A cardboard tube can become a Chanukah candle with just a sheet of paper and a little imagination. Gather nine tubes, wrap them in bright blues, add handmade paper flames, and build a colorful decorative menorah that children can display at home or in the classroom.
The finished craft has eight equal-height candle tubes and a separate, taller shamash (helper candle). This tutorial uses a reinforced cardboard base, construction paper, and gold accents inspired by the example photo. It is a flameless holiday decoration, not a candleholder for religious lighting.
Plan Your Cardboard Tube Menorah
- Suggested ages: six and up with adult help; younger children can decorate pre-cut components
- Materials per project: nine cardboard tubes, wrapping paper, nine paper flames, and a sturdy cardboard base
- Suggested session: 60–90 minutes with supports pre-cut, plus drying time; this is a planning estimate
- Adult preparation: cut structural cardboard, test adhesives, and assemble a sample that stands securely
- Safety: decorative paper flames only; no real candles, flames, or heat-producing lights
For a class or large group, assemble the structural bases before the session. Children can focus on wrapping tubes, cutting paper flames, and designing decorations while an adult supervises final attachment.
Materials for One DIY Chanukah Menorah
- Nine cardboard craft tubes; eight should match in height, and the shamash should sit higher
- Construction paper in blue, yellow, orange, and other chosen colors for tube wraps and flames
- A long rigid cardboard box or folded and reinforced cardboard channel for the horizontal support, plus a wide, sturdy foot
- A short cardboard tube or strong box-shaped riser to support the center of the horizontal piece
- Craft glue for paper decorations; adult-selected stronger adhesive or reinforcing tape for structural joints
- Glitter sticky-back foam sheets for gold stars, stripes, and borders
- Age-appropriate scissors, pencil, ruler, and optional markers or stickers
The example uses blue wraps, gold decorative strips, and yellow-and-orange flames. These are design choices, not required Chanukah colors. Check your supplies and test the support before distributing materials to children.
Prepare the Base and Candle Pieces
Set nine tubes side by side to find the width of your menorah. Leave a small, consistent gap between them. Cut or choose a sturdy horizontal cardboard support that extends slightly beyond the outer tubes. A shallow rectangular box is easier to reinforce than a single flat strip.
Prepare a wide foot and a short, strong center riser. The riser supports the horizontal section from underneath. Use folded cardboard braces inside the base if needed; a wide foot is essential to keep the finished project from tipping. Test the dry structure before decorating.
For the shamash, prepare a separate small raised platform or securely stacked cardboard support on top of the horizontal section. Keep the other eight tubes the same height. Adults should handle difficult cutting and any structural adhesive that is not suitable for children.
Step-by-Step: Make the Cardboard Tube Menorah
1. Wrap All Nine Cardboard Tubes
Measure one tube by rolling it across construction paper and marking the amount needed to wrap around it with a slight overlap. Cut a rectangle to fit its height. Apply a thin line of glue, roll the tube in the paper, and secure the seam.
Repeat for all nine tubes. Alternate dark and light blue to resemble the example, or use individual colors for a rainbow version. Let the seams set before adding decorations.
2. Decorate the Candle Tubes
Cut thin gold strips from glitter foam and place them diagonally around some of the tubes. Make Stars of David from paper or carefully cut foam, then attach them to the fronts. Add smaller dots, stars, or repeating shapes to fill open areas.
Avoid covering the bottom edges where the tubes will be attached. Keep the shamash visually distinct with a special star or a different stripe arrangement.
3. Cut Nine Two-Color Paper Flames
Cut nine yellow teardrop shapes and nine smaller orange teardrops. Glue an orange piece inside each yellow shape. Keep a short tab at the bottom of every yellow flame, or attach a separate folded paper tab behind it.
For each tube, make a small cardboard crosspiece that fits across the opening. Glue the flame tab to that crosspiece, then secure the crosspiece just inside the top rim. Let it set upright before moving the tube. Do not use actual candles or hot lights.
4. Cover and Reinforce the Horizontal Support
Wrap the long cardboard support in dark-blue construction paper. Add a wavy gold strip or another repeated border pattern along the front. Reinforce the inside of a folded-cardboard channel with extra cardboard so the support does not sag under nine tubes.
Attach the center riser to the wide foot and then secure the horizontal support on top. Check the balance on a level table. If the support rocks or bends, strengthen it before continuing.
5. Raise the Shamash and Position the Eight Candles
Mark nine positions across the top: four regular candles, a center shamash, and four regular candles. Place the shamash on its prepared raised platform. The eight ordinary candle tops should align evenly, while the helper candle stands visibly higher.
Dry-fit all nine tubes before gluing. Adjust the gaps so the arrangement is balanced. Then attach each tube using the tested adhesive, reinforcing the joints with small folded cardboard tabs if needed. Allow the structure to set fully.
6. Decorate the Base and Finish the Display
Cover the center riser and foot in blue paper. Add glitter-foam stars or a matching gold border to tie the entire design together. Count the eight regular candles and the shamash together, then check that every flame and tube is firmly attached.
Place the finished menorah on a stable shelf or classroom display table, away from heat and real candles. Lift it by the reinforced base, not by the paper tubes.
What Children Can Learn While Crafting
A Chanukah menorah, also called a chanukiah, has eight holiday lights and a separate shamash used to light them. The eight lights represent the eight nights of Chanukah. While children make their paper version, invite them to count the tubes and identify the taller helper candle.
This craft is a useful visual teaching aid, but its paper flames do not replace actual Chanukah candle lighting. If your program teaches the ritual, explain the distinction clearly.
Adapt the Project for Different Ages and Groups
- Younger children: adults prepare the supports, wrap the tubes ahead of time if necessary, and offer large pre-cut flames and stars
- Older children: let them measure wraps, plan symmetrical patterns, and compare different ways to brace the cardboard base
- Classroom teams: assign small groups to wrapping, decorating, flame cutting, and base assembly, with an adult overseeing the structure
- Mixed-ability groups: offer peel-and-stick foam decorations, larger paper shapes, or marker designs instead of intricate cutting
- Large programs: count out nine tubes and flame sets per participant before the session, and label drying spaces
For a collaborative project, each child can decorate one candle tube while a group leader assembles a single shared menorah. If children are taking individual projects home, allow enough time for the glue to cure and protect the flames during transport.
Troubleshooting and Cleanup
Tubes come loose: increase the glue contact area with small folded cardboard tabs. The horizontal support bends: reinforce it with another cardboard layer or a shallow box. The menorah tips: widen and weight the foot with securely enclosed cardboard, not loose small objects. Flames fall inward: strengthen their cross pieces and let the adhesive dry before moving.
Keep extra paper scraps for stars and stripes, wipe glue from the work area, and let the finished craft dry on a labeled, level surface. Adults should perform a final stability check before display.
Create a Chanukah Keepsake with Everyday Craft Supplies
A little cardboard and construction paper can become a festive menorah that children are proud to show their families. Start with nine craft tubes, prepare a stable base, and let each maker add personal details with colorful paper and glittery accents.
Need wrapping paper and sparkle too? Browse construction paper and glitter foam sheets to complete your project.
About EconoCrafts
Since 1956, EconoCrafts has helped schools and after-school programs, summer camps, recreation centers, senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, churches, VBS programs, libraries, and families run successful arts and crafts programs. We supply affordable art supplies, ready-to-use craft kits, and engaging activities that make planning and leading creative projects easier. Whether you’re organizing one classroom activity or an entire season of programming, EconoCrafts helps you spend less time preparing and more time creating.
