Pipe cleaner crafts are so much fun all year round. 

But, there is something about making a pipe cleaner craft around Christmas time that is very neat! 

We love crafts with pipe cleaners for making simple pipe cleaner candy canes or for a fun set of beaded crafts. 

Not only are you having fun creating a simple candy cane craft, but your preschooler is also working on their fine motor skills. 

Related: For more on the importance of fine motor play, check it out here! 

Pipe cleaner candy canes are a great way to create a candy cane pipe cleaner ornament for your Christmas tree!! 

It’s also a great keepsake to bring out each Christmas for the years and years to come! 

I’ll be sharing below how we put together this simple set of candy cane ornaments for our tree and how maybe you can too! 

Related: Looking for more Christmas Crafts and Activities for Kids? Here are over 70 Christmas Ideas for Kids! 

Supplies: 

• Pipe Cleaners

• Plastic or Paper Straws

We cut up our paper straws into pieces so they worked like beads and so that you can actually bend the upper part of the “candy cane” pipe cleaner so it forms as a “candy cane” shape. 

Another alternative to this simple craft and activity is to use beads. 

We love these colorful wooden beads and have used them in our small faux Christmas trees before as well! 

How do you make Candy Canes with Pipe Cleaners? 

Easy peasy! 

Here are the steps we took to create a simple candy candy cane craft out of pipe cleaners: 

• Grab a pipe cleaner and bend it so it is shaped like an actual candy cane. 

• Then, cut out pieces of your plastic or paper straw so that they work as “beads” for inserting into the pipe cleaners. 

• As you add the first straw piece in, make sure to close the bottom by folding the pipe cleaner a little so that it holds the straw piece in place. 

• Then, as you add the straw pieces and have finally finished all the way around, close the pipe cleaner flap so that all of the straw pieces are secured and intact within the pipe cleaner. 

• Voila! An easy and simple way to incorporate the candy cane pipe cleaner activity with a recycled diy activity. 

Tip: If you are near the curved part of the pipe cleaner “candy cane” make sure to add smaller cut out straw pieces so that it can easily bend. Supervision is always advised with any activities that contain small pieces. 

How do you make candy cane ornaments? 

There are many ways to go about making a simple candy cane ornament. 

Here are some items that can work in replacement of what we tried this time around: 

• How do you make candy canes out of cardboard? Cardboard candy cane ornament!

• How to make beaded candy cane ornaments? Pipe cleaners and wooden beads.

• Pipe cleaners in and of itself. 

• Twisting a white and red pipe cleaners to create a candy cane look alike.

These are just a couple of different ways you can go about creating a simple candy cane ornament. 

What cool things can you make with pipe cleaners? 

What other fun ways can you think of incorporating or that maybe you have tried out when creating a simple candy cane ornament craft? 

Please share with me as I’d love to learn your ideas and maybe we can try them out too!