Looking for a creative and frugal craft project to do with your kids? You’ll love making your own beaded pipe cleaner flowers !
Not only is this craft an enjoyable activity, but it’s also a great opportunity to practice and build fine motor skills . My boys and I have made bouquets of these flowers for DIY gifts and homemade decorations. I’ve got easy-to-follow instructions (with pictures) plus tips for you to make these beautiful flowers to keep and share.
A Beautiful DIY Project for Learning Fun and More
I think it’s incredibly cool when you find an activity for kids that’s engaging, educational, and versatile . And it feels like bonus points when that activity is easy to set up and no- to low cost!
This DIY pipe cleaner flower craft is one of those activities. I remember finding this idea and tweaking it to use with my two older boys when they were younger. I wanted use a project that allowed them to work on fine motor skills, counting, and patterns while making special gifts for Mother’s Day .
After I gathered our collection of pipe cleaners and pony beads, we got to work threading beads and bending pipe cleaners. It was a blast creating a variety of colorful flowers to give to friends and loved ones.
What You’ll Need for Making This Flower Craft
To have pipe cleaner flowers that look like the examples in this tutorial, stick to the steps and these materials:
3 pipe cleaners (any petal color)
1 green pipe cleaner (for the stem)
1 yellow pipe cleaner (for the center)
Pony beads (matching petal colors)
Scissors
Glue (hot glue or craft glue)
If you’d like a slightly different look or have extra time (and supplies), you can try these ideas:
Use favorite colors for any part of your flower. For example, have a purple stem, red center, and white petals. Think outside the box!
For different textures, try wood beads.
You can also make your own beads using this paper bead tutorial . This step will lengthen the process but will also provide a unique look.
Make air dry clay beads . When dry, thread along your pipe cleaners.
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Step-By-Step Instructions for Making These Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Prepare the Petals .
Cut 3 pipe cleaners in half to create 6 shorter pieces. Thread pony beads onto each pipe cleaner, using colors that complement the pipe cleaner. Leave a little space at both ends.
Shape the Petals .
Bend each beaded pipe cleaner into a petal shape. Twist the two ends together to secure, leaving a small piece at the end.
Create the Flower Base .
Take a green pipe cleaner and form a small circle at one end. Twist to secure. Twist the 6 beaded petal pieces onto this circle, spacing them evenly.
Make the Flower Center .
Swirl a yellow pipe cleaner into a small tight circle. Glue the yellow swirl onto the center of the flower where the petals meet.
Add a Leaf .
At the opposite end of the green pipe cleaner (stem), bend and shape it into a leaf. Twist the end to secure the leaf in place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pipe Cleaner Flowers
What age group is this craft suitable for?
This craft is ideal for children ages 4 and up. Younger kids can participate with assistance and supervision. Older students can do it independently, practicing their fine motor skills and making patterns. I do NOT recommend doing this project with children that still put things in their mouths unless you can sit and monitor throughout the process.
Can I use different types of beads for this craft?
Yes! You can use a variety of beads, such as pony beads, wooden beads, or even glass beads. Just make sure the beads have a hole large enough for the pipe cleaner to fit through.
What should I do if the beads keep slipping off the pipe cleaner?
Make sure the beads that you’re using have holes large enough to slide onto the pipe cleaner easily. If needed, twist the end of the pipe cleaner to create a stopper to keep the beads from slipping off while you’re adding them.
Creative Ideas for Using Your Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers
This craft is perfect for spring, Mother’s Day, Earth Day , or even a rainy-day activity. You can also include it in a gardening or flower-themed unit study.
Use your beaded pipe cleaner flowers as DIY gifts ! You can attach them to a card, place several in a vase, or even use as a decorative pin for Mother’s Day or other special occasions.
You can also use this activity for educational purposes . Prior to threading have our students identify colors and count the beads. They can place the beads in simple patterns (like red, red, blue, blue) or in rainbow formation.
Oh, and a fun idea for practicing spelling words (or add a personalized touch to a gift) is to use beads with letters !
More Ways to Have Fun with Flowers
Extend your flower fun by trying different crafts and resources. My boys and I have enjoyed making these flower-themed projects:
beaded pipe cleaner flowers with your kids? And do you have any questions about the tutorial? I’d love to hear about your experiences after you make this craft. Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
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