DIY Rustic Fireworks (using a paper towel cardboard tube) + Free Printable Tags

I love coming up with new and crafty ways to make rustic fireworks. In the past I’ve shared them using a pool noodle, and even Dollar Tree gift cylinders.

This year I created these fireworks using the cardboard tubes from a roll of paper towels. I love getting crafty with recycled items.

I did a grouping of 3 but you could make just one, or a bunch. These are so cute to tuck in a vignette, a basket or to use as bowl filler. The best part is using items you have on hand to make some cute, seasonal decor!

Supplies

• Cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels
• An extra tube (it can even be a tube from a roll of toilet paper). This is to make caps from the ends.
• Fabric to cover tubes
• Spray adhesive to attach fabric to tubes
• Sticks to make fuse (or you could use a piece of nautical rope)
• Hot glue
• Hang tag – make your own or use the free tags below.
• Wire twine or twine to bundle fireworks
• Scissors
• Sand paper or sanding block

Watch

Free Printable Tags

I love adding a little tag to these firework bundles. You can make your own tags or use these free tags I created. There are 6 designs in 2 styles – plain with no cut line which is perfect for printing on fabric or to use your own background paper or Kraft paper. It also comes in a distressed brown background measuring that you can print and cut out to attach to each firework or to the bundles.

Enter your name and email address below and they will be emailed right to you.

Print on Fabric

I printed may tags on fabric. I love doing this and it’s to easy too! To print I tape the muslin onto a piece of copy paper or spray it with some spray adhesive/spray glue and attach it to a piece of copy paper then add it to my printer and print. I don’t use any custom settings, just the normal print setting and just like that I have my image printed on fabric!

Shop affordable printer I use HERE.

Watch How To Print On Fabric

Step By Step

• Begin by adding the “caps” to the ends of the cardboard tubes. I like to cut 2 square pieces of cardboard tubing for each cardboard tube I am covering from the extra tubing. To do this I cut the tube open then cut out the squares.
• I add a bead of hot glue around the edge of the opening and then attach the square piece.
• Repeat on other side. Then let the hot glue dry.
• Once the hot glue is dry cut around the edges so it’s flush with the tube. I also like to go around with sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges. Do this on both ends.
• Next cut out a piece of fabric big enough to wrap around the tube.
• Spray the tube with spray adhesive. Make sure you spray it on a protected surface so you don’t get wherever you are spraying sticky.

• Lay the fabric flat on your work surface, place the tube at one end and wrap the tube with your fabric. Use spray adhesive to attach the end. You can fold the end of the fabric over 1/4-inch of so if you want a clean edge before attaching it to the back. Again spray the tube of fabric to attach the end to the tube. I also like to pull and make sure it’s tight around the tube so I give it a good tug when wrapping it.

• Trim off any excess fabric on the ends or back if needed.
• Next cover the ends/caps of the tubes – I like to do this the same way as I covered the caps using a square piece of fabric that is cut slightly larger then the area I am covering.
• Spray the end with spray adhesive and place the fabric on top. Press and hold it in place for a minute or so. Repeat on other end.

• Cut around the edges of fabric so it’s flush with the tube. I like to then use my sander to rough up the edges a little. I like that frayed, distressed edge.

• For the fuse you could use nautical rope but I thought a cute idea for these would be a stick. I gathered a few sticks from my backyard and then hot glued it to the top of the tube to make my “fuse”. I used a couple sticks to hold it in place while the hot glue dried.

• I repeated this to make 3 tubes/fireworks so I could create a bundle.
• To make the bundle I wrapped them together with wired twine and attached a fabric tag using one of the free printable designs.

I think this project turned out so cute and I love that it was using supplies I had one hand and recycled items but you would never know, right?

I hope this inspired you to make a similar item like this too!

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