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If you're decorating on a budget or just want a kid-friendly project for Halloween, pick up a package of cheap pipe cleaners. With a few quick twists, you can shape them into creepy crawlies that are sure to shock or surprise. Add googly eyes, pompoms, or beads to put your own finishing touches on them.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Basic Pipe Cleaner Spider

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  1. You can use pipe cleaners of any length, but make sure all 4 are the same size. Don't have black pipe cleaners? It's totally fine to make your spiders any color you want. [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    Hold the pipe cleaners together vertically and tap the bottom ends against a table so all of the ends line up. Then, pinch the pipe cleaners in the middle so they don't shift around. [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    Keep pinching the middle of the pipe cleaners and grab the top ends of the pipe cleaners. Slowly bend the ends down so they line up with the bottom ends. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    To make the spider's head, leave your index finger between the folded pipe cleaners and use your other hand to twist the pipe cleaners around your finger at least 2 or 3 times. Then, slide your index finger away so you can see the spider's head. [4]
    • It's important to twist it around a few times so the pipe cleaners don't come undone or fall apart later.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    Your pipe cleaners don't look like a spider yet, but a few simple movements make the legs easier to see. Since you folded the pipe cleaners, you'll have 8 short pipe cleaners sticking out from the head. Pull 4 of the pipe cleaners apart on 1 side of the body. Then, do this on the other side, but a few inches of space the sets of legs. [5]
    • If you want to display your spider on a vertical surface, you could put a piece of double-sided tape under the head and stick the spider in place now.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    Make your spider 3-dimensional! Take a leg and bend it up, then down in down in the middle so it's shaped like an upside-down V. Do this for each leg so your spider stands up. [6]
    • To make a creepier spider, push the head down low so the points of the bent legs are higher.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Decoration Variations

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    To make a more realistic looking spider, take an extra black pipe cleaner and wrap it around your finger to make a tight corkscrew shape. Then, stick it behind the head of your spider so it looks like an abdomen. [7]
    • If you're having trouble twisting the pipe cleaner around your finger, wrap it around a pen or pencil instead.
    • To make a spider that's also a sweet treat, slide a tootsie pop or sucker stem through the twisted pipe cleaner. The tootsie pop or sucker will look like an abdomen.
  2. Looking for cute spiders? Turn your creepy crawly pipe cleaner spiders into silly ones by squeezing a drop of craft glue onto the back of 2 googly eyes. Then, press them onto the spider's head and let them dry completely. [8]
    • Add as many googly eyes to your spiders as you like. Most spiders have 8 eyes, while some have up to 12!
  3. This is a great project for kids! Set out beads in a variety of colors and sizes. Then, twist the pipe cleaners to form the spider's body and separate the legs. Slide as many beads as you want onto each leg to make a cool design. [9]
    • For classic Halloween colors, use black, or orange beads.
    • Check that the beads aren't too big for the pipe cleaners or they might slide off.
  4. Shape your pipe cleaners into a spider and bend the center of the pipe cleaners down so they lie flat. Then, squeeze craft glue onto a big black pompom and stick it onto the center of the spider. Hold it in place for a few seconds and let it dry. [10]
    • Want to make your spider colorful? Use any color pompom you like.
    • Give your spider a cute personality by gluing googly eyes and a mouth-shaped scrap of felt onto the pompom.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Spiders Out of Pipe Cleaners
    It's easy to twist and secure the spiders onto things like railings or webs, but you can also suspend the spider from the ceiling or a web. Just tie a length of clear wire or a black piece of yarn around the center of the pipe cleaners when you twist the spider. Then, hang it wherever you like. [11]
    • This effect looks really cool when you hang lots of spiders.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I make my spider have eyes?
    Katrina Im
    Community Answer
    Yes, of course! Be creative with how you decorate your spider and make it your own!
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      Tips

      • Want a fun sensory project for a little kid? Give your child a bit of playdough and have them roll it into a ball to make the body of the spider. Then, cut 4 pipe cleaners in half and have them stick the legs into the playdough. [12]
      • To make a really thick spider, like a tarantula, twist 2 pipe cleaners together for each leg. You'll need a total of 8 pipe cleaners, but the legs will be twice as thick.
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      Things You'll Need

      • 4 to 5 black pipe cleaners
      • Beads, optional
      • Big pom poms, optional
      • Googly eyes, optional
      • Craft glue, optional
      • Clear string or black yarn, optional

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 108,490 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Charlotte Ford

        Jul 28, 2017

        "I love making these and put one on the outside on my doorbell on Halloween."
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