This simple cardboard and pipe cleaner flower craft is perfect for younger kids. It uses basic supplies and sneaks in fine motor skill-building. It’s great for the preschool classroom or the kitchen table.

Pipe Cleaner Flower Craft

This craft is so easy you can have the whole class working on them at once. String pipe cleaners into cardboard to create an adorable flower.

Flowers made from pipe cleaners and cardboard. Text reads "Pipe Cleaner Flower"

Sometimes the most basic craft is all you need. This simple flower craft is perfect for little fingers.

Grab some cardboard to create the center. Then paint it with the color of your choice. Finally, string in some colorful pipe cleaners.

You’ll be amazed by how easy this craft is. Plus it sneaks in some important skill-building. Like fine motor skills and cutting practice.

You can use this easy cardboard craft in several ways.

Hang them in your playroom or classroom.
Display them on your classroom bulletin board.
Decorate your playroom!

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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

No time to make this cardboard flower? 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!

Flowers made from pipe cleaners and cardboard. Text reads "Preschool Craft - Flowers"

Tips for creating this flower craft:

These flowers are very simple. But here are some tips to help you along the way.

We chose yellow for the circle, but you can choose whichever color you want!
If you are trying to create this craft quickly, pre-paint your circles.
Or you can glue construction paper to the cardboard, instead of painting.
Try creating them using different cardboard shapes.
Let them play with the different sizes too!
Younger children may need help cutting the cardboard. You can cut the centers ahead of time
Use a piece of painter’s tape to create a loop on the backside of your cardboard. This holds it in place and is really helpful to younger painters.

Yield: 2 Flowers

Pipe Cleaner Flowers

See how to make adorable pipe cleaner and cardboard flowers.

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

Cardboard
Yellow Paint
5 Pipe Cleaners per flower
Tape

Tools

Scissors
Hole Punch
Foam Brush
Black Marker

Instructions

Start by cutting your cardboard into circles.
Then use a hole punch to create 5 holes.
Paint your cardboard yellow using a foam brush.
Once dry, draw on a smile (optional)
Start adding your pipe cleaners by sticking the 2 ends in holes next to each other.
Continue adding pipe cleaners until you have worked your way all the way around your flower, ending in your first hole.
Flip your flower over and tape to secure pipe cleaners in the back.
Check out your adorable flower!