Thursday, June 30, 2011

3D Popsicle Stick Crafts I - Baskets


In between fighting the Monster, I've been doing some things with the kids. Here's an old, old craft that Dad did with me when I was little - popsicle stick baskets.


It was, apart from being very therapeutic, an extremely kid-friendly craft because it involved harmless old white glue. You can customize them to any size and shape you like, as long as they have an even number of sides.


The alternating layers of popsicle sticks create a pattern of gaps, which accounts for its basket-ness.


To make them, you'll need a base in the shape you want (we used corrugated cardboard), popsicle sticks, and white glue.

Here's how to make the octagonal basket.

First cut out an octagon out of corrugated cardboard, so that each side is about the same length or a little shorter (not longer!) than the popsicle sticks you are using.

Next, glue popsicle sticks on alternate sides of the octagon to form the first layer.
Then apply glue on the very ends of the popsicle sticks of the first layer, and press a second layer of popsicle sticks over the gaps in the first layer.



Continue gluing and laying alternate layers in a pattern as shown




until you attain the desired height. Allow sufficient time to dry firm.

This is Kate's basket - she used the mini sticks on a hexagon base. 

Jenna made hers in rainbow-ish colors.


The alternating of colors really appealed to the part of her nature that loves order, patterns and organizing.

She used the regular popsicle sticks on a hexagon base. 

So same shape, two sizes.

Easy! The girls easily found uses for them in their play kitchen/shop. You could turn yours into vases and pencil holders if you made them narrow and tall. Or make different sizes and layer them within each other. Or (as the girls begged me, but we were too lazy) punch holes in the base and twist wires to make handles. Or weave ribbons vertically through the gaps.  

One more popsicle craft and then we're away for the weekend. See you tomorrow!

15 comments:

  1. I have never seen this craft before - lovely! Will definitely be making with the kids, soon!

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  2. FANTASTIC!!!! Great idea!
    Hugs
    Paola

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  3. They are really pretty! A very well done work!
    We gonna copy them
    Thanks

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  4. this sounds like a great idea im gna try it with my daughter today...major thanks:)

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  5. Fun! I think I can keep my crew busy for at least an hour with this next week.

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  6. Yay!! This looks great, me and the kids will have a blast!

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  7. I am a teacher and I am going to have my students make these during our polygon lesson! Thanks for the idea!

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  8. OMG, what a nostalgic craft. I did this when I was, like, eight or so. Definitely going to try this with my kids. I like the colorful sticks, too.

    Thanks for the walk down memory lane :-)

    ~Magna

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  9. OMG, I made this when I was, like, eight or so. Such a fond nostalgic memory. Definitely going to do this with my kiddies. I really like the colorful sticks, too.

    Thanks for the walk down memory lane :-)

    ~Magna

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  10. This is really adorable! Thank you for sharing this awesome idea. I loved the details of this holder. We also did a Popsicle chain reaction activity out of the same materials you used. You should check this out!
    EarlyLearning.Momtrusted.com: Popsicle Chain Reaction

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  11. I've never seen anything like this before! This is amazingly wonderful and creative. Thank you for sharing this. Awesome and perfect for the kids. We also did a Popsicle Stick Kazoos out of the same materials you used. You should check this out!
    EarlyLearning.Momtrusted.com Popsicle Stick Kazoos

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  12. uhhmm.. we will do it for a performance task which is make a product on a one of asian country..i have a question .. how can we make it larger to form a basket??... larger than the picture there like a bag?? or can u please help us or recommend another product??.. plss ...

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  13. Love this idea. Just thought I would let you know I can't pin from this page. Unless I'm missing something.

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