Adorable Pipe Cleaner Dolls

I had minor surgery on Tuesday so I've been at home since then and I'm feeling a little bit of cabin fever! I'm not used to just laying around doing nothing!

I decided it was time for some low-key "quiet" crafts so I made some adorable pipe cleaner dolls!


Aren't they sweet! They are so fun to make, I can't stop!

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Here's what you'll need to make some of your own.


I have an old hatbox filled with this kind of bump chenille stems that I've been collecting for this very purpose! I pick them up whenever I see them at garage sales and thrift stores.


You'll also need some cute heads for your dolls. I used these (linked in the supplies) and some cute kittens I found on Pinterest.


To make the dolls you'll need two pieces of chenille stem, one with one bump and one with two bumps.

Fold the one with two bumps in half.


Slide the single bump piece between the folded piece.


Then twist the top to form a little loop to glue the head onto.


Then twist the bottom to form the legs.


I used an old toothbrush to fluff up the chenille since this piece is vintage and a little smooshed.


My printer isn't working as well as it should so my printed heads didn't turn out as colorful as I wanted. I used decorating chalks and Q-tips to add some color!


I added a little tan to my kitten and pink inside her ears and on her cheeks.


Glue the head onto the chenille loop with the craft glue and bend the arms and legs as you wish.


I found a little wooden heart and painted it pink.


I glued it to the front, added a sticker, and then glued her hands so it looks like she's holding the heart.


The ornament hanger is made with a silver tinsel pipe cleaner. Wrap it around something like a tube of paint to get a nice shape and glue it to the back of your doll.


For my next little doll, I used one of the bunny heads. I colored it with chalk and added some vintage millinery flowers on her head where the flowers were on the printed version.


The kitten head was smaller. For these larger heads, I made the chenille bodies larger by using one piece with 3 bumps and one with two. They are assembled the same. For these, I also wrapped a single bump around their middles.


You can see that I gave her a cute little crepe paper dress, a vintage ribbon bow, and she is holding a vintage cupcake topper flower. You could also use paper muffin cups to make little dresses if you don't have crepe paper streamers (I just happen to have a whole basket of crepe paper rolls... I am a craft supply hoarder!)

I think I love her!


My next little girl got a blue crepe paper dress.


She looks so happy to be getting her dress! 😃


A pink bow, vintage flower, and a glittery pink heart finish this one off!


The last one I made got shorts!


He is holding a Borax crystal heart. There is a tutorial for making snowflakes HERE, I just made mine in the shape of hearts!


Here are some more pictures of the finished dolls.






That little flower this one is holding is actually a candle holder so I put a pearl bead down inside to make the flower complete!


These were so fun to make and embellish. I'm planning to make more! Maybe some that stand on their own!