Creating toys with ice cream sticks is a fun and simple activity to do with your kids. With just a few popsicle sticks and basic craft supplies, you can create amazing toys that will bring joy and ignite their imagination. These versatile wooden sticks offer endless possibilities for imaginative play. In this article, we'll show you seven easy and enjoyable projects with ice cream sticks to try on. We also provovide some important tips to ensure your crafting experience is both enjoyable and hassle-free. Let’s get started!

1. Colorful popsicles

Materials needed:

• Popsicle sticks, hot glue gun
• Watercolors, scissors, foam paper

Instructions:

Step 1: Mix colors and paint the popsicle sticks.

Step 2: Cut the foam paper into various shapes, such as flower shapes.

Step 3: Use the hot glue gun to attach the cut-out shapes onto the top of the popsicle sticks.

Creating colorful popsicle stick toys will allow children to unleash their imagination. With foam paper, they can create any shape they like, and you can add beads to the popsicle sticks for an extra touch of beauty.

2. Unique airplane toy

Materials needed:

• Popsicle sticks, small wooden board
• Scissors, markers, glue

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare 5 clean popsicle sticks.

Step 2: Choose two small wooden boards, each about 5 cm in length and 1 cm in width. Then, glue the two boards together with glue.

Step 3: Paint two long popsicle sticks and horizontally attach them to the top of the wooden board. Leave a 1 cm gap between the popsicle sticks and the edge of the board. Attach one stick on the top surface and the other stick on the bottom surface of the board.

Step 4: Cut a flat popsicle stick segment, about 5 cm in length and 0.4 cm in width. Paint the stick, then use glue to attach it as the tail of the airplane.

Step 5: Draw decorations on the popsicle sticks. Now, you have a popsicle stick airplane toy for your child to play with.

3. Adorable Peacock

Materials needed:

• Popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers
• Colored paper, glue, scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Arrange 7 popsicle sticks in a fan shape to form the peacock's tail, and secure them together with glue.

Step 2: Draw the head and body of the peacock on colored paper. Cut them out and glue them in the center of the fan-shaped popsicle sticks to create the body of the peacock.

Step 3: Cut two small pieces of bamboo skewers or toothpicks to make the legs of the peacock.

Step 4: Use markers to draw eye patterns, wings, and the tail of the peacock on the colored paper, or use colored paper to create accents. Now, you have completed the adorable peacock toy for your beloved child.

4. Simple Puzzle Toy

Materials needed:

• Popsicle sticks, paper, markers
• Glue

Instructions:

Step 1: Draw and cut out a rabbit model on white paper.

Step 2: Arrange 7 popsicle sticks in a line to create a flat surface.

Step 3: Place the rabbit model made of white paper on the closely arranged popsicle sticks. Use a pencil to trace along the outline of the white paper, and then color the rabbit on the popsicle sticks.

Step 4: Draw eyes and a nose on the cute rabbit. Now, it's complete. With these popsicle sticks, you can mix them up and let your child put them back together to form the rabbit shape. This puzzle toy made with popsicle sticks is super simple yet fun.

5. Creative Bunk Bed Car

Materials needed:

• Wooden sticks, colored popsicle sticks, a piece of fabric
• Glue, white bamboo skewers, a piece of cardboard
• 4 bottle caps, ruler, pen, small handheld drill

Instructions:

Step 1: Assemble the wooden sticks to form a large rectangular frame.

Step 2: Assemble the colored popsicle sticks into a smaller rectangular shape.

Step 3: Connect two prepared rectangular frames together and attach wooden bars to the corners to create the basic structure of the car.

Step 4: Attach smaller details to the car frame and evenly place wooden sticks to create the car's floor.

Step 5: Assemble the popsicle sticks into a second large rectangular frame for the upper bunk.

Step 6: Attach the upper bunk frame to the car frame and add a purple support bar at the front.

Step 7: Attach small wooden pieces to the front of the car.

Step 8: Attach vertical wooden sticks to the upper bunk frame to create the second-floor platform.

Step 9: Cut the cardboard into small circles, insert them into the bottle caps, and drill a small hole in the center of each one to create the wheels. Repeat this process to create four wheels.

Step 10: Attach the wheels to the car.

Step 11: Install the bunk bed railing for the upper bunk.

Step 12: Cut the fabric to create bed covers and pillows. Now, you have created a playful bunk bed car toy using popsicle sticks for your child.

6. Popsicle Stick Windmill

Materials needed:

• Wooden popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers
• Scissors, ruler, pen, candle glue, hot glue gun
• Cardboard, small handheld drill, thin steel wire

Instructions:

Step 1: First, arrange the popsicle sticks into a triangular shape and glue the ends of the sticks together. Leave the top of the triangle with separate sticks.

Step 2: Drill a hole at the top of the popsicle stick triangle. Create another triangle using similar popsicle sticks, ensuring that the size of the two frames is the same.

Step 3: Attach the two upright triangular frames onto two sticks, with the tongue of one frame horizontally placed to serve as the support for the windmill.

Step 4: Measure and cut pieces of cardboard into four equal circles.

Step 5: Arrange five popsicle sticks together, with their tips touching, in a circular shape. Secure them onto the cardboard circle with candle glue.

Step 6: Then, glue another cardboard circle on top of the arranged popsicle sticks to cover them. Drill a small hole in the center of the circle.

Step 7: Drill small holes in the tips of the popsicle sticks. Mark the popsicle sticks before drilling, as the holes need to align with each other.

Step 8: Create another set of rotating blades for the windmill using five similar popsicle sticks.

Step 9: Attach the two sets of rotating blades onto the windmill support.

Step 10: Use bamboo skewers to connect the middle of the rotating blades. Repeat this process until all blades are connected.

Step 11: Use a different popsicle stick to measure the size of the bamboo skewer and create a picture frame. After measuring, cut off the excess parts and glue the popsicle sticks together to form a rectangular frame. Attach a piece of cardboard to the back of the wooden frame, and the picture frame is complete.

Step 12: Drill two holes on both sides of the top of the picture frame. Similarly, create multiple picture frames. Then, you can insert photos into the frames.

Step 13: Cut the flexible steel wire into equal segments, thread the wire through the small holes at the top of the picture frame, and tie them onto the bamboo skewer of the windmill. Now, you have a popsicle stick windmill with hanging picture frames for your child to play with.

7. Popsicle Stick Car

Materials needed:

• Several popsicle sticks
• Wooden clips
• Pencil, scissors
• Glue, paintbrush, watercolors, colored paper

Instructions:

Step 1: Arrange 5 popsicle sticks horizontally and secure them with two small wooden clips on both sides vertically.

Step 2: Disassemble the body part of two wooden clips and join them together with the rectangular part created in Step 1 to form the car shape.

Step 3: Use two additional popsicle sticks to connect the two structures created in Steps 1 and 2.

Step 4: Paint the assembled structure from Step 3 with colors of your choice.

Step 5: Draw and cut out wheel shapes from colored paper.

Step 6: Attach the colored paper wheel shapes to the popsicle stick structure created earlier and decorate them to make it visually appealing. Now, you have made a unique popsicle stick car toy for your child.

Tips when making popsicle stick toys to ensure safety for children:

• Clean the popsicle sticks by washing them with medical alcohol, saline solution, hot water, or clean water. Then, use a clean cloth (such as a face towel or bath towel) to pat dry the popsicle sticks or let them air dry before playing with your child.
• Ensure thorough hand hygiene for your child after making the toy. You can use a wet cloth to wipe your child's hands.
• Some steps in making popsicle stick toys may involve difficult tasks such as using pliers, cutting wood, or using scissors. It is advised not to let children perform these tasks to avoid danger or scratches.
• To store the completed toy, place it on a high shelf with a flat surface to prevent damage and avoid clutter.

In this video I teach you how to make a rubber band powered car using popsicle sticks!