If summer left you with 2,463 popsicle sticks stuffed into gallon-size freezer bags courtesy of a twice-a-day fudge-sicle habit, you’re in luck. Popsicle sticks are a kid crafters dream, especially during this time of the year—there are a ton of fun Halloween-themed projects that require them. Here are eight that will make you and the fam wish you’d eaten even more ice cream bars.
photo: Glued to My Crafts
Witch-full Thinking
Looking for an easy activity for the under-eight set to have fun with at the next Halloween party? This is it! Stacey from Glued to My Crafts made these in minutes with a little black paint, card stock, ribbon, and (of course) popsicle sticks. P.S. These would make adorable magnets, too!
photo: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
Candy Catapult
This contraption, spotted over at Frugal Fun 4 Boys, was created by blogger Sarah and her four boys (and one girl). The goal? Find something fun to do with extra Halloween candy that would not be eaten. The catapult itself is made from popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon. Kids enjoy building the launcher just as much as they do using it.
photo: Buggy and Buddy
The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Web!)
An oldie but goodie, you probably made these adorable little spiderwebs when you were in elementary school. If not, here’s your chance! All you’re doing is wrapping the yarn around the sticks in a web pattern. This Buggy and Buddy interpretation uses painted sticks for a modern vibe.
photo: Pinning for Purpose
Puzzle Play
Make and put together your puzzle? That’s one way to keep antsy kids busy. Kristin, a mother of three and the blogger behind Pinning with Purpose, shares this simple (and fun) craft for popsicle stick puzzles. It’s beyond simple: just glue popsicle sticks onto the back side of a Halloween theme-template, then trim! Download the free templates and get more how-to deets over at Pinning with Purpose.
photo: Crafts by Amanda
Mummy Dearest
Technically, Amanda of Crafts by Amanda wanted these kid-friendly puppets to resemble mummies. But when they were done, they also looked like little mini ninjas. Whichever direction you go in, these party crafts–made with sticks, googly eyes, and felt fabric–will be a hit at your next classroom or home shindig.
photo: Momerish
On the Fence
These Momerish mini pumpkins win the “Majorly Cute” award! Who knew that with just a handful of orange pompoms, some googly eyes, and a popsicle stick fence you could create an entire tot performance. Your little one will love getting into the spirit by singing along with you to the “Five Little Pumpkins” song.
photo: Live Craft Love
Monster Mash
This is one monster you won’t want to be afraid of because you’ll want to display it someplace where you can see it all the time. Start by painting and drying the sticks. Then, glue a handful of them into a square shape and let your tot decorate the face to their heart’s content. Additional details and info can be found at Live Craft Love.
photo: The Lolly Project
Top It Off
Très chic Halloween cake toppers have never been so simple to create. If free hand isn’t your jam, take a cue from The Lolly Project by tracing a few Halloween cut outs. Next, glue them to the popsicle sticks and voilà!
Do you know of a cool Halloween craft project we can try? Tell us about it into the comments below.
—Ayren Jackson-Cannady
