I was inspired to make these pipe cleaner balls after I found this clear teardrop pattern glass at a thrift store last week for $2. I loved the scallops on it, and thought the curves would be perfect for my Valentine’s Mantle. And…we can make these little cuties ourselves for any color of the season.

Pipe Cleaner Balls Tutorial

First you’ll need to get your parts and pieces together. I used 2″ foam balls left over from my shabby chic christmas ornament project last year. I then picked out 3 colors of pipe cleaner for $0.99 a pack from Michael’s.  You’ll also need a glue gun and glue to attach the two together.

 

To start I took a pipe cleaner and wound the end into a very tight spiral shape like so.  This allows you to minimize the burns and headache you’ll get from trying to start it off.

 

Next take and glue this “cap” onto the styrofoam ball.

 

Then you’ll just keep on adding to the spiral, gluing a couple times each layer as you circle around.  You can but your thumb on this new cap as you roll it around to keep your fingers out of the hot glue.

 

 

Each time you run out of pipe cleaner just start a new one slightly overlapping the last.  The fuzzies on the pipe cleaner helps to fill in this part.

 

Next repeat the process for all the colors you are doing.  It takes about 5 pipe cleaners to do (1) 2″ ball, so keep that in mind when you are gathering your supplies.

 

You can place these in a bowl, in a vase, or in a piece of vintage glass as I did.