Go Back
–+ servings
Easy Pipe Cleaner Sun Flowers
Print

How to Make Pipe Cleaner Sunflowers

These cheerful pipe cleaner sunflowers are such a fun and colourful project! The process is repetitive and satisfying -- great for older kids, tweens, teens, and adults looking for a relaxing craft session.
Active Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour
Yield: 1 pipe cleaner sunflower
Author: Debbie Chapman
Cost: $1

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

  • Gather your supplies and materials.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-Supplies

Step 2: Make the petals

  • Fold a yellow pipe cleaner in half.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-1
  • Twist the pipe cleaner together two times, about 1/3 of the way from the fold.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-2
  • Bend the ends of the pipe cleaner down towards the fold and open up the folded end.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-3
  • Slide one end through the gap and pull it taut.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-4
  • Then gather the ends together and twist them twice.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-5
  • Bend the ends up towards the fold and twist them together around the rest. This gives you the first petal.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-6
  • Repeat 23 times, giving you 24 petals total.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-7

Step 3: Make the center

  • Connect 3 brown pipe cleaners together to create 1 long pipe cleaner.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-8
  • Leaving a 3/4 inch tail, wrap the brown pipe cleaner around a wooden skewer or another long, thin object.
    Don't overlap the wraps.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-9
  • Slide the brown pipe cleaner off the skewer and gently stretch it apart so it looks like a zigzag pattern.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-10
  • Starting on one end, begin wrapping the pipe cleaner around itself. Don't pull too hard - you want to keep the zigzags.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-11
  • Continue until you've created the center of the sunflower. Secure the end by tucking it into and under one of the wraps. (You can also glue it in place.)
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-12

Step 4: Make the sepal (the green part under the flower head)

  • Next twist 3 green pipe cleaners together (just like with the brown).
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-13
  • Leave a 1 inch tail and then fold the pipe cleaner in a zigzag pattern, with each length being about 1 inch.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-14

Step 5: Make the leaves

  • Create a large loop with a green pipe cleaner, folding 1 end over the other and then wrapping it around.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-15
  • Bend the loop into a leaf shape, creating a point at the top and rounding the bottoms, like an upside-down heart.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-16
  • Wrap a second green pipe cleaner around the base of the leaf stem and bring it up vertically across the center of the leaf. Wrap it around the top to secure it in place.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-17
  • Now begin wrapping the pipe cleaner around the edges. Start with the pipe cleaner under the center frame and over the outer frame at the right.
    Then fold it up in the opposite direction, around the outer frame on the left.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-18
  • Bring the pipe cleaner back over the center frame and around it, before going over to the outside right.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-19
  • Fold around the right edge and back to the center frame, going over and around.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-20
  • Repeat this wrap pattern until you near the end of the pipe cleaner. Connect another green pipe cleaner by twisting the ends together.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-21
  • Continue, alternating the wraps around the outside frame, adding more pipe cleaners as needed.
    Tuck the tail in well when you reach the base of the leaf (or secure it by gluing it).
    Then repeat, making a second leaf, and bend them into shape.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-22

Step 6: Assemble the pieces

  • Add a line of hot glue to the back center of the flower.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-23
  • Set 2 petals into the glue on opposite sides of the center, with the rounded part facing out, and hold them until they stay in place on their own.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-24
  • Then add 2 more petals so you have 4 facing out in a cross shape.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-25
  • Add glue between 2 of the petals and place 2 more petals between them.
    Repeat until the base of the flower is full.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-26
  • Make a second layer of petals, gluing each one between 2 petals from the first layer.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-27
  • Cut a 12 inch piece of thick garden or floral wire and bend the end into a small loop using pliers. Bend this loop down so it's perpendicular to the stem.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-28
  • Glue the wire loop to the bottom of the sunflower.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-29
  • Then glue the green "zigzag" to the bottom of the flower, creating the sepal. Bring the the points of the zigzag in on one side, with the opposite fold towards the outside of the flower. Space them out nicely.
    Wrap the tail of the sepal tightly around the wire stem.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-30
  • Wrap green floral tape around the stem, starting from the base of the flower. Connect the leaves to the stem with the tape as you make your way down.
    You can also glue the leaves to the stem first before wrapping the tape around.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-31
  • Finally, bend the petals forward at the center of the flower, curving the edges of the petals back. Continue, shaping the sunflower how you'd like.
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-32
  • Your pipe cleaner sunflower is complete!
    Pipe-Cleaner-Sunflowers-33

Video

Notes

Looking for more pipe cleaner flowers? Here's a few of our favourites:
Pipe Cleaner Flower Headband
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Easy Pipe Cleaner Daffodils and Tulips