19 Fun Pipe Cleaner Crafts for Kids

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Updated 05/12/21

Art And Craft Supply on Wooden Desk — YoImages / Getty Images

Once used to clear the grit out of tobacco pipes, the fuzzy, colorful, bendy pipe cleaner has become ubiquitous in the craft world, particularly in kids’ crafting. They are especially friendly for beginner artists because pipe cleaners are pliable (and re-pliable) and often don’t require any glue to build with. Get started with a few of the fun and accessible ideas below, then set your kids free with a bundle of rainbow pipe cleaners for an afternoon of crafting.

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Pipe Cleaner Flowers

The Spruce Crafts

There's nothing like fresh-cut flowers to brighten a room, but the longevity of these faux blooms can't be beat. Take an artistic approach to synthetic flowers and craft them out of colorful pipe cleaners. These potted bouquets look lovely on the kitchen window sill or welcoming guests on the patio.

Pipe Cleaner Flowers from The Spruce Crafts
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Flower Ring

Jae Bellz

Master the art of the pipe cleaner curlicue with this sweet wearable craft. You’ll need six chenille pipe cleaners for petals, plus an extra one for the stem. Create a few flowers in a variety of colors for all seasons and occasions.

Flower Ring from Jae Bellz
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Foam Wing Dragons

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

These precious figurines are just as fun to play with as they are to make. Just a couple of swirls of pipe cleaner and foam cutouts make the perfect fairy tale dragons. Attach a few to a re-configured wire hanger to create an easy mobile for an enchanted baby's room or hang them on the wall for colorful decor.

Foam Wing Dragons from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
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Tall Spiders

Preschool Crafts for Kids

Perfect for Halloween, young entomologists, or just craft time, these spindly, skinny spiders are made using just pipe cleaners and a few plastic beads. These make easy homemade centerpieces and decorations, especially during October.

Tall Spiders from Preschool Crafts for Kids

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Bejeweled Ring

Juggling With Kids

Fix a length of a pipe cleaner around a finger, twist to secure, then remove it and hot glue a decorative gem or two on top. These kid-friendly accessories are a perfect DIY for a princess party or a dress-up time.

Bejeweled Ring from Juggling With Kids
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Feathered Birds

The Little Crafty Bugs Company

A couple of swirls of a brightly colored pipe cleaner, and you have the perfect base for a cute little chick. Add a feathered tail and one googly eye to finish the craft. These are particularly ideal projects for beginning crafters because there's no hot glue needed.

Feathered Birds from The Little Crafty Bugs Company
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Fishing Game

Glued to My Crafts

While it’s fun and easy to simply craft with pipe cleaners, why not create a full-on game with them too? Kids can twist a few colorful fish out of the fuzzy wires, then tie a magnet to a makeshift pole to “fish” at the kitchen counter.

Fishing Game from Glued to My Crafts
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Styrofoam Base Sculpture

Ampersand Design Studio

Set kids up with a few basic supplies and let them create their own unique piece of three-dimensional art. A square styrofoam base works perfectly for plastic straws, pipe cleaners, and beads. The best part is these pieces can be continually re-worked and manipulated.

Styrofoam Base Sculpture from Ampersand Design Studio

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Bunnies and Carrots

Lines Across

This handy tutorial utilizes a few clever pipe cleaner techniques (the tight spiral and the M-fold) to make an adorable set of rabbits and a cute bunch of carrots. Add these to a potted plant for a quick refresh, or to an Easter Basket in the spring.

Bunnies and Carrots from Lines Across
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Swirled Lollipops

Especially if you’re trying to keep little ones away from sugary sweets, this quick craft could help satisfy that sweet tooth, or at least distract kids for a little while. Just twist a couple of colors of a pipe cleaner around themselves, curlicue them together, and glue onto a wooden craft stick or paper straw.

Swirled Lollipops from Making Mama Magic
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Colorful Chameleons

Lines Across

Practice naming and matching colors with your little ones with help from these fun chameleon crafts. Build a rainbow of posing critters with fuzzy red tongues and sit them on color-coordinated craft foam leaves.

Colorful Chameleons from Lines Across
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Monsters Finger Puppets

Mom Endeavors

Put on a mini puppet show full of color and creativity with a few pipe cleaners and pom-poms. Pop on a googly eye or three and add a few monster claws to complete these little monsters. Kids will feel encouraged to stage their very own plays thanks to these props.

Monsters Finger Puppets from Mom Endeavors

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Pencil Toppers

Paperchase

Help your little one get excited for school by elevating everyday supplies with some DIY touches. Pipe cleaner creatures can get twisted onto the top of any writing utensil. These little characters can bring a smile to your child's face and help ease the strain of homework time.

Pencil Toppers from Paperchase
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Rainbow

Still Playing School

Little ones can practice ordering their colors with the help of a square of floral foam and a set of colorful pipe cleaners. Glue on some cotton ball clouds to finish the craft. This makes a lovely decorative addition to a kids' bookcase or bedroom shelves, as well.

Rainbow from Still Playing School
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Beaded Dragonfly

I Heart Crafty Things

Plastic beads fit perfectly and tightly on a straight pipe cleaner, and shaped metallic wings take these creatures of flight to the next level. Opt for glow-in-the-dark beads to add an extra "wow" to a little lightning bug, too.

Beaded Dragonfly from I Heart Crafty Things
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Crown and Scepter

The Makerista

Take dress-up time to the next level with some easy homemade accessories. Kids can make jeweled crowns and royal scepters, using mostly just pipe cleaners. Glue a few lightweight faux jewels on the crowns and scepters for extra sparkle.

Crown and Scepter from The Makerista

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Wood Bead Monkey

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Hand-painted wooden beads make these monkeys come to life. Get the family together and build a whole barrelful, then pop them onto pencils, pens, or markers for an energized coloring session.

Wood Bead Monkey from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
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Clothespin Crocodile

Blissful Domestication

Upcycle old clothespins into chomping crocodiles with the help of this tutorial. Paint the clothespin in reptile green before adding paper teeth or bugging eyes. Use the finished product to hang kids’ artwork or encourage kids to help with laundry day.

Clothespin Crocodile from Blissful Domestication
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Pom Pom Caterpillar

Momee Friends of Long Island

Create some friendly little bugs using colorful pom poms, googly eyes, and pipe cleaner antennae. Add a few hooked legs, then pop these creepy, yet awfully cute crawlies into the sandbox for an extra tactile toy.

Pom Pom Caterpillar from Momee Friends of Long Island