Christmas Pipe Cleaner Crafts for Kids: Easy and Fun Ideas

Pipe cleaners are easy and versatile craft materials for kids. With a little creativity, they can be transformed into almost anything. These crafts develop kids’ fine motor skills while sparking their imagination. Explore this list of cute and fun Christmas pipe cleaner crafts for kids!

1. Candy Cane Ornaments

Candy cane ornaments made with white and red pipe cleaners.

Materials:

  • Red and white pipe cleaners
  • Ribbon or string for hanging
  • Optional: glitter glue (if you’re feeling brave)
  • Optional: clear nail polish to seal the glitter (learnt it the hard way)

Instructions:

  1. Twist one red and one white pipe cleaner together, starting from one end and working your way down
  2. Bend the twisted pipe cleaners into a candy cane shape, curving the top into that classic hook
  3. Tie a ribbon through the curved part for hanging
  4. If you’re using glitter glue, let the kids add some sparkle (then immediately regret this decision when glitter appears in places glitter should never be)
  5. Let dry completely if you used glitter glue – this is important, trust me

2. Christmas Tree Decorations

Christmas tree decoration made with green pipe clearners and colorful pom poms.

Materials:

  • Green pipe cleaners (3 per tree)
  • Small pom-poms or beads in various colors
  • Yellow pipe cleaner or star sticker for the top
  • Pencil or marker for shaping
  • Optional: brown pipe cleaner for a trunk

Instructions:

  1. Cut the green pipe cleaners into three different lengths: small, medium, and large (roughly 3 inches, 4 inches, and 5 inches work well)
  2. Wrap each piece around a pencil to create spiral shapes, then slide them off carefully
  3. Stack the spirals from largest to smallest to form a tree shape
  4. Twist them together in the center with a small piece of pipe cleaner to hold them in place
  5. Let kids thread pom-poms or beads onto the branches as ornaments – this part keeps them busy for a surprisingly long time
  6. Add a small star made from yellow pipe cleaner at the top, or use a sticker if you’re not feeling crafty
  7. If you want, twist a small piece of brown pipe cleaner at the bottom for a trunk

Kids love Christmas trees! Let them create their own with these 25 easy Christmas tree crafts.

3. Santa or Elf Hats

A cute Santa hat made with red and white pipe cleaners, and a white pom-pom.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Twist a red pipe cleaner into a cone shape.
  2. Wrap the bottom with a white pipe cleaner for trim.
  3. Glue a small white pom-pom to the tip of the hat.
  4. If you want an elf hat, bend the tip of the cone slightly to one side.

More ideas? Explore these super easy Santa craft ideas for kids, and these fun Elf crafts to make at school or home.

4. Snowflake Window Decorations

Snowflake decorations made with pipe cleaners and beads.

Materials:

  • White or silver pipe cleaners (6 per snowflake)
  • Optional: clear beads, pearls, or small bells
  • Optional: iridescent pipe cleaners if you want them extra fancy
  • Fishing line or thread for hanging
  • Clear tape for window mounting

Instructions:

  1. Stack all six pipe cleaners on top of each other so they’re perfectly aligned
  2. Twist them together once in the very center – make it tight so they don’t slip
  3. Fan them out so they’re evenly spaced, creating a star/snowflake shape (think about how you’d cut a paper snowflake)
  4. Bend the ends of each pipe cleaner into small curves, loops, or hooks – let your kid experiment with different shapes
  5. Add beads to some of the ends if you want extra sparkle (slide them on before you bend the ends)
  6. Tape to windows or hang from the ceiling with fishing line for a floating effect

5. Mini Wreath Ornaments

Mini wreath ornament made with pipe cleaners and small beads.

Materials:

  • Green pipe cleaners (2 per wreath for thickness)
  • Red ribbon
  • Small beads (red looks like berries, but any color works)
  • Optional: tiny jingle bells
  • Optional: small artificial flowers or leaves from the craft store

Instructions:

  1. Twist two green pipe cleaners together for thickness and durability
  2. Form them into a circle and twist the ends together securely – make sure it’s really secure because this will be handled a lot
  3. Thread red beads randomly around the wreath to look like berries, spacing them however looks good to you
  4. Tie a small red ribbon bow at the bottom of the wreath
  5. Add a tiny jingle bell to the bow if you have one (the dollar store has these)
  6. Make a loop at the top with ribbon for hanging, or attach to a safety pin to wear as a festive brooch

Check out these 12 Christmas wreath crafts for kids using simple supplies.

6. Angel Ornaments

Angel ornament made with pipe cleaners, wooden bead, white lace and feathers.

Materials:

  • White or cream pipe cleaners
  • Wooden beads (one per angel for the head)
  • Markers for drawing faces
  • Ribbon or lace for dress decoration
  • Optional: tiny feathers for wings

Instructions:

  1. Take a wooden bead and draw a simple face on it with markers – two dots for eyes and a smile is perfect
  2. Thread one white pipe cleaner through the bead for the body
  3. Twist the pipe cleaner below the bead to hold it in place
  4. Bend the ends down to create a triangle shape for the dress
  5. Use another white pipe cleaner for the arms – thread it through above the dress, then bend the ends for hands
  6. Create a halo with a small piece of gold or silver pipe cleaner, forming a circle and attaching it to the top of the head
  7. If using feathers, attach them to the back with a dab of glue for wings
  8. Wrap ribbon or lace around the dress section if you want extra decoration

7. Striped Ornament Balls

Ornaments made with styrofoam balls and pipe cleaners in different colors.

Materials:

  • Pipe cleaners in multiple colors (at least 3 different colors)
  • Small styrofoam balls (1–2 inches work best)
  • Ribbon for hanging
  • Optional: glitter glue, sequins, or other embellishments

Instructions:

  1. Cut pipe cleaners into small pieces, about 2 inches long
  2. Push the pieces into the styrofoam ball, creating stripes or patterns
  3. Keep adding pieces until the entire ball is covered
  4. Create a hanger by pushing a full-length pipe cleaner through the top and bending it into a loop
  5. Tie ribbon through the loop for hanging
  6. Add any embellishments you want between the pipe cleaner pieces

8. Peppermint Swirl Decorations

A festive decoration made with red and white pipe cleaners and a red ribbon.

Materials:

  • Red and white pipe cleaners
  • Cardboard circle (trace a cup and cut it out)
  • Glue
  • Ribbon for hanging
  • Optional: clear contact paper to seal everything

Instructions:

  1. Start from the center of your cardboard circle
  2. Glue the end of a red pipe cleaner to the center
  3. Begin spiraling the red pipe cleaner around in a circle, gluing as you go
  4. When you reach the end of the red, start with white, continuing the spiral
  5. Keep alternating red and white until the entire cardboard circle is covered
  6. Trim any excess pipe cleaner
  7. Glue ribbon to the back for hanging
  8. Optional: cover with clear contact paper to keep everything secure

Christmas crafts need not be expensive. Kids will enjoy creating these little ornaments, which add a touch of magic to the holiday.

Want more holiday inspo? Explore kid-friendly Christmas craft ideas, including 15 holiday projects to make together, easy popsicle stick Christmas crafts, and handmade Christmas cards.

You can also find budget-friendly painted rock ideas for Christmas, paper plate crafts, toilet paper roll crafts and paper bag Christmas crafts.

Don’t miss our Preschool Christmas Gifts for Parents post for more handmade holiday inspiration!

Once Christmas has passed, don’t pack away the creativity—discover even more fun in our winter crafts for kids collection!

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