Save used popsicle sticks to decorate and create crafts.
Recycling can be "green" when you use the recycled items for something crafty. As your child finishes his fudge bar or his cherry popsicle, ask him to wash off the stick and keep it. As you and your family continue to consume frozen treats, amass a collection of the wooden sticks to decorate at a later date. On a rainy day, or when your children complain of boredom, pull out the wooden sticks and help your children make something whimsical.
Instructions
Monster Sticks
1. Place a plastic or paper cover over your table or work surface to protect it from markers and glue.
2. Glue one shaky or google eye near the top of one end of the popsicle stick to make an eye. Don't place the eye too far up.
3. Draw the monster's nose and mouth with fine markers. Wind a pipe cleaner around the stick for decoration, or cut a 2-inch piece off a pipe cleaner with scissors and twist it under the monster's "face" to make a tie.
4. Cut two pieces of ribbon, the size you desire, to make two arms. Ribbon that is stiffer, such as grosgrain, might work better than satin ribbon. Glue one piece onto each side of the popsicle stick. You also can glue both arms on the front of the stick or on the back of the stick, whichever you prefer.
5. Make hair for the monster by cutting 3- to 4-inch lengths of yarn. Glue the ends of the hair to the stick. Allow the glue to dry for 3 to 4 hours and then cut it shorter if you want to change the monster stick's appearance.
Popsicle Puzzles
6. Choose the number of popsicle sticks you want to use for your puzzle, usually six or eight. Line them up vertically or horizontally on a flat surface with no spaces between them.
7. Place strips of masking tape across the sticks to hold them in place and carefully turn over the taped sticks so you have a tape-free surface on which to draw your puzzle. The sticks should have no gaps between them.
8. Draw a picture on the popsicle sticks with a permanent or washable marker. Every stick must have some of the drawing on it. Otherwise, it won't be essential or useful to the puzzle.
9. Color the drawing with markers or crayons. Turn over the stick puzzle and remove the masking tape. Mix up the sticks and then re-assemble the puzzle.
