• 60 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

Pipe Cleaner Art Ideas

Three pipe cleaner makes per press, each with how many stems it takes and the first bend.

Pipe Cleaner Art Ideas

Show all 60
  1. A butterfly-wing eye mask held on with ear hooksPipe cleaners, 4. Shape two into wings with an eye hole each, twist them at the nose and add two arms.
  2. A palm tree with a twisted trunk and drooping frondsPipe cleaners, 5. Twist two brown ones into a trunk, fold three green ones through the top and bend them over.
  3. Bug feelers: two springs that bounce on a headbandPipe cleaners, 2, and a headband. Coil each on a pencil and wind the last straight bit around the band.

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All 60 ideas

Animals and bugs 12

  • A bumblebee striped by coiling a yellow and a black stem together Pipe cleaners, 3. Twist yellow and black into one rope, coil it around a finger and add white loop wings.
  • A butterfly with four looped wings pinched by a doubled stem Pipe cleaners, 3. Bend two into figure eights and fold the third over their middles, ends up as feelers.
  • A caterpillar coiled around a pencil and slid off Pipe cleaners, 1. Wind it tightly around a pencil, slide it off and bend one end up as the head.
  • A dragonfly with two long wing loops on a twisted tail Pipe cleaners, 3. Twist two together as the body and wrap the third around the neck in two flat loops.
  • A flamingo balanced on one bent leg with a flat curled foot Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil one into a body with an S-shaped neck. The other is the leg: curl its end flat.
  • A giraffe on two arched stems with a third wound on as its neck Pipe cleaners, 3. Fold two into arches for the legs and wind the third across both as back, neck and tail.
  • A mouse whose tail is the straight end of its own body coil Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil one into a cone from the nose back and leave the end straight. Loop the other as ears.
  • A perching bird whose feet wind around a real twig Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil a body and bend a beak from one. Fold the other under it and wind both ends on a twig.
  • A snail whose shell is one stem rolled into a flat coil Pipe cleaners, 2. Roll one into a flat coil. Fold the other in half under it as the body and two feelers.
  • A spider whose eight legs are four stems twisted at the middle Pipe cleaners, 4. Cross them at their centers, twist once and bend a knee into every leg.
  • A two-color snake twisted into a rope and coiled to strike Pipe cleaners, 2. Twist the pair along their whole length, coil the rope flat and lift the head end.
  • An octopus whose folded stems twist into a head and eight arms Pipe cleaners, 4. Fold all four in half, twist the folds into a round head and curl each arm on a pencil.

Flowers and plants 12

  • A cactus with two bent arms, standing in a lump of modeling clay Pipe cleaners, 2. Fold one double as the trunk and twist the other across it, both ends bent upward.
  • A daisy of white loops twisted around a yellow coil Pipe cleaners, 4. Bend two white ones into petal loops, twist them onto a green stalk and coil yellow on top.
  • A fern frond with paired leaflets twisted along a spine Pipe cleaners, 4. Keep one straight. Wind the others across it one by one and bend their ends into leaflets.
  • A flat evergreen zigzagged from one stem, widest at the base Pipe cleaners, 1. Start with a short trunk, then zigzag upward, making every bend shorter than the last.
  • A four-leaf clover made of four heart-shaped loops Pipe cleaners, 2. Bend each into two heart loops, cross the pair and twist the ends into one stalk.
  • A palm tree with a twisted trunk and drooping fronds Pipe cleaners, 5. Twist two brown ones into a trunk, fold three green ones through the top and bend them over.
  • A rose wound from one stem in a tightening spiral Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil a red one flat, push the middle up into a bud and hook a green one through the base.
  • A sunflower: a brown coil with a yellow zigzag wrapped around its edge Pipe cleaners, 4. Coil brown into a disc, wrap a yellow zigzag around its edge and add a stalk with a leaf.
  • A toadstool: a red coil domed over a thumb on a pencil-wound stalk Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil the red one flat and press it over a thumb to dome it. Coil the white one on a pencil.
  • A tulip cup zigzagged into three points and curled shut Pipe cleaners, 2. Zigzag one into three tall points, curl it into a cup and twist it onto a green stalk.
  • A vine with pencil-wound tendrils to trail around a picture frame Pipe cleaners, 3. Twist them end to end and coil the last bit of each around a pencil as a tendril.
  • Lavender spikes: purple wound tight around the tips of green stalks Pipe cleaners, 6. Wind half a purple one closely around the top of each green one. Four spikes a bunch.

Things to wear 12

  • A bow tie pinched at the waist that twists onto a shirt button Pipe cleaners, 2. Bend one into a flat figure eight. Wind the other around its middle and leave two tails.
  • A bracelet braided from three colors Pipe cleaners, 3. Twist them together at one end, braid to the other and hook the two ends into each other.
  • A butterfly-wing eye mask held on with ear hooks Pipe cleaners, 4. Shape two into wings with an eye hole each, twist them at the nose and add two arms.
  • A chain necklace of ten stems, each ring twisted through the last Pipe cleaners, 10. Twist the first into a ring. Thread every next one through the ring before it closes.
  • A crown of zigzag points that twists shut at the back Pipe cleaners, 4. Join two end to end as the band. Zigzag the other two and twist each low point onto it.
  • A heart charm that twists onto a shoelace Pipe cleaners, 1. Fold it in half, curve both ends down into a heart and wind the tails around the lace.
  • A pair of glasses with round rims and ear hooks Pipe cleaners, 3. One makes both rims and the bridge between them. Twist one on each side as an arm.
  • A ring with a coiled rose on top Pipe cleaners, 1. Wrap it once around a finger, twist it closed and roll both loose ends into one flat coil.
  • A wristwatch with a flat coil face on a twisted strap Pipe cleaners, 2. Coil one into a disc. Thread the other through its back and twist the ends at the wrist.
  • Bug feelers: two springs that bounce on a headband Pipe cleaners, 2, and a headband. Coil each on a pencil and wind the last straight bit around the band.
  • Cat ears twisted onto a plain headband Pipe cleaners, 2, and a headband. Bend each into a triangle and wind both of its ends around the band.
  • Monster claws: a coiled cone for each fingertip Pipe cleaners, 5. Wind each one around a fingertip, narrowing every turn until it closes in a point.

Letters, shapes and mobiles 12

  • A ball made of three rings set at right angles Pipe cleaners, 3. Close each into a ring, slip one inside the next and twist them where they cross.
  • A bendy stick person with arms wound once around the chest Pipe cleaners, 2. Loop a head and twist down into two legs. Wind the other once around the chest as arms.
  • A cube with twelve edges twisted together at eight corners Pipe cleaners, 6, each cut in half. Twist three ends together at every corner and square it up at the end.
  • A five-point star outline closed with one twist Pipe cleaners, 1. Make nine sharp bends, out then in, and twist the two ends together at the last point.
  • A mobile of five cone spirals that turn on threads Pipe cleaners, 6. Coil five flat and pull each center down. Close the sixth into a ring to hang them from.
  • A rainbow of six arches pushed into two cotton-ball clouds Pipe cleaners, 6. Bend each a little tighter than the last, in rainbow order, and glue cotton over the ends.
  • A snowflake of white stems with a short V twisted near every tip Pipe cleaners, 5. Cross three at their centers and twist. Cut the other two into six short V pieces.
  • A square frame of four stems with the spare ends curled outward Pipe cleaners, 4. Lay them in a square, twist each corner where two cross and curl the spare ends outward.
  • A star-shaped bubble wand with a twisted handle Pipe cleaners, 2. Bend one into a five-point star, close it and wind the other down from it as the handle.
  • The digits 0 to 9, each folded double and bent from one stem Pipe cleaners, 10. Fold every stem double first, so the numbers come out thick and all the same height.
  • Three nested hearts hanging one inside another Pipe cleaners, 3. Fold each a little shorter than the last before shaping it, then tie them in line on thread.
  • Your name in joined-up writing, bent without a single cut Pipe cleaners, 3. Twist them end to end, then bend the letters in order. Double back where a letter needs it.

With beads and pom-poms 12

  • A beaded candy cane: two colors in turn on a stem with a hook Pipe cleaners, 1, and pony beads in 2 colors. Fold one end over as a stop, thread the beads, then bend the hook.
  • A counting bracelet of ten beads that slide Pipe cleaners, 1, and 10 pony beads. Thread the beads, close the stem into a loose ring and curl the ends in.
  • A green bead wreath closed with a red bow twist Pipe cleaners, 2, and green pony beads. Bead the green one into a ring and twist a short red piece on as the bow.
  • A pencil topper spring with a pom-pom on its tip Pipe cleaners, 1, and 1 pom-pom. Wind the stem around the pencil, lift the top turns and glue the pom-pom on.
  • A pom-pom chick standing on three-toed feet Pipe cleaners, 1, and 2 yellow pom-poms. Fold the stem into two legs, zigzag the toes and glue the body on top.
  • A pom-pom ice cream cone coiled from a brown stem Pipe cleaners, 1, and 1 pom-pom. Coil the stem around a fingertip into a cone and glue the pom-pom in its mouth.
  • A pom-pom monster with eyes on two springy stalks Pipe cleaners, 1, 1 large pom-pom and 2 small ones. Cut the stem in half, coil both and glue an eye to each.
  • A pom-pom sheep on four black stem legs Pipe cleaners, 2, and 2 pom-poms. Fold each black stem into two legs and glue the white body over both folds.
  • A star wand outlined in beads on a doubled handle Pipe cleaners, 2, and pony beads. Bead one, bend it into a star and twist both ends around a folded handle.
  • An ear of fall corn: six beaded rows gathered at the tip Pipe cleaners, 3, and pony beads in fall colors. Cross the stems, bead all six arms and twist the ends shut.
  • An icicle: a stem filled with clear beads, then wound on a pencil Pipe cleaners, 1, and clear beads. Fill the stem with beads, fold both ends over and wind it around a pencil.
  • An inchworm of beads that humps its back Pipe cleaners, 1, and 8 pony beads. Thread the beads, fold both ends over and bend one arch in the middle.

How it works

A pipe cleaner bends anywhere and stays bent, so one twist is a joint. These 60 art ideas with pipe cleaners are sorted into animals, flowers, things to wear, shapes and makes with beads or pom-poms.

Read the full guide

Arts and crafts ideas with pipe cleaners: three moves

Twist: cross two stems and turn them once to lock a joint, as in the spider. Coil: wind a stem around a pencil and slide it off as a spring. Loop: bend a petal or a wing and pinch the stem back onto itself. Every hint starts with how many stems the make takes.

Why they are called chenille stems

A pipe cleaner is two wires twisted together with short fibers trapped between them. Chenille yarn is made much the same way, and chenille is French for caterpillar. The first make under Animals and bugs is one.

  • A cut stem ends in bare wire. Fold the last bit back on itself and the tip is smooth again.
  • Two stems twisted end to end make one long one. Overlap them by a finger's width.

Questions and answers

What can you make with pipe cleaners?

Animals, flowers, things to wear, letters and mobiles. This list holds 60, from a caterpillar coiled around a pencil to a pair of glasses with round rims and ear hooks, each with its stem count and first bend.

What are easy pipe cleaner crafts for kids?

The one-stem makes: a caterpillar coiled around a pencil and slid off, a ring with a coiled rose on top, and a flat evergreen zigzagged from one stem, widest at the base. None of the three needs glue or scissors.

How do you join pipe cleaners without glue?

Twist them. Cross two stems, turn one around the other once or twice, and the wire inside holds the joint. In this list glue is only for pom-poms and cotton balls.

How long is a craft pipe cleaner?

Often 30 cm, which is 12 inches, and up to 50 cm. Craft pipe cleaners are usually longer and thicker than the cleaning kind, with a polyester or nylon pile in many colors.

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