How to Make a Pipe Cleaner Angel
Make a beautiful pipe cleaner angel using simple craft supplies like pipe cleaners, yarn, and a wood bead! This easy Christmas craft is perfect for kids and adds a sweet handmade touch to your holiday decor.
Yield: 1 pipe cleaner angel
Cost: $2
Materials
- 8 Pastel pipe cleaners (blue, or another colour)
- Cardstock (to match pipe cleaners)
- Metallic pipe cleaner(s) (1 gold, 2 white)
- Wooden bead(s) (20mm)
- White glue
- Fine tipped black marker
- Yarn (hair colour)
- Small jingle bell
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Fold the body pieces
- Fold a 12 inch pipe cleaner in half and cut it into two even pieces.
- Fold these pieces and cut them in half again. This gives you 4 pieces that are 3 inches each.
- Fold the pipe cleaner pieces in half so they're rounded at the fold.
- Repeat with 7 other pipe cleaners (giving you 32 pieces total).
Step 3: Make a paper cone
- Cut a cardstock circle with a 6 inch diameter. You can trace a bowl or use a compass.
- Fold the circle in half and cut it down the middle. You'll only need 1 half to make your angel.
- Roll the paper around itself to create a cone. Make sure the bottom will stand flat. Secure the cone with hot glue or a piece of tape.
Step 4: Add pipe cleaners to the cone
- Add a short line of glue near the bottom of the cone, about 1/2 inch up.
- Set a folded pipe cleaner piece into the glue so about 1/3 of it (the rounded part) hangs below the edge of the cone.
- Repeat, adding folded pipe cleaners around the cone.
- Once the first row is full, add a second layer of pipe cleaners so they overlap the first row by about 1/3.
- Then add a third row of pipe cleaners, once again overlapping them.Don't place the pipe cleaners at the very top of the cone -- you'll need this space to add the head later.
- Fold the bottoms of the pipe cleaners up and out, almost like a flower petal.
- Twist 2 of the remaining pipe cleaner pieces and use them for the angel's arms.
- Curve them slightly and then glue them to the body, lining up the tops of the pipe cleaners with the top row.
Step 5: Attach the head
- Add a dot of white glue to a wooden bead.
- Use your finger to spread the glue into a very thin layer. Allow to dry. Now you'll be able to draw on the wood without it bleeding.
- Use a black marker to draw 2 eyes and a mouth.
- For the hair, cut 15 pieces of yarn about 8 inches long. Use another piece of yarn to tie the hair together in the middle.
- Thread the tied yarn down through the bead and use hot glue to secure these pieces near the base of the head, inside. Cut off the excess yarn.
- Then add glue to the top of the body and set the head in place.
Step 6: Make the wings and halo
- Fold a white metallic pipe cleaner in half, keeping the fold rounded in a wing shape. Fold one half back on itself and then back again, creating a second loop.Use the other part of the pipe cleaner to create 2 smaller wings. Twist the ends together to secure the loops.Then make a second wing with another pipe cleaner. Twist both wings together in the center.
- Add hot glue to the back of the angel. Set the wings in place just below the head, with the larger wings at the top.
- Separate the hair so that some of it is in front and some is at the back. Glue the hair down at the back of the head so it stays in place. Then cut the hair so it's nice and even.
- Form a circle with a gold metallic pipe cleaner. Twist the pipe cleaner around itself to secure the halo and cut the pipe cleaner about 1/2 inch below the circle.
- Fold the straight end of the halo down, so it's at a right angle to the circle. Add a dot of glue to this end and stick it in the top of the angel's head.
- Finally, add a dot of glue to each of the hands and place the bell so the angel is holding it.
- Your pipe cleaner angel is complete!
- Now have fun making more pipe cleaner angels in different colours! They look so pretty together in a display, and they also make a thoughtful homemade gift.
Video
Notes
Looking for more fun pipe cleaner crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Angel Pipe Cleaner Ornaments
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes
Candy Cane Reindeer