Is your junk drawer bursting at the seams with leftover popsicle sticks from the summer? You can do much more with this basic craft supply than just make popsicles to cool off. Whether it’s crafting, building, or sorting, there are so many shape-creating and playing ideas for kids with popsicle sticks. If you’re wondering what to do with them, this post is for you! I have scoured the internet and collected the cutest and most creative popsicle stick crafts for kids of all ages.
RELATED: Art has played a big role in my boys’ early years. Here are my favorite art supplies for kids.
What can you do with craft sticks?
We spend the summertime mostly outside, playing, running, and cooling off with popsicles. But once the summer ends, we are always left with countless ice cream sticks. If you are wondering how to use up all of those popsicle sticks, look no further! Popsicle sticks are one of those supplies that are so versatile play ideas for kids. Plus, it is a super easy way to spend the day.
Use craft sticks for:
- Art projects
- Building
- Make farm animals
- Make popsicles
- Matching
- Sorting
- STEM
- Story retelling
RELATED: Is this idea getting you excited about summer? Check out these 30 Summer Activities (the best) for Toddlers!
Basic craft supplies
Most of these ideas require the same basic craft supplies. I added everything here to make it easy to purchase one time.
Days with Grey participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Craft Sticks
We use craft sticks for this math activity and also for art activities. Grab a box, and you’re set for many easy ideas for kids.
Kwik Stix
These Kwik Stix are where the paint meets crayons. They are bright, vibrant colors and great for chubby hands to hold—another option for someone who wants to get creative without the liquid paint everywhere.
What crafts can you make with popsicle sticks?
Crafting is important for kids. Being creative builds independence strengthens fine motor skills, and widens the imagination. This simple supply offers so many open-ended ideas for crafting and creating.
- Animals
- Instruments
- Lanterns
- Popsicle stick catapult
- Puppets
- Vehicles
- Plus, so much more! (keep reading, I’ve got some cool ideas listed)
And if you have been a part of the Days with Grey community for a while, you know I tend to gravitate more towards process art with easy ideas for kids. So for this post, I got a little help from my craftier friends.
22 popsicle stick crafts for kids
Let’s make some simple crafts with kids of all ages. Grab a handful of craft sticks and create with this basic craft supply.
Wax Paper Lantern
This a beautiful and surprisingly simple craft project using popsicle sticks and wax paper that is sure to be a highlight piece in any room of your home.
Popsicle Stick Bookmark
The cutest little monster bookmarks require minimal supplies and are the perfect page holder for your little bookworms.
DIY Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
Grab a handful of craft sticks and create these beautiful geometric snowflakes during the next snowstorm.
Bird Puppets
These cute little bird puppets are fun for pretend play and for the tiniest toddler hands to hold onto. Take this idea to make other farm animals to play with.
Tree Stick Craft
Make these easy DIY popsicle stick cactus plants for fun sensory and imaginative play.
Craft Stick Dominos
Let your kids create their own dominoes using fun colors and patterns that they can use to play all of their favorite domino games with.
Room on the Broom Craft
An easy story-retelling art project that offers a hands-on and creative approach to a classic Halloween tale.
Owl Babies
A simple and sweet art activity that uses popsicle sticks to help retell one of our all-time favorite board books.
Craft Stick Fairy Castles
This fairy castle craft idea is not only cute and adorable for pretend play but includes steps to create both a fairy castle and fairies.
Rainbow Craft Sticks
Who doesn’t love a rainbow craft? This popsicle stick craft is a great way to use up popsicle sticks on a rainy day.
Color Matching Flowers
A simple art project for your toddler to make and use for fun sorting, matching, and fine motor skill-building activities.
Alphabet Flower Garden
Develop alphabet recognition and awareness with this cute popsicle stick garden craft.
DIY Ice Cream Stick Snowflakes
Grab a handful of craft sticks and create these beautiful geometric snowflakes during the next snowstorm.
Kite Craft
A fun way to make mini kites to fly around inside using simple craft supplies and popsicle sticks.
Make an Abacus
A colorful and creative craft activity that strengthens fine motor and math skills.
Artic Animal Craft
Make adorable little arctic animals with this simple DIY art project that your preschooler will love to play imagination with and show off to their friends.
DIY Stick Dinosaur
Create adorable popsicle stick dinos with your child that are easy and fun to assemble.
Popsicle Stick Dragonflies
These popsicle stick dragonflies are a sparkly little craft project to welcome the spring season.
Unicorn Craft
Whether or not your child loves unicorns, these popsicle stick unicorns are easy and fun to make!
Ice Cream Stick Vase
This stick vase craft project is functional, simple, and fun to make and give as a great gift idea.
5 Craft stick activities
Have extra craft sticks after your latest art project? Check out these five easy popsicle stick ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.
Color Memory Match
Introduce color sorting for your preschooler with this simple popsicle stick memory game.
Shape Memory Match
Strengthen your toddler’s fine motor skills and develop shape recognition and awareness using popsicle sticks and leftover egg cartons.
Fly in Your Shapes
Integrate shape learning and movement with this hands-on activity to help encourage shape matching and recognition.
3D Kindergarten Shape Build
This a fantastic popsicle stick STEM activity for big kids who love to build and experiment with shapes, sizes, and creativity.
Toddler Color Pick
Improve fine motor skills, sorting, and color classification using popsicle sticks with this simple setup toddler activity.
Ideas are are limitless!
Popsicle sticks make for the perfect versatile craft and activity supply. If you feel like your art supply box is drowning in excess of popsicle sticks, try out some of these fun ideas for crafting, creating, and playing both! The truth is, in our opinion —- you truly can never have too many popsicle sticks!
Who has time to search for ideas?
Save with the PDF bundle to have everything you need on your digital device without ad interruptions.
3D Shape Build with Popsicle Sticks
Materials
- Craft Sticks
- Play dough
Instructions
- Gather supplies.
- Collect 3D shapes you find around your home.
- Invite your child to begin building differnt 3D shapes using the craft sticks.
Notes
FAQ
Popsicle sticks are traditionally known to be used for making popsicles in the summertime. But there is so much more you can do with them. Popsicle sticks can be used for creating fun crafts and used for sensory play.
Popsicle sticks are so useful and versatile. Crafting puppets, creating vases, and making colorful sensory tools to repurpose for fine motor skill matching and sorting are just some fun and easy ways to craft with popsicle sticks.
Popsicle sticks are for all ages! But they are an especially excellent supply to have on hand for crafts with toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids.
