Looking for a fun activity to keep your kids occupied? All you need to make these colourful bracelets is buttons, pipe cleaners and a few minutes of free time! This craft is so simple to make, and it’s a great way for kids to practice their fine motor skills. Plus, you can switch up the colours to complement any season or holiday!
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This project is super simple, and believe it or not, it was actually my four-year-old’s idea!
Quiet time at our house always seems to involve playing with tiny objects that I don’t feel comfortable taking out around our younger kids. And ever since we made a Button Rainbow several months back, our four-year-old has gotten into the habit of playing with the leftover buttons while her younger siblings are napping.
I’m not sure what exactly she finds so fascinating about them. But I do know that she loves sorting them, pouring them into containers… and now that she’s decided to use them to make bracelets, she also loves threading them onto pipe cleaners!
Required Materials
All you’ll need to make these easy pipe cleaner bracelets is three simple items:
- Assorted buttons
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors (not pictured)
The buttons and pipe cleaners can be any colour you choose. We went with orange and red tones because a) they’re my four-year-old’s favourite colours, and b) those colours are perfect for autumn!
How to Make a Button Bracelet with Pipe Cleaners (Step-by-Step)
1. Thread Buttons
Choose the buttons you want and thread them onto the pipe cleaners one by one. You can experiment with different sizes to create a unique look, though I recommend not choosing buttons that are too small or you may have some trouble threading them.
Some of the buttons we used had two holes, and some had four. It doesn’t really make much of a difference. When our buttons had four holes, we made sure to thread two holes diagonally.
Note: You won’t be able to slide the buttons along the pipe cleaner as easily as you would do with thread. If you’re not happy with the way your button is positioned, simply push the pipe cleaner up through the hole before readjusting the placement of the button.
2. Measure Bracelet
Once you’ve threaded all the buttons, place the bracelet around you child’s wrist to measure it.
Because our kids are still little and the buttons we used were quite large, we only had enough room for about four buttons. However, that could vary depending on the size of your buttons and the circumference of your child’s wrist.
3. Twist & Cut Pipe Cleaner
Once you’re happy with the length of the bracelet, twist the pipe cleaner to secure it in place, then cut off the excess, leaving about an inch on each end.
4. Secure Bracelet
Twist the ends in such a way as to secure the bracelet. Be careful not to prick your child with the pipe cleaner, and make sure the pointed ends are turned away from your child’s wrist once you’re done.
And that’s it—your button bracelet is ready!
This project literally takes under five minutes to make, and you can customize it however you like. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your little ones busy and help them practice their fine motor skills!
Our three-year-old wanted to be part of the fun, so we decided to make another bracelet just for her! Can you guess what her favourite colour is?
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