Updated: Dec 11, 2019
Wondering what to make with all those extra crafts supplies you have lying around? This is exactly what I was thinking recently, while staring at my overflowing craft bins. And I came up with these adorable wooden bead dolls! Pull out your pipe cleaners, wooden beads, string, and googlie eyes. And follow along with these 10 easy steps to make a wooden bead doll of your own.
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Wooden beads (round and cube shaped)
Cut two pieces of string, roughly 5 inches long.
Thread two beads onto each string, and tie a knot on each end (these will become the arms and legs). I recommend squeezing a small bit of hot glue into the holes of each bead to keep them from sliding up and down the string.
Thread 4 beads onto a pipe cleaner. (If you have a larger, more decorative bead – like the flower-shaped bead that I used – place this one at the bottom)
Bend the bottom of the pipe cleaner into a hook shape.
Loop one of the strings onto the pipe cleaner and twist the hook to keep it closed.
Slide the beads down the pipe cleaner, until they line up with the top of the legs.
Tie the second string in a knot above the top bead (this will make the arms).
Cut the top of the pipe cleaner about ½ inch above the top bead.
Add a small line of hot glue to the top of the pipe cleaner, and slide a cube-shaped (or large round) bead onto the top to make the head.
Glue on googlie eyes.
My kids were so excited to help make this craft. Their favorite part was picking out their own colored beads. And I enjoyed watching them practice their fine-motor skills while threading the beads onto the pipe cleaners.
And these dolls are great for imaginative play too! After we finished making them my kids ran around the house making them “climb” and “dance” on everything. The dolls have a fun “marionette” movement when you make them dance, which my kids think is hilarious.
I just love how these wooden bead dolls turned out! An adorable, easy-to-make craft that encourages imaginative play. Mark this one down, you’ll definitely want to give it a try.
Show me what you’ve made! Join me on Instagram or Facebook and share your wooden bead dolls with me! Or leave me a message in the comments below. I love hearing from you!