This pipe cleaner sun craft is so easy to create. It uses simple supplies like cardboard and construction paper to create a fun and happy sun. Plus it sneaks in fine motor skill-building. Which is essential to the development of preschoolers.
Pipe Cleaner Sun
When you are combining crafts with learning, the more simple the better. This pipe cleaner craft doesn’t get much easier.

You can’t help but smile when you look at this happy sun.
It uses such easy supplies, that you’ll be able to whip one up super quickly or make a bunch with your classroom.
Grab some cardboard and construction paper to go with those pipe cleaners and that’s pretty much all you need!
While the kids put together their sun craft, they will be learning about the basic circle shape. Plus, you’ll be sneaking in some good cutting practice and fine motor skill-building.
You can use this cardboard craft in several ways.
- Hang them in your playroom or classroom.
- Look together the pipe cleaners to create a garland.
- Create smaller versions of them to glue onto handmade cards.
- Display them on your classroom bulletin board.
- Glue a piece of magnet to the back for a fun refrigerator decoration.
Craft supplies that pair well with pipe cleaners.
These craft supplies are perfect for crafting with young kids. While not each of them is used in the crafts below, they are all staples in our craft bin. If you don’t have any on hand, that might be ok. Take a look at the craft first to see whether or not you need them.
- Construction Paper – One of our favorite craft supplies. These crafts are a great way to use up that stash of black paper.
- Cardboard – Perfect for using up all those boxes you get in the mail!
- Craft Sticks or popsicle sticks – A classic staple, use them in your craft or to mix paint.
- Kid-Friendly paint – Kids love to get messy! Check out our favorite tips for painting with young children.
- Googly Eyes – You can literally add them to any project and it instantly becomes cuter.
- Tissue Paper – We always have this on hand. Buy it new or use or save it from birthday parties and holidays.
- Toilet Paper/Paper Towel Rolls – A great way to recycle your paper tubes is to use them in crafts!
- Paper Plate – Grab this party supply to create fun crafts.
- Contact Paper – We use this a lot to create suncatcher crafts
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No time to make this preschool sun craft? Pin it for later!
If you’re currently in planning mode, that’s ok! Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to grab instructions when you’re ready!

Tips for creating this preschool craft:
These suns are very simple. But here are some tips to help you along the way.
- We chose classic yellow and orange for this sun. But you can let your kids experiment with colors.
- Younger children may need help cutting the cardboard. Either cut the circles ahead of time or choose easier cardboard, like cereal boxes.
- You can easily add a second circle to the back to make it double-sided and hang.
- Play around with the size center circle for older children.
Pipe Cleaner Sun

This pipe cleaner and cardboard sun craft is perfect for little hands to practice some basic skills. And uses everyday craft supplies!
Materials
- Cardboard
- Yellow Construction Paper
- 6 Pipe Cleaners - I mixed yellow and orange.
Tools
- Hole Punch
- Scissors
- Black Marker
- Glue Stick
- Tape
Instructions
- Cut a circle out of cardboard.
- Glue your circle onto a piece of yellow construction paper.
- Cut around the cardboard. You will now have a yellow paper-covered cardboard circle.
- Use a hole punch to create 6 holes. To ensure even spacing, punch your first hole. Then punch a hole across from the first hole. Then place 2 punches in between the first and second holes. Repeat on the other side.
- Draw on a happy sun face or decorate any way you like!
- Fold each of your pipe cleaners in half. The easiest way to do this is to match up the ends and then pinch in the middle.
- Put each side of your pipe cleaner into holes that are next to each other on the sun.
- If you are using 2 colors of pipe cleaners alternate the color of your sun rays.
- Once you have 2 rays added, flip it over and secure the X they create on the back with tape.
- Continue your way around the sun adding your rays and securing with tape.
- When you add your last ray in you should have 2 X on the back to finish up.
- Flip over and it's complete!
More paper pipe cleaner crafts you will love!
- Flowers – This is a super cute and easy flower craft that uses pipe cleaners.
- Cross Pencil Topper – Perfect for Sunday School!
- Spiders – A Classic pipe cleaner craft.
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