As the holiday season wraps up, I wanted to share some of our festive adventures with you. We’ve been busy with fun crafts, including our first attempt at building a gingerbread house – let’s just say it turned out sweet (no pun intended). Andrew deserves kudos for his impressive cactus creation, and I’m proud of myself for inadvertently crafting a charming gingerbread man. We also tried making DIY popsicle snowflakes we spotted on Pinterest.
It seemed like a simple activity that both Andrew and I could enjoy together, and indeed it was. Our creations turned out cute and added a touch of winter wonder to our decor since Christmas has passed, don’t worry if you leave them up for a little longer – after all, winter is still in full swing.
Supplies for DIY Popsicle Snowflakes
To create your unique winter wonderland decorations, gather the following essential supplies: a generous stash of 100+ Popsicle sticks, approximately 20-30 per intricate snowflake design. You’ll also need a glue gun and a sufficient stockpile of glue sticks to securely hold your creations together. For an added touch of color and texture, bring out the spray paint and get creative. To shape and refine your designs, don’t forget to have a pair of scissors on hand.
And to add some depth and dimensionality, consider laying down a base layer of newspaper before you begin building your snowflake masterpieces. Of course, having a cute husband on hand as an assistant or sounding board for your creative endeavors is always a bonus.
Step 1: Spread newspapers all over the ground.
When it comes to decorating with kids, don’t be afraid to think outside the box – or in this case, under the Christmas tree. We opted to create a festive atmosphere beneath our tree, and it was a huge hit with the little ones. Just remember to lay down some newspapers first to protect your surfaces from any stray glue gun messes.
Step 2: Plan your ‘flake
Before crafting your unique snowflake, take some time to conceptualize its design. While no two snowflakes are identical, seeking inspiration can be a great starting point. You can browse through Pinterest for ideas or get creative by modifying everyday objects like popsicle sticks. For instance, you can cut the sticks into varying sizes and shape them into V-forms. A helpful trick to achieve precise right angles is to use newspaper ads as a guide.
With your design in mind, Andrew’s snowflake from the gods certainly outshone my simple yet charming design on the left.
Step 3: Glue!
As you begin assembling your snowflake, start by bonding the individual popsicle sticks together using small beads of hot glue. Pay close attention to how the sticks overlap and strive for uniformity in their positioning – if one end is aligned with the sticks below it, ensure that the other end is also similarly aligned.
Step 4: Spray paint those suckers
Once the glue on your snowflakes has dried, it’s time to unleash their full potential by adding a splash of color. We opted for a classic white spray paint finish, but feel free to get creative with silver or even gold hues. Keep in mind that you may need to apply a second coat once dry to ensure complete coverage and bring out the intricate details of your unique snowflakes.
Step 5: Hang ’em up!
For a unique and visually appealing display, seek out an open wall to showcase your snowflake creations. I opted for the side of our staircase, where a blank wall had been waiting patiently for months. There are multiple approaches to hanging these delicate decorations, but I chose to employ Command strips and attach them directly to the hooks. Another method involves tying ribbons around the snowflakes before securing them to the hooks – the choice is yours.
This DIY project lends itself particularly well to a fun and creative activity with kids, just be mindful of their handling of glue guns. I thoroughly enjoyed crafting these DIY popsicle snowflakes. If you decide to give it a try, I’d love to hear about your experience. Warmest wishes for a joyful winter season and a Merry Christmas Eve Eve.
