Make a Fun Barrel of Monkeys

An Easy Kids Craft Made from Pipe Cleaners

Nov 16, 2009 Sarah Briggs

Create more fun than -- well, a barrel of monkeys -- with this easy kids craft involving pipe cleaners and an empty soup can.

Kids will love this easy hands-on project that transforms a few simple craft supplies into their own version of the classic toy. While younger crafters may have a difficult time with some aspects of the design -- such as shaping the monkeys -- older kids will have no trouble at all making a chain of silly pipe cleaner monkeys in any color.

Craft pipe cleaners are the best choice, since the colors are bright and the wire is easy to cut with a sturdy pair of scissors (not to mention easier for little fingers to bend and shape).

Materials Needed:

colored pipe cleaners (two or three per monkey)
scissors
jewelry pliers
one empty aluminum can (fifteen-ounce size)
craft glue
craft paint

Making the Monkeys

Cut the pipe cleaners into one long piece, approximately seven or eight inches, no less; and three shorter pieces between five and seven. The longest piece forms the monkey's head and torso. Start forming the monkey's head from about the midpoint of the long piece, using the pipe cleaner below that point as a handhold.

Use jewelry pliers or a fine needle-nosed pair to shape the monkey's ears by twisting the pipe cleaner into a tight loop. Wrap the leftover pipe cleaner extending from the head around the stem to form the monkey's torso.

Arms, Legs, and Tails

Curl the ends of the remaining smaller pieces to form the arms, legs, and tail (as seen in the article's illustration). Wrap the limbs around the torso: the arms in the middle, the legs at the base. Secure them tightly using the jewelry pliers; to hold the legs firmly in place, wrap the tip of the base in a loop around them and press closed.

Shape the limbs so the monkeys can be interlinked in a chain using their legs, arms, and tails. The limbs are easy for small fingers to bend without the aid of jewelry pliers, so this is a step that even the youngest crafts will enjoy as they can "test" each monkey's linkability to the others.

Making the Barrel

Remove the top from the empty can, making sure no sharp edges remain. Remove the outer label and any remaining paper and adhesive, then rinse thoroughly and dry with a paper towel.

Mix glue into craft paint to thicken it, then paint over the outside of the can. Cover it thoroughly in a single coat of paint, taking care not to slop the paint over the edges or leave fingerprints on the outside.

Once the paint is dry, the "barrel" is ready for its monkeys. Pile them in and enjoy the fun of fishing the "linked" monkeys out in a chain.

The copyright of the article Make a Fun Barrel of Monkeys in Crafts is owned by Sarah Briggs. Permission to republish Make a Fun Barrel of Monkeys in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Complete Pipe Cleaner Monkey Template