Categories: Decorating & Design

Fun Pipe Cleaner Chains for Kids

A pack of craft pipe cleaners, or chenille sticks, costs about a buck, but oh, the fun you can have! Well, maybe not you, but definitely your kids. Actually, this project is fun for the whole family and a simpler project doesn’t exist. Grab some pipe cleaners in bold colors or metallic designs and let’s get started!

I love the metal designs, like silver or gold, for this project because we’ll be making decorative chains for objects and rooms. Kids will likely enjoy working with colors instead. Either way, the chains are very simple to make. The size of each link will depend upon how many times you cut the pipe cleaner in half.

Cut the first pipe cleaner in half, then cut each piece in half. Arrange each piece into a circle or oval to create your chain. These links will be connected and twisted together to form the chain. Make many links to form a chain that goes completely around the top of the room, or make a tiny chain that decorates a picture frame.

Use one pipe cleaner for each link and you’ll create a huge chain that’s great for kids to section off play areas in the house. When you cut the pipe cleaner several times you’ll create tiny links that can be difficult to make into a circle. When they’re very tiny, wrap them around a pencil, or something similar, to create the perfect circle. Use hot glue to attach the two ends of the circle. With large links you can simply twist the ends into the actual circle, and use no glue.

There are lots of different things you can decorate with the chains. Use hot glue to add a chain border to a lampshade. Or, hang the chains between drawer pulls on a dresser for a child’s room. Use the chains to decorate mantles, baskets, mirrors, hampers, trash cans, and much more.

Kids shouldn’t try to make very tiny chain links because there’s a greater chance that they could be poked by the wire that’s inside each pipe cleaner. Larger circles and ovals are easier to create without injury than really tiny links. Also be careful while twisting the ends into the circle so that you don’t poke yourself with the wire, or leave a piece sticking out that could scratch.

Chains don’t have to be all one color. Kids might enjoy making a colorful chain with chenille sticks in assorted hues. You’ll find them in packs of all one color, or packs of multi-colors, at any craft department or store.

There are lots of ways to decorate the chains when you’re finished creating them. Intertwine silk vines and flowers in the links, or attach any number of tiny trinkets. Set a tiny puppy inside one link or just hang tassels from the ends. You’ll find lots of things you can use to embellish the chains at a craft store.

If you want to make something totally different thread beads onto each pipe cleaner piece before twisting it into a circle or oval shape. The beaded chains are heavier, more time-consuming to make, and more expensive, but they’re beautiful. Use the smaller links for the beaded chains or your links won’t retain their shapes.

You’ll have lots of fun making the chains, decorating them, and hanging them in your home. Kids will have a blast just creating simple chains to play with or hang. The craft is inexpensive, easy for most any age, and beautiful when finished.