DIY Cardboard Tube Flower

[SKB_Hamsters]

This is one of my favourite DIY creations in which I came up with when I had load of cardboard tubes lying around, and thought this would be a good way to use them up. This is cardboard flower is ideal for themed cages including natural and flower themes. This is approved by my hamster, Sherbet, who enjoys chewing up the cardboard flower petal.

Hamster Approved
Difficulty Rating - Easy
Time Required – 2 to 5 Minutes approximately


Material and Equipment Required –

• Cardboard Tubes from Toilet and Kitchen Paper Rolls or Wrapping Paper Tubes (If using Kitchen Roll Tubes 1 should be sufficient for one flower)
• Ruler or a Rule
• Scissors
• Hole Punch
• Sisal String – Natural or in Green Colour (If you want to use green I recommend buying from Chinchillas2Shop (or any other pet toys making website) as the dyes will be pet safe although this comes in a thick rope which need to be separated into smaller strands.)
  Also paper string could also be used instead of sisal.

Method –

(I’ve include pictures which are attached below for each of the stages so you can see what I did at each stage)

1. Flatten the cardboard tubes and cut into approximately 2cm strips. (8 should be ideal, although this still works with 6 or 7)
   
   
2. Keep the tube strips flat and then using the hole punch, punch holes through both cardboard layers at one end of the cardboard tube strips. (This takes a bit of practise to get the holes in the right place)
   
   
3. Thread all the cardboard tubes strips onto the sisal string
   
   
4. Tie a knot in the sisal string, and tighten. Once tied together you can push the cardboard tubes strips at the end so they form a shape which resembles petals
   
   
5. Hang cardboard flower in the cage and let you hamster enjoys. You could also cut off the excess sisal string, so you can place it inside aquarium style cages.

I recommend removing if your hamster begins to chew up the sisal string excessively, even though sisal string is safe for hamster I would still be wary of hamster ingesting the fibres or parts of the string. Sherbet doesn’t seem to have any interest in chewing the string but she enjoys chewing up the cardboard petal instead.

Also if you want the petals to be different colours you could paint the cardboard tubes with pet safe paints such as plastikote or soy-based paints.

If you decide to make this for your hamsters, I hope your hamster will also enjoy this creation to. Also I would love to see pictures of your hamster enjoying their cardboard tube flower