Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craft for Kids

Ahoy! Recycle that paper towel tube straight from the bin and turn it into a Pirate Telescope perfect for spotting buried treasure! This paper cup pirate telescope craft is a fantastic imaginative play activity that kids will actually use long after craft time is over.

Title graphic reading “Telescope PAPER CUP craft” with the completed pirate telescope on a blue background.

Materials for This Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craft

Before you start, gather your supplies. The two main materials — a paper towel tube and a paper cup — are recycled items you likely already have, making this a wonderfully budget-friendly pirate craft for kids.

Supplies

Recycled cardboard tube (paper towel roll)
Paper cup – Dollar Store
Acrylic craft paint – brown
Glue gun and glue sticks
Paintbrush
Scissors
Natural jute twine – Dollar Store
Rhinestones, silver – Dollar Store
Cardstock – white, black
Black marker – Dollar Store
Pencil
Patterns

Once your supplies are gathered, let's build this pirate telescope!

How to Make a Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craft

This paper cup pirate telescope craft comes together with painting, cutting, and gluing. Follow the steps below to create your very own pirate spyglass.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the supplies for this pirate telescope craft. Having everything ready before you start makes the building process smooth and easy.

Craft supplies arranged on a rustic wood background: twine, white paper cup, cardboard tube, brown paint, paintbrush, hot glue gun, scissors, black paper, white paper, marker, and silver gems.

Step 2: Paint the Cup and Tube

Basecoat both the paper cup and the paper towel tube with brown acrylic craft paint. Let dry and apply a second coat if necessary.

The paper cup and cardboard tube painted brown beside the paint bottle and brush.

Step 3: Prepare the Decorations

Download, print, and cut out the Pirate Telescope Patterns. Trace the stripe pattern three times onto black cardstock and the skull once onto white cardstock. Cut out all pieces with scissors.

Black paper strips measured with a ruler, alongside a sketched skull-and-crossbones design on white paper.

Step 4: Add the Black Stripes

Attach the black cardstock stripes to the ends and center of the paper towel tube with a glue gun and glue sticks.

Black paper bands glued around both ends of the cardboard tube to create telescope accents.

Step 5: Wrap with Twine

Attach sections of natural jute twine between the black stripes along the length of the telescope with a glue gun for a classic pirate look.

Twine wrapped around sections of the telescope tube for a pirate-style detail.

Step 6: Decorate the Skull

Using a black marker, draw the outline around the skull and crossbones, then fill in the mouth, nose, and eyes.

The skull-and-crossbones cut out and outlined in black marker next to scissors and marker scraps.

Step 7: Attach the Skull to the Cup

Glue the finished skull and crossbones to the outside of the paper cup with a glue gun.

The skull decoration being glued onto the side of the painted paper cup with a hot glue gun.

Step 8: Assemble the Telescope

Glue the paper towel tube to the bottom of the paper cup with a glue gun. NOTE: To make the telescope viewable, cut the bottom out of the paper cup before attaching the tube.

A close-up of the telescope showing the skull emblem, black bands, and twine wrapping while glue is applied.

Step 9: Add the Final Sparkle

Embellish the telescope with self-adhesive silver rhinestones or beads for an extra pirate flair.

Silver gem “studs” attached around the paper cup opening to decorate the pirate telescope.

Your pirate telescope is ready — land ahoy!

The finished pirate telescope craft held in a hand with greenery in the background.

Grab the Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craftivity

Want to make this pirate craft even easier? The Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craftivity includes printable patterns and a mini ebook with step-by-step instructions — perfect for pirate-themed birthday parties, homeschool, or summer crafting.

More Pirate Crafts Your Kids Will Love

If your kiddos had fun making this paper cup pirate telescope craft, don't stop the fun here! Below you will find some more of our favorite pirate crafts we have shared on the site.

Final craft displayed with text overlay reading “porthole paper plate craft” on a green background.

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Please Share This Paper Cup Pirate Telescope Craft

Did your little pirates love making this paper cup telescope craft? We'd love to see your creations! Share on social media and tag us, and pin this project to your pirate crafts board on Pinterest!