How to Make Pipe Cleaner Dolls

Being a parent requires lots of energy and lots of creativity. Here is a simple craft idea that will be fun for your kids and stir the pot of creativity.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Small wooden craft balls (or beads)
• Fabric for clothes
• Thin Sharpie
• Drill (if you use balls instead of beads)
• Hot glue or craft glue

1. Take a wooden ball (if you are not using wooden beads) and drill a tiny hole a quarter of the way into the bottom. This bead or ball will act as the head.

2. Take the pipe cleaner (the color is up to you) and cut it into five segments (you can use more than one pipe cleaner, depending on how tall you want the figure).

3. Twist the strands of pipe cleaner around the main strand to form arms and legs.

4. Place a drop of glue in the pre-drilled hole of the head and fit the neck of the pipe cleaner inside, giving it enough time to dry.

5. Make clothes with scraps of fabric or felt and glue them around the pipe cleaner. Be creative and remember that this is the fun part, so let your imagination run wild. You can make pants and shirts, shorts, dresses, aprons, armor and weapons--the list goes on.

6. Add hair by gluing on strands of yarn or faux fur.

7. Add accessories like baksets, crowns, or swords by cutting up paper, fabric hems or poster board. If you don't have the right color, paint it.

8. Draw a face on each doll with a fine-point Sharpie.

9. Give your dolls names and make up a show for the family.

Tips & Warnings

• To save on supplies and money, you can make one side of your doll one figure and turn the other side into another doll.
• Draw the character out first so you know exactly what you want to do.
• Be careful with the hot glue. Make sure your kids are supervised.