How to Make Pipe Cleaner Flowers

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Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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Pipe cleaner flowers provide all the beauty and color of real flowers without the pesky bees. They are as simple to make as they are cute. They look adorable in old, glass soda bottles and fit perfectly on window sills. They'll brighten up any room and add much needed spunk during the long winter season. Their fun, bright colors are the definition of summer and can be easily changed to fit any personality.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Simple Flower

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1
Fold the end of a pipe cleaner to form a loop, and twist it to secure it. Measure down 1/3 of the way on your pipe cleaner. Fold this top into a loop, and twist the end around the rest of the pipe cleaner to secure it. You will have something that looks like a stick with a loop at one end. This will make your first petal.
- This pipe cleaner will make the petal part of your flower. It can be any color you want. Popular flower colors include: white, blue, pink, and purple.
Measure halfway down the pipe cleaner, starting from the base of the loop. Fold this top half into a loop. Give it a quick twist to secure it. You should now have two loops next to each other. This will make your second petal.

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Fold the rest of the pipe cleaner towards the base of the second loop. Twist the around the pipe cleaner to secure it. Leave the last 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) untwisted. You will need this to put your flower together.
4
Make a second set of petals using a second pipe cleaner. Use the same steps you used to make the first set of petals.
- Try to use the same color as your first pipe cleaner, unless you want a multi-colored flower.
- Remember to leave behind a 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) stub.
5
Hold the petals together, and twist the ends together. Take the two sets of petals, and align them so that all the loops match up. Twist the two stubs together.
- When you are done twisting, you can pull the two petal sets apart, like opening a book.
This will make the center of your flower. Leave about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) or so unrolled. You will need this stub in order to attach it to your petals.
Push the stub down between the petals, so that it aligns with the petals' twisted stub. Hold the stubs together, and gently push the yellow disk down until it lays flat against the petals.
Hook a green pipe cleaner around the base of your petals. Start wrapping it tightly around the petal base, moving downward. When you reach the bottom, straighten the green pipe cleaner out. This will make your flower stem.
Give it to someone you care about, or stick it into a pretty vase.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Daisy or Sunflower

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1
Cut 2 colored pipe cleaners into fourths so that you have 8 mini pipe cleaners. When you are done cutting, sure that they are all the same height. The pipe cleaners can be any color you want, but make sure that they are the same color.
- If you'd like to make a daisy, use white pipe cleaners. If you'd like to make a sunflower, use yellow.
This will make your skinny petals, just like in a daisy or sunflower. Keep the pipe cleaner folded shut, and not spread open like a V.
Make sure that all of the folded ends are on the same side. The cut ends will make the top of the bundle. The folded ends will make the bottom of the bundle.
4
Cut a green pipe cleaner in half and stick it into the center of the bundle. The top of the bundle should be level with the top of the green pipe cleaner. The bottom of the bundle should be facing towards the bottom of the green pipe cleaner.
- The green pipe cleaner will make the stem. To make a stronger stem, fold a whole green pipe cleaner in half, and twist it to make a thick, half-sized pipe cleaner.
5
Cut a yellow or brown pipe cleaner in half, and wrap it around the top of the bundle. This will make the center of your flower. It will also hold it together. Hook the end of the yellow/brown pipe cleaner around the bundle, about ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) from the top. Start wrapping the yellow/brown pipe cleaner around the bundle, moving upwards.
- Use a yellow pipe cleaner for a daisy, and a brown pipe cleaner for a sunflower.
- Wrap the yellow/brown pipe cleaner as tightly as you can, or it won't hold the flower together very well.
When you reach the top of your bundle, you will probably still have some yellow or brown pipe cleaner leftover. Fold this leftover pipe cleaner over the top of your bundle to help hide the cut ends.
7
Fold the petals upward. By now, you should have something that looks like a closed umbrella. You will need to push the petals outward, like an open umbrella. Be gentle, so that you don't accidentally pull the petals off.
- To make your flower more unique, curve the tips of the petals upward or downward.
Give it to someone you care about, or put it into a pretty vase.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Rose

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1
Cut 4 colored pipe cleaners into fourths, so that you have 16 mini pipe cleaners. This will make your petals. You can any color you want to make your rose, but make sure that all 4 pipe cleaners are the same color. The most popular rose colors are red, pink, and white.
- After you cut them, make sure that the mini pipe cleaners are all the same height.
This will make the flower part. Save the last mini pipe cleaner for later. You will need it to hold your rose together.
3
Cut a green pipe cleaner in half, and stick it into the middle of the bundle. The top of mini bundle should be level with the top of the green pipe cleaner. The bottom of the mini bundle should be facing towards the bottom of the green pipe cleaner. Make sure that the mini pipe cleaners are gathered all around the green pipe cleaner.
- The green pipe cleaner will be your stem. To make it stronger, fold a whole green pipe cleaner in half, and twist it to make a thick, half-sized pipe cleaner.
4
Wrap the last mini pipe cleaner around the top of the bundle. Measure down about ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) and hook the end of the mini pipe cleaner around the bundle. Start wrapping the mini pipe cleaner around the bundle, moving upwards towards the top. This will hold your rose together.
- Wrap the mini pipe cleaner as tightly as you can, or your rose won't hold together very well.
5
Open up the mini pipe cleaners, and spread them around the green pipe cleaner. You will end up with something that looks like a spider or sea anemone.^{[1]
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Research source} Don't worry, you will end up with a pretty rose when you are done, and not a spider.
- Be gentle when spreading the mini pipe cleaners, or you will pull them apart.
6
Roll each mini pipe cleaner towards the center, as tightly as your can. Start by folding the tip of each mini pipe cleaner over. Then, roll each mini pipe cleaner towards the green pipe cleaner at the center. Keep the roll as flat as you can, like a disk. These will become your petals.^{[2]
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- Roll all of the mini pipe cleaners in the same direction.
7
Twist and turn the petals to arrange them. When you are done rolling the petals, many of them will probably be vertical; they should be horizontal. To make them look more rose-like, turn each disk/petal so that it is horizontal. Some disks/petals will need to be on top of each other.
- There should be fewer petals towards the center, and more towards the outside.
- The petals will also be closer together towards the center than the outside.
You can give it to someone you care about, or stick it into a pretty vase.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I place the green stem in there?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Depending on which flower you are making: Step 8 simple flower - the green stem is wrapped around the petal base. Step 4 daisy - the green stem is at the center of the yellow petals and the entire bundle is wrapped together in the next step. Step 2 rose - the green stem is in the center of the pink petals. In the next step another piece wraps around the bundle to hold it together.

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Tips

Fill a cup or pot with coffee beans, and stick your pipe cleaner flowers into them.^{[3]
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Make a bunch of different flowers and tie them together with a ribbon. Give them as a gift to your mother, aunt, grandmother, or favorite teacher.

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You can use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the pipe cleaners, but wire cutters will be easier. You also won't risk ruining your scissors.

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