Paper towel tubes can be used to make many different crafts.You can turn an empty paper towel tube into a rocket.You can make a rocket ship with a little time, glue, and colored paper.You can hang the cone from a hook on the ceiling if you add some string to it.
Step 1: Pull off any paper stuck to the empty towel tube.
You can cut the paper towel tube down with scissors if you want a smaller rocket.An empty toilet paper tube can be used for a mini rocket.
Step 2: The paper towel tube should be covered with a sheet of paper.
The paper has to be the same height as the tube and wide enough to wrap around it with an overlap.White is the most traditional color and you can use any color you want.
Step 3: Wrap the paper around the roll and secure it.
Attach the edge of the paper to the tube.The paper should be wrapped around the tube.Glue down the other end as well.The double-sided tape will work better here.Make sure the tube is centered on the paper.
Step 4: The base of the tube should be cut into three 1-inch slits.
You will be adding the fins later on.The slits need to be the same distance apart.
Step 5: Add some windows.
There are three windows running down the side of the rocket.The windows can be either circles or ellipses.The best windows are yellow, black, or blue.Draw the windows on with markers and then color them in.Use tempera or poster paint to paint the windows.Glue the windows onto the rocket.An adult can cut holes into a rocket.The windows won't be colored.
Step 6: If you want, decorate the rocket further.
You can either leave the body of the rocket as-is or decorate it with stickers, glitter glue, etc.Don't decorate over the slit, however!Write NASA on the side.Markers, paint, and letter stickers can be used.The NASA symbol is on the side.You can cut it, then glue it on.Glue the rocket together.Draw stars, moons, and spirals.The rocket can be decorated with space-theme stickers.You can use stars, moons, planets and aliens.
Step 7: A circle can be traced onto a sheet of paper.
The circle can be made with a small drinking glass or a compass.If you are using a standard paper towel tube, make sure it's the right size.Red or orange are the most popular colors for the cone.
Step 8: Cut a slit into the middle of the circle.
If you can't figure out how to cut the slit, use a ruler and pencil to draw an X across the circle.The X's arms should be cut towards the middle.
Step 9: Wrap the circle around the cone shape.
When the circle turns into a cone, overlap the two edges of the slit.It has to be large enough to sit on top of the tube.Glue the cone together with tape.Double-sided tape will work best here.Hot glue is too big for this step.
Step 10: Attach the cone to the toilet paper roll.
The paper towel tube has a ring of hot glue on it.Press the cone into the glue.Work quickly, hot glue sets up quickly.You can use regular tacky glue, but you will have to wait for it to dry.You should glue the cone to the end that does not have the slit.
Step 11: There are three triangles in the paper.
Cut a triangle out of a sheet of paper.To trace two more triangles use this triangle.Cut those out as well.The triangles have to be 1 inch tall and 2 inches wide.You can make the triangles any color you want, but yellow is the most traditional.Both red and orange would work.
Step 12: The triangles should be folded in half to make a crease.
Run your finger across the folded edge to make a sharp crease.The triangles can be inserted into the base of the rocket.
Step 13: The triangles should be inserted into the slits.
There is a slit on the bottom of your rocket.If the folded part is inside the slit, half of the triangle will stick out and the other half will be in the rocket.Do this for the other triangles as well.
Step 14: Glue or remove the triangles from the rocket.
The little flaps created by the fins are what you would see if you looked inside your rocket.These flaps are inside the rocket.
Step 15: If you want, add some tissue paper or flames to the bottom of the rocket.
The squares are from red, orange, and yellow tissue paper.Put them over the bottom of the rocket.The stack should be pushed into the rocket partway.The tissue paper will go up in flames.Push the flames against the rocket if they keep falling out, by drawing a line of hot glue around the inside rim.