43 Outstanding Craft Stick DIY Ideas

Whether you call them craft sticks or popsicle sticks, every crafter should know what you're talking about. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see the range of projects that can be made (and made inexpensively) with this versatile craft supply. A lot of these projects would make thoughtful gifts, holiday ornaments, and playful home décor pieces. Let's get started!

Make the cute farm animals shown above using the directions at make and takes.

I love these little scarecrows and think they would be so cute tucked in a potted plant. This would be a great Thanksgiving project you could keep through the fall.

These Christmas trees would look great included in a winter village scene. Make sure to add drifted snow on the branches for a realistic touch!

I think these birds are one of the cutest projects for kids to make. Think of the many ways you could use them. I'm thinking about using them to create a mobile for a baby's room or turn into ornaments for the Christmas tree.

Dad will love receiving a handmade gift like this pencil holder. It can be used on a desk in a home or office.

I think this mirror would be extra elegant if the sunburst was painted black. Whether you leave it natural or paint it, this is a great project to try.

I think making a trivet would be a great group project for a classroom or scout troop. It'd be a useful gift to give to Mom or Grandma.

This Advent tree would be a nice project for the home or a classroom. Craftnest shares the instructions for how to put it together.

These sweet garden fairies are a simple and easy craft. You can customize this in so many ways, so here's to letting your imagination run free!

Little boys especially will enjoy making this alligator and then chasing their siblings around with them.

These unique fish can be put together with just a few craft supplies and are sure to excite the kids.

If you make one of these bracelets, I can assure you that you'll want to make more of them. They're very attractive!

Ask the kids for ideas about where and how to use these Santas, and you'll have reasons to make lots of them.

Let the children show their patriotism by making flags with popsicle sticks. You'll find the directions at The Suburban Mom.

This school bus frame would be such a nice way to remember how the kids looked across different grades. Use the school photo of the year to put into the frame. Imagine lining up a bunch of school buses as a playful wall arrangement.

Painted black, silver, or gold, these giant snowflakes could be used as year-round wall décor. Learn how to assemble them at Craftynest.

This little reindeer is so cute! Make all of the Xmas characters: Santa, snowmen, and reindeer. You could place them on a piece of paper decorated with a winter scene to let your kids play with them!

Make a cute boat and take it sailing in a pond or tub. You can turn it into a game or race and have fun with friends.

Make these beautiful airplanes with make happy. The kids will really enjoy customizing their plane designs.

Sometimes it's difficult for kids to think of things that they can make to give to their dad or mom as a gift. This trinket box is a great gift item that the kids can put together themselves and feel good about giving away.

I can see this project being made into a mobile. I'd paint it yellow and sprinkle it with glitter for a beautiful touch.

These scalloped trees aren't just for Christmas. I think they look so classy.

You can make your own popsicle stick memory game by following the directions at eat drink CHIC.

Find out how you can transfer a photo image onto the craft sticks to make a personalized puzzle. These would be such a sweet thing to slip into a gift!

Any child would be so proud if they made Mom something she could use—like a handmade recipe holder.

I think this Nativity scene is my all-time favorite craft stick project. It's simple but beautiful and easy to make.

How clever is this use for craft sticks? Go to Momaha for the instructions.

You can make a little garden fence like the one above over at favecrafts.

Kids will love making and playing a harmonica that they've constructed themselves.

I think kids would really enjoy making and using a mini weaving loom. If you want to save time, make the looms ahead of time so the kids just do the weaving. Our Creative Day is where you'll find the instructions.

Make this easy snowflake ornament using craft sticks and buttons. The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman shares how to put it together!

What's not to love about these stick critters? The kids will love making and playing with them.

Let the kids make magnets to hang artwork on the fridge! Because they'll remember what they made, it'll be easy for them to match their art to the magnet.

I love little homemade nativities, and this DIY one is really cute.

This is an outstanding project that teachers could use in the classroom. Use this project when teaching what the bald eagle signifies in American history.

Although the tutorial doesn't give specific directions, they have great photos that show you how to make these sled ornaments. You can use this in so many ways!

Teens who like to wear jewelry that they made themselves will enjoy this pendant project. I think the pendant doesn't even look like it's made from a popsicle stick!

There are so many occasions when a gift like this would be appropriate, other than the obvious Valentine's Day. To make a photo puzzle gift for someone you love, go to all for the MEMORIES for the instructions.

Learn how to make this craft stick scarecrow at Today's Creative Ideas.

The kids will love to help make a tree full of snowflakes like these for Christmas. Some pom-poms can be purchased already with glitter on them, which I think would be very pretty. See how to make these snowflakes at It Happens In a Blink.

I love this puppet theater because you can make so many different characters with craft sticks. Imagine the three little pigs or even Bible characters. You'll find the tutorial for the puppets and puppet theater at CRAFTS BY Amanda.