This easy to make chenille pipe cleaner Christmas craft includes free vintage style printable faces. Use as Christmas tree ornaments or package ties.
When I was a kid I always got excited to hang this ornament on our Christmas tree. It was my grandmother's I think.
OK, so it's a little worse for wear and Santa may be wielding a club in one of his hands.
Things were rough at the North Pole back at the turn of the century.
But flaws and all, he meant CHRISTMAS to me as a child.
I got to thinking, everyone should have their own club wielding Santa for their tree!
So this is my version of how to make a pipe cleaner Santa (and snowman and reindeer and dog and cat while we're at it). Oh, and thanks to my lawyer I left the club out of the tutorial. Something about liability.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Chenille Pipe Cleaner Christmas Craft
Supplies
- Chenille pipe cleaners with bumps in them
- Faces (I have you covered - there's a link down below where you can get the faces for FREE)
- White school glue or craft adhesive
- Scissors
- Clothespins (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Print off your faces and cut them out (link is below).
Step 2
Cut chenille pipe cleaners. One piece with 1 bump and one piece with 2 bumps.
Step 3
Bend larger pipe cleaner in half and insert small pipe cleaner between the "legs".
Step 4
Twist the neck and twist the waist area around the small pipe cleaner (the "arms" don't move, the "neck" and the "waist" are what gets twisted).
Step 5
Glue head on neck area.
Yes, that's my FitBit. No, I use it mainly as a watch.
You can use a clothespin to hold it while the glue sets up.
Step 6
You can attach a hanger through the neck hole or use as package ties.
And you're done! Hang up your fantastically cute and ridiculously easy Christmas creations.
And as promised, here are the free faces.
Don't you wish we could all just print out a new face. Maybe Photoshop some wrinkles away while we're at it?
Free Christmas Faces Printable
Get the Chenille Pipe Cleaner Christmas Faces HERE (without "sample")
Check out the web story version of this article HERE.
Today I'm joining up with:
Robin Downing
Thank you. I am 68 and grew up with one of these on our tree every year, until it went missing. I never got to look at it close enough to figure out how it was made. Mother said she got the pattern from a magazine some time in the late 30’s or early 40’s.
Cee Wood
Hi! It's 2020 and these are still a Great and Original idea I am definitely trying this year and I can't stop laughing about the "club-wielding Santa"! He says Christmas is gonna be great or else! Thanks for this post!
Aura Main
Hello, just writing to find out if it would be possible to print the faces to make ornaments to sell.
Pam
No, these are for personal use only.
RandiG at FrugElegance
Wow, these are AWESOME!! So creative & fun!
visiting from blogging50 😉
Joanne E Boulter
Hi Pam, I just read your article in Vintage Holiday and thought now there is a kindred spirit! I have peeked through your awesome blog and will be coming back for more! Thank you for blogging and sharing you talents.
Happy Holidays! Jo
Kerryanne
Oh wow Pam, you've taken me back to my childhood. My mum had a box of these that we loved. Visiting from Blogging Fifty and pinning too!
Megan
Love these!
PS I think it's a candy cane, not a club. Lol
Sue Pagels
I have made those for Halloween also, black cats and owls and witches! Very easy to do and very cute! I also made some Santas holding feather trees. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Never did get my damn turkeys out of storage 🙁
Vickie Kern
These vintage inspired ornaments are so darn cute, Pam! They'd be cute on Christmas gifts as well. Love your vintage Neanderthal Santa. Thanks so much for sharing and have a Happy Turkey Day!
Meegan Fast
You have once again blown me away with your creativity. Definitely reminds me of my Grandma's Christmas ornaments.
Thanks for so many great ideas.
[email protected]
how sweet are these. love them.
Florence @VintageSouthernPicks
Indeed I do remember those! And got just as excited to have a cute Christmas ornament. What goes around, comes around, as the saying goes. They're very nostalgic.
Diana
They are darling, Pam, and oozing with vintage-ness. Love them!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I love these so much, Pam! I have some with pug faces! Pinning!
Congrats on the porch pots post blow up!!
Happy Thanksgiving!