Bendable Wire Sculptures

Soft craft wire twists into flowers, hearts, and stick figures — a first sculpture that stands up on its own.

This page may contain affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Ages 4-65 min prep

Craft wire was an accidental purchase and it has become one of my favorite basket fillers. It bends with small fingers and holds whatever shape it is given.

There is no right answer here, which is exactly why my son loves it. He makes glasses, antennas, a flower, a person with far too many legs, and then unbends it all and starts again.

I keep a pair of small safety pliers in the basket and I do the cutting. Everything else is his.

Bending soft craft wire into the first loop

Finished figures standing on a little wooden base

Soft craft wire, pliers, beads and the first finished flower

What you'll need

Soft pastel-coated craft wire (18-20 gauge — bendable by little hands)
Child-safe wire snips or old kitchen scissors
A small block of air-dry clay or a wine cork for the base
Round objects to bend wire around: a marker, a spool, a small jar
Optional: pony beads to thread on the wire

How to make it

1
Give your child a length of wire about as long as their arm.
2
Show them how to bend the wire around a marker to make a perfect loop — that's a flower petal or a bubble.
3
Try wrapping wire around a jar for a bigger circle, or folding it in half and twisting for a stem.
4
Talk about what they'd like to make: a flower with 3 petals, a heart, a person with a round head.
5
Thread on a few beads for color, then twist the wire to trap them in place.
6
Push the bottom end of the sculpture firmly into a ball of air-dry clay or a cork so it stands.
7
Let the clay dry overnight. Now it's a real sculpture to display.

Tip

Wire this soft can't hold sharp points, but always trim ends flat and curl the tips into tiny loops for safety.