Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes

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Inspired by the first snowfall of the season, these pipe cleaner snowflakes are fun, easy, and quick to make. Grab some extra pipe cleaner for the kids to make some too because they are going to love this one. When finished, you can use them as decorations to hang up in your own home, ornaments for the tree, gift toppers, or even use them as gifts themselves.

Supplies

Pipe cleaner in a “snowy” winter colors like white, iridescent, silver or even blue.
Heavy duty scissors
White thread
Optional: Beads big enough to be threaded on to pipe cleaner

Step 1 – Cutting the Pipe Cleaner

Cut the following lengths of pipe cleaner in the colors you desire.

(3) 6-inch pieces
(6) 3-inch pieces
(6) 1.5-inch pieces

Step 2 – Creating the Radial Arms

Using two of your six-inch pieces, place one on across the other at around the halfway point of each and at an approximate 90-degree angle as shown. Twist the two pieces around each other so that they stay together. (Like a twisting a bread tie)

Add the third six-inch piece by placing its midpoint where the other two are joined. Then twist it around them. Try to keep your pipe cleaner pieces straight. Be prepared to do one or two for practice because it’s really easy to get kinks in them. You might find that the kids have more difficulty with that. If they are perfectionists, gently help them straighten the arms out.

The arms should be radiating out from the center point equally distant from each other.

Step 3 – Creating the Middle Star

Using one of the three-inch pieces, place it across one of the arms about a third of the way from the snowflake center. Twist the two pieces together so the leg stays straight. Bend the two halves of the piece you just attached piece upwards to form a “v” shape around the snowflake arm it’s attached to.

Repeat for the remaining arms. You should see the star shape appearing, but it’s likely that you will have to do a little finessing to get the endpoint to meet up. In this version, the ends gently touch giving the impression of points on a star.

Step 4 – Adding the End Branches

In the same way you made the branches for the star shape, add the 1.5-inch pieces on each arm about 1/3 away from the end.

Step 5 – Attach Thread to Hang

Just tie a length of thread around the arm you want to be at the top keeping a loop at the top of the string to hang the snowflake from.

Get Creative

There are several ways you can spruce up your snowflakes. Adding beads is just one of them. I find the quickest way to get thinking out of the box is to let your kids take the lead. They will come up with color combos and shapes that are creative and fun.