If you have a lot of leftover pipe cleaners at home, you can enjoy several fun and thoughtful activities with your children. There are various themes you can work on- flowers, costumes, animals, room decor, and so on.
I personally did a lot of these pipe cleaner crafts ✂️ with my boys when they were toddlers. In this article, I will share my top favorites in this category.
I hope all moms will find it helpful, especially when they are tired of their little ones jumping around constantly and want to keep them engaged in something creative. 😄
Entertaining pipe cleaners
Pipe cleaners make up for excellent ingredients for crafts for children. Also, if your kids love creative stuff, you can also ask them to make party favors, jewelry, or holiday-themed decor 🏵️ using pipe cleaners. Let’s hop in!
Mermaid Dolls
Ask your kids to make mermaid 🧜♀️ dolls out of pipe cleaners. They make a quality, fun-to-do summer art project for them, especially if you are looking for something ocean or beach-themed. We also use yarn to make the doll’s hair.
DIY Tiara
If you are looking for a mom-daughter activity, making a DIY tiara 👑 out of pipe cleaners is my favorite. Whenever I am playing dress-up with my little princess, these are the perfect crowns that make us look pretty and elegant.
Funky Monkeys
If you want to use pipe cleaners for a monkey 🐒 craft, you just need some wooden beads to go with it. Ask your kids to make a cute monkey that they can use as a cap of a pen/pencil.
Flamingos
If you can get hold of a fuzzy pipe cleaner, you can ask your kids to make fun flamingos 🦩 with it. We use feathers to make it more interesting, and the long, adorable legs are so fun to look at.
Pro Tip:
You can also add googly eyes to make a perfect impression.
Downhill Skier Ornament
We use pipe cleaners to make downhill ski ⛷️ racers with a body made out of pine cones and felt accents. This craft is engaging and makes for an amazing Christmas decorative ornament. You can even hang it on your Christmas tree.
Heart Rings
If you are looking for an easy Valentine’s Day gift for your husband, you can ask your kids to help you out. All you need is a pipe cleaner, and you can turn it into a heart ring ❤️💍 within minutes.
Pro Tip:
Always double-check if the loop fits the fingers perfectly.
Miniature Hats
My kids used to make these cute little hats 👒 out of pipe cleaners. They can be used for dolls or for other decorations. In fact, they can try experimenting with the technique and create various designs and shapes of hats.
Craft Stick Crocodiles
Set up your kids with some craft sticks and pipe cleaners, and they can make fun crocodile 🐊 toys. They are not just cute, but the kids are going to love making them. They can even gift these to their friends.
Borax Crystal Sculptures
Have you ever tried growing crystals 🔮 on pipe cleaners? Ask your kids to do this activity overnight. With a little borax and some hot water, you can make these shiny, fun sculptures that the little ones can play with later.
Tissue Paper Flower Bracelets
My kids used to make these tissue paper 🧻 flower 🌸 bracelets for me as a Mother’s Day gift. We also make them for Cinco de Mayo. The kids are going to love making it, and you will have an adorable present.
Skeleton Figures
Pipe cleaners are the best things to make colorful skeletons. Your kids can make them at home or as part of their Halloween 👻 decorations. This is also a great way to study the human body and learn about the bones.
Miniature Christmas Tree
Your kids can make mini Christmas trees 🎄 out of pipe cleaners. Just get them some metallic or white chenille stems, and they can make beautiful Christmas trees of various designs and colors. The combination of shades and glitter looks amazing!
Pro Tip:
I always make sure there is even spacing between the branches.
Rainbow Craft
Making a rainbow 🌈 design out of pipe cleaners is also a fun craft idea for kids of all ages. After you’ve made it, ask your kids to add soft cotton balls and a smiley-faced sun to make it even better.
Floral Wall Hanging
Your kids can easily make these beautiful wall hangings 🏵️ out of pipe cleaners and felt. It requires minimal effort but brightens up your home in no time. It adds a pop of color and sets the mood for spring/summer.
Bubble Wands
Kids love to play with bubbles, don’t they? You can help them make mini wands 🪄 using pipe cleaners and perler beads, and it’s no problem if they get wet. Children will love playing with them and even making them at home.
Wool Llamas
Yes, this is another great craft idea to try out. Your kids can use pipe cleaners and wool to make mini sheep or llamas 🦙. Let them use their imagination and add fun colors to the animals if they want to!
Shamrock Headband
This is a unique craft idea that your kids can do using pipe cleaners. Around St. Patrick’s Day ☘️, my kids often make these excellent shamrock headbands. They love wearing them and trust me, and I can’t help but adore them too!
Constellation
If your kid is a space lover, you can get them constellations 🌌 made out of pipe cleaners. This is a great way to teach them about the solar system, the stars, and the different patterns on which they remain scattered.
Pro Tip:
My kids also used letter beads as stars to spell the constellations.
Little People
It’s so cute to look at pipe cleaner people 👧👦 my son made it a few years ago. Your kids can make them and create a mini village if they want to. They are adorable, and they will love playing with them.
Beaded Snakes
The best thing about pipe cleaners is that they are long and can be stretched. So, this idea came to mind that you can make snakes 🐍 out of it. Put some beads 🧮 and colors to make them look even better.
Ring Toss
Rather than using plastic or metal rings, let your kids play ring and toss using pipe cleaners. This is not only safer but also guarantees a super soft landing during a carnival 🎡 game. This is a great activity for all kids.
Travel Dolls
You can make travel dolls 🧸 out of pipe cleaners that your kids can play with when you are on a long drive or doing something important and want to keep them busy. They are easy to make and very entertaining.
DIY Tic-Tac-Toe
Yes, the popular and fun game Tic-Tac-Toe ⭕️❌️⭕️ can be made out of pipe cleaners. Just put it in your bag, and it’s the perfect activity to keep your kids engaged when you are on the go or doing something important.
Trivets with Yarn
Pipe cleaners are great for making coasters and trivets at home. You just need some yarn 🧶 and a glue gun, and you are good to go. The little ones can make them as a present to their parents or grandparents.
Flowers
This is one super simple craft that I love to keep my boys engaged with. With minimum supplies and effort, your kids can make beautiful flowers 🌼 out of pipe cleaners that you can use in their art projects or decorations.
Pro Tip:
The pipe cleaners represent the petals of the flower. So, choose accordingly.
Pet Chameleon
Yes, we are scared of lizards 🦎 in real life, but there’s no harm in having a few pet chameleons made from pipe cleaners! I remember my elder kid thinking of these artificial lizards as his actual pets throughout his childhood!
DIY Photo Holder
Often, during summer vacation, I would encourage my kids to make photo 📷 holders out of pipe cleaners. It’s not only a very engaging activity but also a very efficient and unique way of displaying your photos and cherishing your memories.
Pom Pom Fall Tree
If you are looking for ways to use pipe cleaners for fall crafts, you can ask your kids to make a fallen tree 🌳 using some pom poms. These are great for decorating your home and giving it an Autumn makeover!
Bracelets
Your kids can make colorful and unique bracelets 📿 using pipe cleaners. They simply need to braid them, and voila, you have the simplest yet very charming gift for friends. They can use different colors to make variations in the design.
Dragon Craft
Yes, pipe cleaners make an excellent raw material for sturdy dragons 🐉. My kids still love making them, and once they are done, they will spend hours playing with them, and I can enjoy a warm cup of coffee in peace!
Pro Tip:
I generally advise my kids to use four pipe cleaners to make one dragon.
Bird Feeder Ornaments
This is a great project for your kids to do during winter vacation. You just need to get them some pipe cleaners and a box of cereals, and they can easily make these super cute bird 🐦 feeders and decorate them.
Lollipop Valentine’s Day Card
Yes, your kids can easily make lollipop 🍭 Valentine’s cards using pipe cleaners. They need to simply twist and twirl them to make these colorful lollipop sticks. This is a great Valentine’s Day ❤ ️ present for their friends or teachers at school.
Beaded Indian Corn
You may have seen a picture of the Indian corn 🌽, also known as Calico corn. It is much appreciated for its colorful kernels. Ask your kids to make Thanksgiving stable with some simple intermittents- pipe cleaners and multicolored pony beads.
Desk Fidget Tool
My kids used to make these super fun DIY fidget tools using pipe cleaners. You can still find one of these at their study desks. They are very small and can easily be stored in a pencil box or desk.
Straw Apples
If you want to include pipe cleaners in activities that require apples 🍎, you can try this one. Use pipe cleaners and straw apples. This is a great way to improve a child’s motor skills, as it includes cutting and lacing.
New Year’s Eve Glasses
This is a fun thing to give to everyone at your New Year’s party! You can easily twist pipe cleaners and decorate them to make quirky glasses 👓. Kids can easily make them, and they are perfect for a theme party.
Owls
Instead of buying everything from outside, try encouraging your kids to make DIY toys out of household ingredients. For example, they can easily use pipe cleaners to make these funny owls 🦉 that make great showpieces or gifts to other kids.
Popsicles
Save the sticks from popsicles you get as summer ☀️ treats, and you can use them later to make decorative popsicles using chenille stems. It’s super easy and makes a fun present that your kids can give to their friends later.
Pro Tip:
Always dry the popsicle stick base well before adding the pipe cleaners.
Christmas Wreath
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas 🎄 wreath to decorate their house with during the holiday season? Also, your kids can make them using pipe cleaners and other decorative ornaments easily at home. I love the colors and quirky pom poms!
Pencil Topper bird
If you want to add some fun to your kids’ pencils ✏️, you can make these cute birds 🐤 out of pipe cleaners. Help them combine different colors together and make something unique. The dull pencils look so good with these toppers!
Beaded Pumpkins
Halloween is around the corner, and there’s so much to do. You just need two ingredients to make cute beaded pumpkins 🎃- orange pony beads and pipe cleaners. They are perfect as Halloween decorations, and your kids will love making them.
Beaded Dragonflies
My elder kid is very scared of dragonflies. But not when his sibling made these cute, beaded dragonflies out of pipe cleaners as an art project for school. Your kids can easily make it, and they make for excellent showpieces.
Rose Rings
Your kids simply need to make a small ring 💍 out of a pipe cleaner and then add some roses 🌹 to make a pretty ornament. You can also make other flower rings. I often get them as a Mother’s Day present!
Star War Puppets
If your kids love Star Wars as much as my boys do, this is also a great way to use pipe cleaners to create art. They can make puppets to wear on their fingers and role-play 🎭 with their friends later.
Snowflake Ornaments
Snowflakes ❄️ indicate that winter is coming. During winter, I often make beautiful snowflakes out of pipe cleaners with my kids. They are the perfect handmade home decor, and they look even better when put on windows or the Christmas tree.
Easter Bunny Ears
Do you want to make bunny 🐰 ears in an instant? No worries. You just need a packet of pastel chenille stems and pipe cleaners, and you have amazing, wearable headbands. These are great ornaments for the perfect Easter family photo!
Pro Tip:
You can use a pipe cleaner to make a headband. I generally give my kids actual headbands so that they can put the ears on them directly.
Action Hero Figures
You know kids and their fascination with Batman and Superman? Well then, you can easily help them make miniature superhero 🦸♂️ toys out of pipe cleaners. This is an excellent craft idea and will look great at your kids’ study table!
Pony Bead Cross
With two chenille stems and a few pony heads, you can make this adorable cross out of pipe cleaners. My kids often made these at Sunday school. They are not only easy to make, but you get these amazing ornaments.
Caterpillars
You can ask your kids to use pipe cleaners to make caterpillars 🐛. Just paint it green and decorate it further to make it look quirky. I used these toys to teach my kids how they grow into beautiful butterflies later.
Snail Magnets
Simply ask your little ones to twist pipe cleaners of two colors and turn them into a snail 🐌. You can add a magnet 🧲 at the back of it to make amazing snail magnets. We even gifted these to our neighbors.
Conclusion
Pipe cleaners are household items that can be used in multiple ways as activities for your kids, as I have listed here. All these ideas are simple to do, and trust me, your kids will have so much fun 🤩.
I hope you enjoyed reading these activities that involve a pipe cleaner for your kids to try.
I would love to know which of these listed pipe cleaner activities you did with your little ones. Please leave a comment to let me know if you found my article helpful. 😁
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)