These are four classic Popsicle stick creations, but you could make a witch, a vampire, a mummy, a sugar skull – the possibilities are endless. When you’re done, use string or ribbon to hang them or glue magnets to the back.
Materials
• Popsicle sticks or wooden craft sticks (100-piece set, $3.79)
• Glue (Elmer’s Glue-All, $2.49)
• Paint brushes (set of four foam brushes, $3.29)
• Black acrylic craft paint (Martha Stewart beetle black, $1.99)
• White acrylic craft paint (Martha Stewart wedding cake, $1.99)
• Orange acrylic craft paint (Martha Stewart pumpkin, $1.99)
• Green acrylic craft paint (Martha Stewart Granny Smith, $1.99)
• Plastic cups (six-pack, $1.99)
• White paper (construction, scrapbook or felt)
• Black paper (construction, scrapbook or felt)
• Green paper (construction, scrapbook or felt)
• Black permanent marker
• Scissors
• Thin, pointy paint brush (optional)
• Magnets, string or ribbon (optional)
Jack-o’-lantern, ghost and black cat
Step 1: Build the bases. For each character, line up 10 sticks side by side, making sure the edges are even. Apply glue to two additional sticks and place them perpendicular on the row of 10, one toward the bottom and one toward the top. When you’re done, it should look like a fence. Let it dry then flip it over.
Step 2: Color. Paint the top of the sticks. Orange for the jack-o’-lantern, white for the ghost, black for the black cat. Let dry.
Step 3: Make the eyes. For the jack-o’-lantern, cut two triangles using black paper. For the ghost, cut two circles or ovals using black paper. For the black cat, cut two rounded-corner diamonds using green paper and use a black marker to color in the pupils. (Tip: Fold paper to cut both pieces at the same time so they are exactly the same.) Glue the “eyes” onto the sticks.
Step 4: Finish the face. For the jack-o’-lantern, cut an additional black piece for the teeth. Be creative on the shape, and glue into place. For the ghost, cut an additional black circle for the mouth and glue into place. For the black cat, use orange paint to make a heart-shaped nose and white paint to create whiskers. Let dry.
Frankenstein’s monster
Step 1: Build a base. Line up seven or eight sticks side by side, making sure the edges are even. Apply glue to one additional stick and place it perpendicular on the row of seven toward the bottom (it’s where his “bolts” would go). Let it dry, then flip it over.
Step 2: Color. Paint the seven sticks green and the bolt stick black. Let dry. Then use black paint to create his hair. Let dry.
Step 3: Make the eyes. Using white paper, cut ovals for eyes. (Tip: Fold paper to cut both pieces at the same time so they are exactly the same.) Use a black marker to color in the pupils. Glue both pieces to the sticks.
Step 4: Finish the face. Using a black marker, draw directly on sticks to create his nose, mouth and stitches.
All materials purchased from Michaels arts and crafts stores.
