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How to Reuse Popsicle Sticks?

Ranked #44 in Healthy Living, #946 overall

Green popsicles? Yeah! My favorite!

Your kids just love to eat popsicles? Can't get out of the store without buying some? Who can blame them - I love them too!

This page is a collection of possible uses for popsicle sticks and here you'll find how popsicle sticks can be reused in house, garden and for craft projects you can do with your kids at home or in school.

This page is constantly updated with new ideas and links so make sure to bookmark it and come back in future for new ideas how to reuse your newly created stash of popsicle sticks!

Reusing Popsicle Sticks - Contents:

Images by Nashill

Household Tips
Gardening Tip
Craft Projects

Did You Know? Kid Invented Popsicle!

The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle: And Other Surprising Stories about Inventions

by: Don L. Wulffson

Amazon Price: $2.60 (as of 02/13/2012)

This collection includes 114 inventions and the amusing, sometimes amazing stories behind them. Arranged alphabetically from "animal crackers" to "zipper," the inventions range from ancient times (dice have been around for 40,000 years) to recent discoveries such as bar code scanners and Gatorade. Though some major technological advances are included (submarines and robots), most of the inventions are less significant (miniature golf, Tinker Toys, and Fig Newtons). Unfortunately, the format is not particularly exciting. Each invention gets one page, with varying amounts of information. There are two simple sentences about drinking straws opposite a four paragraph treatment of Dr. Pepper. The alphabetical arrangement means that similar inventions are not grouped together. Instead of reading about potato chips and ice cream consecutively, "ice-cream cone" is followed by "jigsaw puzzle."

Household Tips

Emergency Splint for a Finger

You've got a kid with an apparent broken finger and you're on the way to the emergency room. Use a Popsicle stick as a temporary splint for the finger. Tape it on with adhesive tape to help stabilize the finger until it can be set.

Skewer Kids' Food

It's more fun to eat food if you get to play with it first, as the parents of many picky eaters know. Popsicle sticks are good to have in your bag of tricks at mealtime. Skewer bites of hot dog, pineapple, melon, and more. Or give kids a stick and have them spread their own peanut butter and jelly.

Cuisipro Frozen Pop Mold Sticks, 50 Sticks

Amazon Price: (as of 02/13/2012)

* Pack of 50 popsicle sticks
* For use with Cuisipro frozen pop molds
* Replenishes sticks for all pop mold brands
* Rounded edges prevent splintering
* 4-1/2 inches long

Keep Track of Paint Colors

You're out in the garage searching through the cans of leftover paint. Did you paint the living room with a paint called Whipped Cream or Sand? Don't get mixed up again. After you've painted a room, dip a Popsicle stick in the can. Let it dry. Write the name of the paint and the room where it was used on the stick. Now you'll know what color to use when it's time to paint again. These guides can also help a home decorator pick out fabrics and decorative items.

Popsicle as Paint Stirrers

These are terrific little paint stirrers. When you need to mix colors or just mix the paint in a bottle, a Popsicle stick is the perfect choice!

Images by JeamieCreates and Celonia

Trivets from Popsicle Sticks

Glue a bunch of these together and you can even paint them with a pretty metallic gold or silver. They make awesome trivets to keep those hot plates from scorching your table!

Reuse Popsicle Sticks as Bookmarks

They make great little bookmarks. Just pop in your book and save your place!

Educational Counters

They are a great way to learn counting. They work just as well as the expensive counters you can purchase at the teacher store, and they are free! They help teach addition and subtraction to even the youngest of fans!

Teach Letters to Future Writers

Popsicle sticks are just the thing for spreading finger paint. Or, for a fun way to help youngsters practice their letters, let them use Popsicle sticks to write letters in a pile of shaving cream, whipped cream, or pudding.

Popsicle Dripping? Not Any More!

Me on Popsicle, Don't Let This Happen To You!, ... by Rb_barnes2

Dripstik Frozen Treat Holder - BPA & Phthalate Free - Made in USA

Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 02/13/2012)

This unique product has cups that surround each end catching drips from Popsicles or ice cream cones, eliminating messes on hands and clothes. The handle allows for a better hold on treats. The Dripstik may be set down on counters or tabletops and will contain the mess of a meltdown. Perfect for around the house, birthday parties, car trips, zoo and amusement park vacations. 1 per pack.

Gardening Tip

Label your plantings

Is that parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme popping up from your garden? Remember what you planted by using Popsicle sticks as plant labels. Just write the type of seeds you planted on the stick with indelible marker.

Craft Projects

Reuse Popsicle Sticks as Puzzles

You can use as many or as few as you'd like. Place them together side by side and draw your picture with permanent markers. Color and then disassemble the puzzle. Now take turns putting the puzzle together. For a more challenging puzzle, draw another picture on the back side too. It will be difficult to figure out which pieces go for which side!

Make Picture Frames

What child has not created a Popsicle stick picture frame? But you can go further than just that. Create one and add a magnet to the back. Stick it to the fridge, or to a file cabinet at work. Make them as gifts or just to commemorate a special memory! Instructions

Make Pen and Pencil Holders

Glue them together to create a fun and crafty pen and pencil holder. Kids love to do this craft! Instructions

Make a Basket

It only takes about 45 minutes for first time you make it... Next time, you'll be done in less than 30 minutes. And they are strong. Step by step picture instructions...

Popsicle Sticks as Puppet Handles

You can use Popsicle sticks to glue to paper plates for the handles of puppets and masks. You can even use the Popsicle sticks themselves as little puppets. Just decorate with yarn for hair, google eyes and markers. Instructions to make a gorilla, pumpkin head

Kitchen Utensil Holder

Really simple and cheap craft project. Great as gift for Mothers' day also. Instructions

Business Card Holder

Kids can decorate these charming Popsicle stick business card holders with stars, other Woodsie shapes, markers, felt, paint or construction paper. Instructions

Popsicle Sticks Purse

The project was easy enough that it would make a fun kid craft for summer. If you're capable of gluing one popsicle stick on top of another then you can probably handle this project. We're not talking mapping the human genome or designing an artificial heart people, it's just a purse made out of wooden sticks. The hardest part will be eating all those popsicles... Instructions

Make a Biplane

Step back in time to December 1903 when the Wright brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. You and your biplane are there with this diorama! Instructions

For the simplier version of an airplaine, take a look at instructions on Little Family Fun blog.

Make Note Holder

Piece together your very own stylish note holder. Get creative and come up with other flowers you could form and paint. Instructions

Video Tutorial: Make a Popsicle Stick Nail Polish Organizer

You can make a scrabble tiles out of it as well! Here is tutorial:

Craft Project Links / Instructions

Images by Nashill

Bubble Wands - Crafts - HighlightsKids.com: Save money on store-bought bubbles and make your own with liquid soap.
Ponytail Barrette - Crafts - HighlightsKids.com: Adorn your ponytail with a barrette decorated with a cardboard tube and an ice-cream stick.
Candy Plant Craft - Flower Arts and Crafts: Free craft instructions: Create candy flowers in a terra cotta clay pot. Makes a great gift!
Farewell Gift - Crafts - HighlightsKids.com: Create a heartfelt farewell gift with ice-cream sticks, yarn, and chalk.
Fish-Stick Go Fish! - Crafts - HighlightsKids.com: Make unique playing cards and play Fish-Stick Go Fish!
Peek-A-Boo Groundhog Craft: Instructions for making a Peek-A-Boo Groundhog puppet.
Craft Stick Flag Craft - Enchanted Learning Software: A simple-to-make US flag made from craft sticks.
Butterfly Wand - Enchanted Learning Software: Make a butterfly wand with things found around the house.
Kids' Crafts: 3x5 Recipe Card Holder - Homemade Gifts for Mother's Day - Kaboose.com: Children ages 4 and up will enjoy making this 3 x 5 inch recipe card holder craft from craft sticks.
Dragonfly Craft: Make yourself a dragonfly using a popsicle stick!
thebestkidsbooksite.com : Craft Project Details: Make beautiful Star of David
Lincoln Log Cabin - EnchantedLearning.com: Make a Lincoln Log Cabin from craft sticks paper, a shiny penny, and glue.
Plant Pals: Ages 5 & up.
Mail Holder - Crafts - HighlightsKids.com: Get organized by making a mail holder from a cereal box.
Make a turtle: How to Make Recycled Crafts: Styrofoam Egg Carton and Popsicle Stick Turtle. Turning Styrofoam egg cartons into cute turtle toys is simple entertainment for kids and adults. You can have fun and help save the Earth by recycling items into crafts, activities, and toys.. Hobbie...
Art Projects for Kids: Popsicle Stick Log Cabins: Here's one way to make little houses that could serve well as colorful refrigerator magnets.
Art Projects for Kids: Recycled Mosaic Picture Frame: Between gift cards, rebate cards, and club cards, it's pretty easy to collect these without really even trying.
Popsicle Soap Tutorial: it's never too early to start washing your kids mouth out with soap...and now that can be done with these soapsicles!
I can teach my child!: Show-and-Share Saturday: Dinosaur Bones: Created with popsicle sticks and toothpicks.
Little Family Fun: Halloween Stick Puzzles: the perfect activity for Halloween
Recycled Crafts: From Ice Cream Sticks To Colourful ABCs | Fab Mums: Not all ice scream sticks are the same and we have collected quite a large number of the curved type that come with the Solero Ice, which is very popular with
Catholic Icing: J E S U S Craft - Make an Optical Illusion: perfect Catholic craft
Almost Unschoolers: Basswood and Popsicle Stick Doll House: Step by step tutorial
Almost Unschoolers: Popsicle Stick Rainbow Counting Puzzle: simple way to learn order of numbers
Yarn Butterflies Spring Craft: GummyLump.com Blog
Easter Bunny and Chick Stick Puppets: GummyLump.com Blog: Kids Craft #85
tic tac toe: tic tac toe table by preschool daze
Craft Sticks Fun!: Simple and easy for little kids - creating free form pictures with popsicle sticks.

Popsicle Stick Ornament

Bring back sledding memories and the holiday spirit to your home when you hang this simple sled ornament on your tree... Instructions

More Popsicles

Make your own home-made Popsicles. Use pudding, yogurt, fruit juice, whatever to create your own yummy Popsicles at home!

Extras: Unique Popsicle Recipes

Homemade popsicles can reduce the trash we toss, save money (both on boxes and gas to the store), and help to save resources. Also, homemade pops are cool (no pun intended) because you can make them healthy, organic, and without preservatives. Or you can indulge and make extra luscious pops if you feel like it. Lastly pops are a fun experiment. Kids love to try out different combos. You may even be able to get your little to eat healthy foods like veggies in ice pop form. Link to recipes

Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone

by: Krystina Castella

Amazon Price: $9.47 (as of 02/13/2012)

Pops! introduces a whole new Popsicle one that's fashionable as well as fun. This first-ever ice pop compendium includes more than 100 recipes for pops with unique tastes and flavor combinations, such as Sour Plum, Sweet Martini, Thai Iced Coffee, and Blueberry Cheesecake cool treats today's grown-up kids will be proud to serve at their birthday gatherings, barbecues, and cocktail parties. And for those whose creative interests stretch beyond the kitchen and into the DIY realm, Pops! offers innovative techniques for making ice molds from found objects and even small toys. With more than 30 full-color photographs and tons of quirky sidebars, Pops! features frosty indulgences for every occasion.

More Ideas for Reusing

This lens has been awarded with 3rd place in Squidoo Home for The Holidays Contest for 2008 - category Holiday Crafts! Thanks to all who voted for this lens! I'm really glad you liked it!

Now, turns out you can't eat as many popsicle sticks...

... as you have found ideas you want to make with them?

Well, here are some craft sticks you might find handy! :)

Have You Ever Considered Reusing Popsicle Sticks?

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Showpup Jan 17, 2012 @ 9:41 am | delete

I knew popsicle sticks were useful but, wow! So many uses. Love the craft projects.

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Traceeshobbies Jan 11, 2012 @ 5:59 pm | delete

I love the nail polish holder. My daughter will probably be using our saved sticks now!

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Tolovaj Jan 8, 2012 @ 6:15 am | delete

So many good fun projects for rainy days. Thumbs up!

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vallain Jan 1, 2012 @ 7:37 pm | delete

I was wondering what to do with a batch of these that I found in my cupboard. You've answered the question (and then some). Thanks.

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jadehorseshoe Dec 20, 2011 @ 3:59 pm | delete

VERY useful info.

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aLundy Nov 19, 2011 @ 9:10 pm | delete

fun and interesting

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KathyMcGraw Nov 5, 2011 @ 4:51 pm | delete

I like how this is set-up, so easy to find the different uses for popsicle sticks, for all sorts of cute crafts.

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ratetea Sep 30, 2011 @ 12:22 pm | delete

There are also some great games you can make out of popsickle sticks. One of my friends made an Apples-to-Apples like game out of popsickle sticks, using sharpie markers to paint the ends red and green, and then writing things on each stick. That's just one of an endless set of possibilities!

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adamfrench Sep 28, 2011 @ 8:00 am | delete

Impressive lens, thumbs up

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Michelle77 Aug 4, 2011 @ 10:00 pm | delete

I really like that little sled ornament made out of popsicle sticks! :)..I will be making some of those! great ideas all over this lens!!

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ClassyGals Aug 1, 2011 @ 7:04 pm | delete

I love the many uses you've featured for popsicle sticks. It brings back the days of my childhood when we loved crafting with them.

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craftelf Jun 16, 2011 @ 10:06 pm | delete

You have a great collection of Popsicle stick crafts. I've made a picture frame that i would like to share from recycled Popsicle sticks. http://www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_general_Popsicle_stick_Picture_frame.htm

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Irenemaria Jun 14, 2011 @ 2:40 am | delete

This is so funny and smart and good! I have used them for many years to stir and mix colors when I paint. Children I know, save them for me =D

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blue22d May 11, 2011 @ 10:49 pm | delete

Excellent lens. We always saved our ice cream sticks and they work well for little job around the house, especially applying glue. I must give you a Squid Angel Blessing.