This pipe cleaner dog craft is paws-itively adorable! Whether you’re a dog lover or just enjoy creating with chenille stems, this little pup is so much fun to make. With just a few simple twists and wraps, you’ll have your own miniature dog that’s full of personality!
This little pup makes a great decoration, gift topper, or imaginative play buddy for the kids. Plus pipe cleaner animals are the perfect mix of creativity and fine motor skills practice. And the best part? You can customize your dog’s colour, pose, and even its facial markings!
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How to Make a Pipe Cleaner Dog
Materials:
- 7 White pipe cleaner(s) (or other colour)
- Tacky glue
- Round black beads (3mm x 1; 2mm x 2)
- Chalk pastels
- Black puffy paint (optional)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make the head
- Leaving a 1-1/2 inch tail, wrap a white pipe cleaner tightly around the end of a Sharpie marker 3 times.Then twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together, right next to the marker, and remove the marker.
- Push the longer end of the pipe cleaner down through the loops, leaving a finger’s width loop at the top.Remove your finger and twist the loop once to secure it. Bring the pipe cleaner back up and repeat, creating a second ear.
- Attach a second pipe cleaner, twisting it to the end that just came through the loops. Then twist the 2 ends together a couple times below the loops.
- Bring the long pipe cleaner end up through 2 loops. Then push it to the outside in front of the 3rd (top) loop in the center.Push the pipe cleaner between the 2 ears and down the back of the head.
- Repeat the last step 2 more times, bringing the pipe cleaner to the right and left of the first, so you have 3 vertical lines between the ears.Repeat again, layering another line in the center. Twist the pipe cleaners below the loops to secure them.
- Pull the bottom loop up and over the 2nd loop, bringing it to the middle. Then pinch this loop slightly, shaping the snout.
- Wrap the longer pipe cleaner around the snout to give it more definition. Then twist the 2 ends together below the head.
Step 3: Create the legs and tail
- Fold the longer pipe cleaner back on itself 1-1/2 inches from the head. This is a front leg.
- Then connect another pipe cleaner to the end of this section, twisting them together.
- Fold this pipe cleaner back to the right, creating another front leg. Twist it around the other pipe cleaner and bring the long end down.
- Twist each leg, from near the head to almost the end, leaving a 1/4 inch section at the end untwisted to be a paw.
- Bring the long pipe cleaner down straight from the base of the head about 1-1/2 inches. Fold the pipe cleaner out and back in on itself, creating a back leg that’s a tiny bit longer than the front ones (1-3/4 inch).Repeat on the other side. Twist these legs from about 1/3 way out, again leaving 1/4 inch paw at the end.
- Attach another pipe cleaner and fold it back towards the body, leaving a 1 inch tail. Twist the tail together from the base until half way up the tail.
Step 4: Wrap pipe cleaner around the body
- Wrap the long pipe cleaner around the body of the dog, going from the base of the tail up towards the head.Bring it up between the front legs, around the back of the neck, and back down between the front legs. Then continue wrapping it around the body, back down towards the tail.
- Fold the tail up towards you. Bring the pipe cleaner from the back, between the legs, around the tail and back down over the leg.Continue wrapping around the body, from back to front again. Add a pipe cleaner wherever you get near the end.
- Repeat the wrapping process, going around the head and the tail each time you reach it. Continue, adding another 2 pipe cleaners when needed.
- Bend the limbs and head into place, positioning the dog how you’d like (sitting or standing). Then bend the paws so they’re facing forward and curve the tail however much (or how little) you’d like
Step 5: Add the details
- To add colour to the dog, rub a soft pastel onto the pipe cleaners. We added grey pastel over both sides of the dog’s face and ears, leaving the snout and a stripe up between its eyes white.Then we covered the back and half of its tail, as well as going halfway down the outsides of the legs.
- To attach the bead eyes and nose, pick up a bead with fine tipped tweezers and dip it into tacky glue.
- Use the tweezers to place the eyes and nose onto the pipe cleaner dog.
- Optional: Then once the glue is dry, fill in the holes of the bead with small dots of puffy paint.
- Your pipe cleaner dog is complete!
- Experiment with different ear shapes, tail lengths, sizes, and colours to make different breeds of pipe cleaner dogs!
Helpful Tips:
- Wrap tightly: Keep the pipe cleaner wraps snug to help your dog hold its shape.
- Colour creatively: Use pastels to add personality and breed-specific markings to your pup.
What kind of pipe cleaners work best for making pipe cleaner dogs?
Standard chenille pipe cleaners, like we used, are readily available and work fine for this simple pipe cleaner dog.
For a more realistic looking dog, thicker wool pipe cleaners give a fuller, fluffier look. Or you can also make bigger versions of your pipe cleaner dog with extra thick furry pipe cleaners!
What glue is best for adding eyes and a nose to my DIY pipe cleaner dog?
Hot glue can work in a pinch for your pipe cleaner dogs, but tacky glue gives you more control for placing tiny beads. Hot glue also tends to ooze out around the beads, leaving a hard rim around the nose and eyes.
How do I add colour to my pipe cleaner dog if I don’t have pastels?
If you don’t have pastels, eye shadow is another great option for colouring your pipe cleaner dogs!
If you don’t have either of those, you can also use permanent markers or fabric markers. Keep in mind, though, that these options may not give you as soft an effect as the powdered colourants.
This pipe cleaner dog craft is such a fun way to get creative with a classic crafting material. Whether you’re shaping it into a playful pose or adding your own colourful touches, each fuzzy pup turns out one-of-a-kind. It’s a doggone good time for both kids and adults!
Here’s even more cute animal craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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