Button Flower Craft: How to Make with Pipe Cleaners
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting!
This simple button flower craft is a fantastic frugal project that creates a colorful bouquet. With just two supplies (pipe cleaners and buttons), this activity is easy, fun, and mess-free.
Whether you're celebrating spring, Mother's Day, or just need a rainy day activity, this kids' craft is a delightful way to spend your time and make homemade decorations. I've used this craft with my boys for themes with flowers and spring. Also, we've used these flowers as DIY gifts for friends and family. I'm sharing my tips and ideas for using this pipe cleaner + button craft. I hope your kids (and you) enjoy it!
Hands-On Activity with a Colorful Twist
When my oldest was in preschool, I'll never forget how excited he would get for our craft time together. He loved to use his hands in creative ways for making all sorts of projects. In fact, he still does - as a carpenter!
Well, it was just about time for Mother’s Day. He wanted to make something special for his teachers and family. And I wanted to find a project that was fun but also helped him work on some fine motor skills. After going through our craft supplies, I came up this idea for button flowers with pipe cleaners.
Not only did he get to create these cute flowers, but he also worked on his hand-eye coordination, gripping buttons, threading pipe cleaners, and bending them into shapes. It was a simple project, but the smile on his face when he handed them out as gifts was priceless. Plus, it was such a lovely way to make homemade decorations that he could be proud of. I loved seeing him feel accomplished, knowing he'd made something with his own two hands.
This button flower craft is a fantastic way to combine creativity with skill-building. It can also be easily tweaked - I have some ideas on how to do that so keep reading!
What You'll Need for This DIY Flower Craft
You're going to want to add this project to your budget-friendly craft list. It only uses two supplies (well, three if you decide to use glue). If you don't have these materials at home or in your classroom, you can often find low cost options at your local store (or order online).
- Craft foam (any color)
- Assorted buttons (various sizes and colors)
- Yellow button (for the center)
- Pipe cleaners (green for stems)
- Scissors
- Craft glue or hot glue (with adult supervision)
300 Pack Colorful Buttons for Craft DIY 15 Assorted Colors Resin Round Buttons for Sewing Flatback Button with Box 4 Holes Crafts Buttons Mixed Color Manual Button DIY Handmade Ornament Buttons (15mm)Secmity 320 pcs Colorful Buttons for Crafts DIY, 5 Size Buttons for Sewing Flatback Button Bulk with Box 4 Holes Assorted Button for Crafts and Decoration (9-25mm)PH PandaHall 100pcs 13mm Heart Wooden Buttons 2 Holes Colorful Printed Heart Buttons for Sewing Fasteners Scrapbooking Crafts Crochet Manual Button Painting Handmade Ornament DIY Projects 1.5mm HolePipe Cleaners, Pipe Cleaners Craft, Arts and Crafts, Crafts, Craft Supplies, Art Supplies (200 Multi-Color Pipe Cleaners)…Horizon Group USA 30 Rainbow Colorful Foam Sheets 5X 8.5, Multipack Assorted Vibrant Colors, Great for DIY Craft Projects, MulticolorAll-Purpose Tacky Glue – Premium Adhesive for Crafts, Jewelry, and Household Repairs – Original 4 Oz. (1 Bottle)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Button Flowers
Over the years, my boys and I have made many variations of this craft. I've added our basic version. For more ideas, read on to get ideas for tweaking!
Prepare the flower base.
Cut out a small circle from craft foam. This circle will be the base for your flower.
Assemble the flower and Add the center.
Glue buttons onto the craft foam circle in a flower shape, arranging them in a circular pattern. Glue a yellow button in the middle of the flower to complete the design.
Make the stem.
Fold a green pipe cleaner in half and twist to create a sturdy stem. Repeat this step for as many flowers as you want to make.
Attach the stem.
Glue the twisted pipe cleaner to the back of the flower and let it dry completely. Create multiple button flowers and arrange them together to form a bouquet.
Frequently Asked Questions About These Button Flowers Craft
This Button Flower Craft is great for preschool through elementary. Younger children can enjoy it, but may need assistance and supervision. Older kids can do most of the crafting themselves and make more intricate designs by combining multiple buttons or experimenting with different flower shapes and pipe cleaner arrangements.
Great question! If you prefer to make this project as mess-free as possible, skip the glue. Have your students thread through the button holes to secure the button to the pipe cleaner. Also, you can create your own leaves and base of flower with the pipe cleaner itself.
Sure! Use foam sheets or cardstock and cut out circle or flower shapes. You can poke a hole in the paper (or foam) or use a hole punch to thread your pipe cleaners through.
Creative Ideas for Using Your Button Flowers
To have your DIY flowers look like the examples in the tutorial, simply follow the steps.
I didn't always want to use glue (and really wanted to practice those fine motor skills!) so I would have my boys thread pipe cleaners through the button holes to secure in place. We would have to play around a bit with the arrangement of buttons but it always came out looking wonderful.
You can customize your flowers by using buttons of different sizes, shapes, and colors. You can also adjust the pipe cleaners for longer or shorter stems to suit your preferences.
The button pipe cleaner flowers are perfect for decorating a spring-themed bulletin board, making a Mother’s Day card, homemade flower bouquet, or creating a DIY gift for family members. They also work great for a rainy day craft project or as part of a flower or gardening lesson.
More Frugal Ways to Enjoy Flower Fun with Kids
Keep your flower fun going! Here are some of the flower-themed projects that my boys and I have enjoyed over the years:
- beaded pipe cleaner flowers
- coffee filter flowers
- torn paper flower
- toilet paper roll tulips
- toilet paper roll flower stamps
🌸🌼 Isn't this button flower craft adorable? How will you enjoy this activity with your kids? Do you have any questions about the tutorial? I'd love to hear about your experiences after you make this craft. Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!