell me I'm not the only frugal Momma who uses freezer paper for craft paper rolls.

 
 
But I am one frugal Momma who is no longer re-rolling the 150 foot long roll back up.  Or yelling at the kids to not waste the paper roll.  Or having to stand on one end to keep the paper flat while they color.
 
 
Because this frugal Momma made a craft roll paper holder for guess how much?
 
 
I'll give you a hint.  The crayons cost more.  
 
 
Did you guess free?
 
 
Well, free as in using scraps and leftovers.  We had a tiny bit of pink paint leftover from this project - just enough to line the inside of the can, but not enough to pour after 15 minutes of holding the can upside down.  Thank goodness I saved it!  All we needed was a few brush dips.
 
And I had a dowel piece leftover from the sling chairs.  And then I needed about scrap 1x2 - about six feet total. Had that leftover from various projects because I save anything that I can still cut.  But if you had to buy a new pine 1x2 like mine, it'll set you back about a buck.
 
 
This craft paper roll holder took about half an hour to cut and assemble and paint in actual work time.  I tend to do things in this order: Cut - Check on Grace - Cut some more - Check on Grace - Mark joints and drill pocket holes or pilot holes - Check on Grace - Assemble - Let Grace Help - Unassemble - Reassemble - Fill Holes with Wood Filler - Let Dry and Clean House - Sand and Refill - Make Dinner - Sand Again and Paint - Do Dishes - Paint Second Coat - Go To Bed and Let it Dry.
 
 
 
So are you on board for creating a endless blank page for your child's imagination to run wild on?
 
Or a cute desktop ribbon holder?
 
Or how about a wrapping paper holder?
 
You gotta make this!  And I'm going to show you how step-by-step.
 
 
 
 
Dimensions
craft paper roll holder
Fits 18" wide freezer paper or craft paper roll.

Preparation

Shopping List
  • 1 - 1x2 @ 4 feet long
  • 1 - 1/2" diameter wood dowel
  • 1-1/4" pocket hole screws (8)
Common Materials
2 1/2 inch screws
120 grit sandpaper
primer
paint
paint brush
Cut List

2 - 1x2 @ 6"

2 - 1x2 @ 8"

1 - 1x2 @ 20"

1 - 1/4" Diameter Dowel @ 24"

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

Build your ends as shown above, either with 3/4" Kreg Jig Pocket Holes and 1 1/4" pocket hole screws or 2 1/2" screws and a countersink bit.

Drill holes for dowel as shown in diagram with 3/8" spade bit.

Step 2

Once both sides are complete, join with bottom board. Leave a 3/4" gap under bottom board to allow paper to pass under.

Step 3

Simply insert your dowel and you're done building!

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth.

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Comments

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 04:41

Awesome! I ALWAYS use freezer paper with the kid's art projects. It doesn't allow paint to soak through and the kids can make the paper as big as they want (within reason). Thanks for the great idea!

AbsoluteAspiring (not verified)

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 07:02

I want to make this for my daughter's second birthday(in less than a month)!!!
Do you think I can do it with minimal tools/supplies, and zero experience? :D
I'm pretty sure my husband has a drill, hand saw, sand paper, wood glue, measuring tape... and we have some extra paint in the garage. So, all I would really need to get is the wood, maybe some wood filler and screws(unless he already has them), and freezer paper... that's it, right?
Will the hand saw due for this project?

In reply to by AbsoluteAspiring (not verified)

Ana White

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 14:11

ABSOLUTELY! This would be a great project to try out! Can you ask your local home improvement store to make the cuts for you? Have them cut extra of the 6" and 8" pieces from the scraps in case you split a board at home. And then if you have a drill, you will need to predrill pilot holes as shown in diagram and assemble.

And yes, you could use a handsaw - won't take much to cut a 1x2! Good luck, I'm excited for you!

r0semary (not verified)

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 09:24

I loved this, how bout taking the serrated edge from your discarded waxpaper or aluminum foil boxes and attaching them to the backside of the bottom rail?

Catrin (not verified)

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 10:10

I love this... This might be the first wood thing I make...
Want to know a funny thing? Here in Germany you can hardly get freezer paper, but when you do it's like seriously expensive... So I had to smile whe you wrote your're a frugal mom ;-)

osuzannesky

Wed, 08/10/2011 - 19:04

I like the craft paper idea! I don't think I could make the holder though, because my preschooler would figure out how to take it apart and would then proceed to unravel the roll completely. Better for me to keep the roll up on a high shelf out of his reach. I wish I could do wood working like you do, but again, my son would be taking apart the house if I left him alone for any length of time.

mltdblack

Thu, 08/18/2011 - 07:14

After cutting the pieces for this yesterday. I started putting it together. Should the cut list be 2 - 1x2 @ 7 1/2"? All I need to do is prime and paint.

Guest (not verified)

Sat, 03/24/2012 - 14:08

Definitely need to change the cut list.

from: 2 - 1x2 @ 6"
to: 2 - 1x2 @ 7 1/2

:) Making this today. Need to recut this set of pieces, now:)