Pipe cleaners have long been a staple classroom supply. They’re colorful, inexpensive, and have so many uses. Try out one of these pipe cleaner crafts with your students to add a vibrant, colorful effect to your classroom, and have some fun in the process! Check out this list of 50 of our favorite pipe cleaner crafts.
1. Create pipe cleaner animal friends
Students will love these adorable pipe cleaner animal creations. The variety of animals means everyone can choose which one they like best.
Learn more: Adorable Pipe Cleaner Animals at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
2. Match colors on a pipe cleaner tree
Before getting started, round up colorful pipe cleaners and beads to match. Twist the pipe cleaners into a tree shape, then let kids string the matching beads to the right branches for some color-recognition practice.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner and Beads Color Matching Tree at School Time Snippets
3. Cultivate a cactus garden
These cacti are just so cute! Create a whole garden of them with the easy instructions at the link.
Learn more: DIY Pipe Cleaner Cacti at Handmade Charlotte
4. Spell with pipe cleaner letters
Kids often get bored while learning letters, so take a break from writing and try twisting pipe cleaners into letters instead. Then, use those letters for fun spelling practice.
Learn more: Learning Letters With Pipe Cleaners at Make and Takes
5. Craft a butterfly ring
These butterfly rings are both pretty and functional. Your kids will love this simple and beautiful craft.
Learn more: How To Make Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Rings at One Little Project
6. Gaze at pipe cleaner constellations
Use star-shaped beads along with pipe cleaners to map out the constellations of the night sky. Bonus tip: Hang them from the ceiling for cool classroom or bedroom decor!
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Constellations at 123 Homeschool 4 Me
7. Pick a bouquet of roses
Real roses fade, but these pipe cleaner crafts will last forever!
Learn more: How To Make a Rose With Pipe Cleaner at Sharing Our Experiences
8. Get hands-on math practice
Make simple but effective math manipulatives to help kids see addition and subtraction in action. These are great in the classroom and also for extra practice at home.
Learn more: Beaded Number Rods at Tips and Ideas From Anne Gardner
9. Blow bubbles with homemade wands
Sure, you could just use the wands that come with bubble solution, but these are so much cooler! Experiment with different shapes while also personalizing your own wand with colorful bead patterns.
Learn more: Homemade Bubble Wands at Messy Little Monster
10. Grab a colander for fine motor practice
Give a toddler some pipe cleaners and a colander and you’ll keep them busy for hours. Not only will it buy you some much-needed quiet time, but it will also give them excellent fine motor skills practice.
Learn more: No Prep Fine Motor Pipe Cleaner Activity at Hands On as We Grow
11. Go over the rainbow
This cute pipe cleaner craft is the perfect way to welcome spring! Use the finished products to decorate your classroom for a colorful accent.
Learn more: Rainbow Craft With Pipe Cleaners at Preschool Inspirations
12. Form shapes with pipe cleaners and straws
Thread pipe cleaners through straws and use them to create a wide variety of 3D shapes. This is good for geometry review, but they make fun building toys.
Learn more: Platonic Solid at The Map Is Not the Territory
13. Plant pretty pipe cleaner flowers
You’ll be impressed by how realistic these flower pipe cleaner crafts are! “Plant” them in small terra-cotta pots for an even better effect.
Learn more: Easy Pipe Cleaner Daffodils and Tulips at One Little Project
14. Light up pipe cleaner circuits
This STEM activity will amaze your science students, and you only need a few basic supplies to pull it off. Get the how-to at the link.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Circuitry at Instructables
15. Craft cuddly mini teddy bears
These teddies may be tiny, but they are big on charm! Make a whole collection for kids to play with or trade with friends.
Learn more: The Five-Minute Teddy Bear at The Multicrafteral Lab
16. Grow crystal icicles
You may be surprised to find this out, but pipe cleaners are the perfect medium for growing crystals in supersaturated solutions made with borax. This is one of those pipe cleaner activities that never fails to amaze.
Learn more: Crystallized Icicle Ornaments at Happy Hooligans
17. Travel to a galaxy far, far away
Do or do not … there is no try when it comes to these galactic pipe cleaner crafts! Make the whole crew and then act out your own stellar story.
Learn more: Star Wars Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets at Curious and Geeks
18. Count with pipe cleaner numbers
Like the pipe cleaner letters above, this activity gives kids fine motor skills practice while teaching them their numbers. You can also string beads onto the letters for more counting practice.
Learn more: Learning To Count With Pipe Cleaners at School Time Snippets
19. Smile at a crocodile
Crocodiles may be scary, but these cute crocs are not! Craft them with pipe cleaners, wood craft sticks, and a little bit of white paper for teeth.
Learn more: Craft Stick Crocodile Craft at Easy Peasy and Fun
20. Re-create favorite yoga poses
Here’s a fun way to work on physical fitness. Have kids bend pipe cleaners to represent their favorite yoga positions and then have them explain how the pose makes them feel.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Figure at Liz Espinosa/Pinterest
21. Float pipe cleaner jellyfish
How cute are these floating jellyfish decorations? Using multiple colors for the tentacles creates such a vibrant look. We especially love pipe cleaner crafts that double as classroom decor!
Learn more: Rainbow Jellyfish Craft at Crafts by Amanda
22. Practice spelling words
Grab some alphabet beads and then get to work on sight words, CVC words, or whatever’s on the spelling list this week. The hands-on component encourages whole-brain learning since it engages all the senses.
Learn more: Sound-Blending Practice at Gift of Curiosity
23. Fly a swarm of dragonflies
Once you’re done crafting, you can hang a host of sparkling dragonflies by the window to catch the light! Learn how to make these pipe cleaner crafts at the link.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Dragonfly at I Heart Crafty Things
24. Craft a DIY fidget stick
Fidget toys are a terrific way to help kids work off some physical energy while staying focused on the subject at hand. These DIY pipe cleaner fidget sticks are easy and inexpensive enough to make a batch for the whole class.
Get the tutorial video: DIY Fidget Sticks
25. Twist together pipe cleaner lollipops
They look delicious, but don’t snack on these little lollipops! These pipe cleaner crafts are so cute you’ll want at least a dozen.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Lollipops at Make and Takes
26. Turn a pipe cleaner into a needle
How clever is this? If you don’t have kid-safe plastic needles for lacing activities, twist a pipe cleaner into a needle to use instead.
Learn more: Bottle Lid Necklace at Little Learning for Two
27. Bend pipe cleaner skeletons
You could hang these as Halloween decorations, but we honestly think they’re fun enough to keep around all year long!
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Skeletons at Handmade Charlotte
28. Create colorful dragons
These cuties don’t breathe fire, but kids will love playing with them anyway. Learn how to twist your dragons at the link.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Dragon at Blissful Domestication
29. Weave a pipe cleaner bowl
Weaving is an excellent way to work on hand-eye coordination. Use woven pipe cleaners to make mats, or bend them up into bowls or baskets.
Learn more: Weaving at Having Fun at Home
30. Hang a garland of hearts
Send a message of love with this easy-to-make pipe cleaner garland. Once you’re done crafting, you can hang them to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any day.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Heart Garlands at Hometalk
31. Put together superhero figurines
Kids love superheroes so we have no doubt that your students will adore these little crime-fighting crafts. After your class is done making their superheroes, you can spark a fun debate by asking them their favorite superpowers.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Superheroes at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
32. Bookmark a good read
Encourage good reading habits with these adorable bookworm bookmarks! While simple, this craft yields awesome results.
Learn more: Book Worm Bookmark at Momee Friends of Long Island
33. Craft feathery pencil toppers
These birds definitely won’t fly away! Gather a few art supplies to craft these fun and functional pencil toppers.
Learn more: PIpe Cleaner Pencil Topper at Artsy Craftsy Mom
34. Play tic-tac-toe
This project works equally well as a craft and a game. These pipe-cleaner tic-tac-toe boards will surely be a hit with your students!
Learn more: DIY Pipe Cleaner Tic-Tac-Toe at Make and Takes
35. Be the star of the sea
These cute starfish will go over swimmingly with your students. Once done, you can add magnets and students can take their starfish friends home.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Fishing Game at Artsy Craftsy Mom
36. Create finger puppets
Put on a play with these pipe cleaner finger puppets! We especially love that you have the option to create a variety of animals for endless fun.
Learn more: Easy Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets at One Little Project
37. Bee the change
Create a buzz with these adorable little bees. Wrap the pipe cleaners around a wooden clothespin and add some googly eyes for an un-bee-lievable craft.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Bee at Kids Activities Blog
38. Meet friendly monsters
Who knew monsters could be so cute? These little creatures are created using Ping-Pong balls. How creative!
Learn more: Ping-Pong Ball Monster at Kids Activities Blog
39. Craft a snack bag
Students will love this craft-and-snack all in one! Hand these out as gifts after holiday parties or classroom festivities.
Learn more: Cute Kids Chicken Snack Bag at Reuse Grow Enjoy
40. Take an “elfie”
Have some fun with these adorable elves made out of pipe cleaners! Your kids will appreciate this silly and cute craft.
Learn more: Easy Pipe Cleaner People at Red Ted Art
41. Oh pipe cleaner tree …
Twist up some holiday spirit with these holiday trees that are both easy and attractive. Just shape your green pipe cleaners into a tree shape and then glue pom-poms throughout.
Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Christmas Trees at Blue Bear Wood
42. They come in peace
These alien pipe cleaner friends are so cute and so easy to make.
43. Create some creepy crawlers
These spiders may not be the easiest craft on our list, but they might be the coolest! Choose your secondary color of pipe cleaners and beads and then follow along with the video. Finally, add some googly eyes and enjoy your new creepy-crawly bestie.
44. Spin a spider web
Once you’ve made your spiders in the craft above, you’ll need a home for them! This web is a perfect project to further hand-eye coordination while having fun!
45. Make glasses for yourself or a doll
With the cost of glasses being what it is, who wouldn’t want to make their own pair (wink, wink)? While they may not help you see any better, they sure do look cute!
Learn more: How To Make Easy Pipe Cleaner Glasses at 123 Homeschool 4 Me
46. Twist some slithery snakes
Select your color snake and then create the three body sections by coiling them around a pencil. Then, thread a red pipe cleaner throughout to act as that hissing tongue. Finally, glue on a pair of a googly eyes and name your new slithery friend.
47. Sculpt with pipe cleaners
Grab some crafting foam blocks, a large supply of pipe cleaners, and all your crafting odds and ends, and then get to work sculpting. Kids will love personalizing their sculptures with beads, tape, and more!
Learn more: 3D Foam and Pipe Cleaner Sculptures at Picklebums
48. Jazz up a plain headband
Since headbands are a great way to look stylish in a pinch, the more the merrier! We love the idea of buying a few plain ones and then jazzing them up with pipe cleaners and pom-poms. Be sure to have an adult assist with the hot-glue gun!
49. Crown someone king or queen
Odds are that the little ones in your life love to play dress-up and love to craft, so why not combine those things? These pipe cleaner crowns are oh-so adorable and can be embellished with beads and other supplies.
50. Create magical fairies
Wooden peg people are one of the best crafting materials to buy in bulk since the possibilities are endless. We especially love the idea of using some glitter and pipe cleaners to transform them into magical fairies.
Learn more: DIY Wooden Peg Fairies at Happily Ever Mom
Keep up the creativity with these fun Wood Craft Stick Projects and Ideas.
Plus, check out Unbelievable Things You Can Do With Broken Crayons!
