Looking for a simple craft to add to your ballet celebration or ballet-themed day? This one is super simple and only requires two items and scissors! Read on to check it out.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
THE SUPPLIES:
- One Pipe Cleaner
- One Sheet of Tissue Paper
- One More Pipe Cleaner (in a color that matches or compliments the tissue paper)
THE TOOLS:
STEPS
STEP 1: Create the Body
Fold the pipe cleaner so that one side is slightly larger than the other. At the bend, make an oval shape – this will be the head. With the longer side, wrap it around the shorter side to create a neck. Then, create an arm a short distance from the head. Bend the pipe cleaner back toward the body and create the other arm. If you still have more pipe cleaner, bend it back and add it to the lower portion of the body.
STEP 2: Create the Dress
Using your second pipe cleaner, create the top portion of the dress by wrapping it around the body and arms. It should look roughly like the top portion of a letter X above the arms. Using any excess, create a bit of the body portion of the dress by wrapping the second pipe cleaner around the first one. You should have some excess which you will bend later.
STEP 3: Set up the Tutu
Fold your tissue paper into thirds then half. This should create 6 sheets if you’re using a standard size tissue paper. Draw a circle and cut it out – be sure to cut all 6 sheets at a time (You can also free-hand cut the circles – they don’t have to be perfect as you’ll be folding and fluffing them). Once you have all 6 circles, fold in half and cut a small semi-circle in the center – this will create a circle in the middle. Thread both the pipe cleaners through the center hole. Make sure the tissue paper is pushed up toward and is right at the dress portion.
Alternative step: If you want to add some more colors or make the tutu look fuller, you can add more tissue paper circles. You can definitely get very creative with some color schemes 🙂
Alternative step: If you want to make this more of an all day activity, you can use coffee filters dyed with food coloring. There are a few tutorials online but essentially, you add some food coloring to a bowl, mix with some water, add the coffee filter, soak for a few minutes, and lay out to dry).
STEP 4: Create the Base
Now that your pipe cleaners are through the tissue, turn it over so that you can create the base. Wrap the first pipe cleaner around until it runs out – this will keep the tutu in place. Then with your second pipe cleaner, create a bit of a circle so the ballerina can stand up (you can adjust later when you stand up the ballerina).
STEP 5: Fluff the Tutu
Now that your base is ready, turn the ballerina over and fluff out the tutu. You may need to pinch the top of the tissue to shape it into a skirt.
STEP 6: (Optionally) Create an Entire Group of Ballet Dancers
Since they’re so quick an easy, you can make an entire ballet production – from the beginners dancing in the group all the way to lead ballet dancers! Have fun with different colors or shaping the arms into different ballet positions! Enjoy 🙂
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much for checking out our ballerina craft article. Hopefully this has added to some creative fun to your day and/or maybe even inspired more ideas! If you liked this article, please comment below or follow us on Pinterest 🙂
If you’re looking for more kid friendly crafts, check out our other posts here!
Happy Creating!!!
