Pipe Cleaner Dragonfly Craft
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I’m always looking for simple and fun crafts to do with the kids, and this beaded pipe cleaner dragonfly was a perfect pick. My little ones had a blast making them! It’s a super easy and mess-free, and you only need a few basic supplies—pipe cleaners, beads, and googly eyes. You can find most of these at the dollar store, but we’ve also included links to grab them online if needed.
Dragonflies come in so many beautiful colors—blue, green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown, black, white, gray, and pink—but the ones I love the most are green. So we opted to create it in a green color.
If you want to make your own beaded dragonflies at home, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get started!
Supplies Needed
- 3 pipe cleaners (pipe cleaners come in a variety of colors, but you will want to choose a color that resembles a dragonfly. Dragonflies come in blue, green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown, black, white, gray, and pink colors. However, green, yellow, and red are seen most often.)
- 10 plastic pony beads
- 2 small googly eyes
- glue
- scissors (you can also use tape, it will do just as well)
How to Make a Beaded Pipe Cleaner Dragonfly
Step 1: Create the Dragonfly’s Body
Fold one pipe cleaner in half. Then, string about nine (9) plastic pony beads onto one side, leaving about an inch of space at the folded end. This will form the dragonfly’s body.
Step 2: Make the First Set of Wings
Take a second pipe cleaner and shape it into a circle, overlapping the ends by about half an inch. Twist the ends around the circle to secure them. Gently press the top and bottom of the circle inward until they meet, forming a wing shape.
Slide this wing shape onto the beaded pipe cleaner, positioning it near the top. Twist the center of the wings twice to secure them. Flip the piece over and twist the wings again to keep them snug against the body.
Step 3: Add the Second Set of Wings
Cut about 2 inches off the third pipe cleaner and set that small piece aside. With the remaining longer piece, create another circle just like before—overlapping the ends, twisting them to secure, and pinching the circle into a wing shape.
Slide this smaller set of wings onto the dragonfly’s body below the first set, closer to the tail. Twist to secure, just as you did with the first wings. Adjust and shape both sets of wings until they look balanced.
Step 4: Form the Head
Slide one last pony bead onto the body, positioning it near the top to act as the head. Then, take the two loose ends of the pipe cleaner and roll them into a spiral to finish off the head shape.
Step 5: Add Eyes and Final Touches
Attach two small googly eyes using craft glue or adhesive tape. Adjust the wings and body shape as needed.
And that’s it—your beaded pipe cleaner dragonfly is complete!
Try to Experiment with different colors to create a whole dragonfly family.
