DIY Mini Toilet Paper Storage with Real Tiny Toilet Rolls

Way back in 2012, Donna from Funky Junk published a toilet paper crate, and it blew up on FB. I was one of the many people who went bonkers over her idea. I had never seen anything so creative and scoured the thrift shops for weeks afterward, hoping to find an old license plate so I could make something similar. Sadly I didn’t have much luck, but the idea always stuck in my head. And now, after all these years, I can finally say I am the proud DIY-er of a license plate toilet paper storage. Well, a mini version anyway. But who cares? It’s mine, and I made it, and it’s stocked with real teeny, tiny, toilet rolls.

So this blog post is all about how you can make one too and it includes a free license plate printable. I’ll also show you in a video tutorial how to make those tiny toilet rolls.

Adorable, right!!? Wanna see the original from Funky Junk that I minified?

Isn’t it beautiful? Just like the inspiration, the mini toilet paper storage crate holds a few rolls of real tiny toilet paper.

The toilet paper-filled crate forms part of a small bathroom complete with a Victorian toilet we’re making for a friend of mine.

It also fits with this month’s IBC challenge too, which is… toilet paper. We thought we’d do a weird and slightly wacky challenge for a change, and toilet paper seemed like a great idea. Especially since so many people stockpiled the stuff when COVID-19 came knocking.

So what’s the IBC all about?

We’re a group of bloggers from all over the world who challenge each other to make something using a common theme. Our previous challenge was “Environment Day” and we made a kokedama fairy village. This month it’s all about that ass wiping stuff. I’m always surprised by how we all interpret the same theme in so many different ways, and I’m really keen to see what my blogging buddies have come up with. You can see what everyone else did with their toilet paper challenge at the bottom of the tutorial.

What you need

For the mini toilet paper storage

• Thin balsa wood
• Ice cream sticks
• An empty soda can cut open
• Skewers
• Wood stain
• Superglue
• Scissors and a sharp craft knife
• Free license plate printable

For the tiny toilet paper

• Cardstock
• Straw
• Nail scissors
• Double-ply toilet paper—go on, spoil your ass yourself

Okay, before we get to the tutorials, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

How to Make a Mini License Plate Toilet Paper Storage

Decide how big or small you want to make your toilet paper storage and cut the ice cream sticks to size.

You’ll need two for each side and four for the back. Measure the width of the back and cut a skewer into two equal lengths based on your measurements. Measure the width of the skewer and the width of the sides. Subtract the skewer width from the side width and cut four small skewer pieces.

Glue the skewers down with superglue as shown below.

And then glue the sides to the back piece.

Place the little form on a piece of balsa wood and trace around the edges. Use a sharp craft knife to cut the balsa wood. Sand lightly.

Print out the free license plate printable and cut out the appropriate size. Glue the license plate to an empty soda can. The can will make it stronger. If you don’t have a soda can, you can use a piece of cardboard instead.

Use a pair of scissors to cut the license plate out and check if it fits nicely on the crate.

Paint or stain the little toilet paper storage crate. I used some of our homemade Rusty Nail Muti (the Balsamic version) to get that rich brown, weathered color.

Once the stain dries, glue the miniature license plate onto the front of the crate, and your mini toilet paper storage is done. Now, all we need to do is make some of those teeny, tiny toilet rolls to go inside.

How to make tiny toilet rolls

I’m always a little surprised at how much these tiny toilet rolls cost when they are so easy and cheap to make.

All you need is double-ply toilet paper, a straw, and some cardstock. If you want to see how I made them, just hit play on the video below.

 

Or if you can’t watch or need more details, then here goes………….

Cut the cardboard and toilet paper into strips. The strips need to be as wide as the height of the toilet paper roll you’ll be making. Roll the cardboard strip around the straw and glue to secure. Place a strip of double-ply toilet paper on the cardboard tube and roll away ;-) Once you’re happy with the size, trim the toilet paper.

So easy right :D

The same tutorial can be used to make tiny paper towels for your dollhouse kitchen too. Just make the cardboard and toilet paper strips wider. 

Aren’t they just too cute for words?

If you like the idea of making a mini toilet paper storage crate for your dollhouse or miniature scene, don’t forget to pin it for later.

Sharing is caring .

Pssssssst, don’t forget to see what the other ladies from the IBC have done with their “Toilet Paper” challenge. And if you’d like to explore the art of making miniatures a little more, then you’ll love this post that shows you how to miniaturize almost anything.

Northern Feeling | Interior Frugalista

Unique Creations by Anita | Raggedy Bits

 

Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more amazing craft ideas to share with you ;-)

Or if you prefer to buy rather than DIY

And as always, here’s wishing you a beautiful, crafty week filled with love and laughter. Thank you so much for popping in for a visit.

 

Last update on 2026-04-15 / Source Amazon Affiliates