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Popsicle Stick Santa Ornament Craft for Kids
Make a cheerful Santa ornament from a small panel of wooden craft sticks, painted colors, and simple paper shapes. This popsicle stick Santa ornament has a soft peach face, a red coat, a rounded white beard, and a little teal star. A twine loop at the back lets you hang the finished craft on a Christmas tree or use it as a handmade gift decoration.
The design keeps the wooden base easy to assemble and leaves the detailed cutting to a few broad shapes. There are no separate arms or legs to align, and the white paper beard adds texture without loose glitter. Children can help with painting, choosing Santa's expression, and arranging the decorations. An adult can prepare the small paper pieces and help secure the hanger.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
- Recommended age:
- 6+ with adult supervision
- Time needed:
- About 30–40 minutes, plus paint and glue drying time
- Main materials:
- Wooden craft sticks, cardstock, paint, craft glue, twine
- Finished craft:
- Hanging Santa ornament with a white paper beard and teal star
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Materials You Will Need -
- Five standard wooden craft sticks, approximately 11.4 × 1 cm each.
- Two mini wooden craft sticks, approximately 4–5 cm long, for rear supports.
- About 20 cm of natural twine.
- Red and soft peach water-based craft paint.
- Red cardstock for one triangular hat, about 5.5 cm wide and 4 cm tall.
- White cardstock for a beard, two moustache pieces, a hat brim, and a small hat-tip circle.
- A peach paper scrap for one small round nose.
- A teal paper scrap for one star, about 1.5 cm across.
- Black marker for two small eyes.
- Craft glue suitable for wood, paper, and twine.
Use clean craft sticks with smooth edges. If your sticks are wider or longer than the suggested size, adjust the paper decorations to fit the assembled panel. The rear supports should span several body sticks without protruding at the sides.
Tools You Will Need
Gather a small paintbrush, paint palette, scissors, pencil, and ruler. Protect the table with scrap paper or a washable work mat. A little water and a cloth are useful for cleaning the brush between colors. Offer pre-cut hat, beard, and star shapes to children who find small cutting tasks difficult.
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Santa Ornament
1Step 1: Build the Wooden Base and Hanger
Lay five standard craft sticks vertically next to one another with their rounded ends aligned. This creates a narrow rectangular panel about 5 cm wide. Check the arrangement before adding glue so there are no large gaps between the sticks.
Place the panel with its back facing up. Glue one mini stick horizontally across the lower part of the panel. Bend the twine into a loop and place both tails on the upper back of the panel. Glue the second mini stick across these tails and the body sticks, trapping the twine beneath it. Leave enough loop above the top to hang the ornament.
Allow the glue to set before turning the panel over. The two crossbars help hold the five sticks together, while the upper support anchors the hanger. The loop should be attached to the wooden base rather than just to the paper hat.
2Step 2: Paint Santa's Face and Coat
Turn the supported panel over so the crossbars are hidden at the back. Paint approximately the upper 4 cm soft peach. Paint the remaining lower section red for the coat. Use thin layers and take care around the small gaps between sticks.
You do not need a perfectly straight dividing line because the beard will cover part of the transition. Let the first coat dry, then add another thin coat if the wood still shows through more than you want. Keep the twine loop away from wet paint and allow the panel to dry fully before adding paper pieces.
3Step 3: Cut the Paper Decorations
Draw and cut a red triangle for the hat, about 5.5 cm across its base and 4 cm tall. Cut a white brim approximately 5.5 × 0.8 cm and one small white circle for the hat tip.
For the beard, cut a broad white triangle with gently rounded corners, approximately 4.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm tall. Make two short teardrop shapes for the moustache. Cut a small peach circle for the nose and one teal star about 1.5 cm across.
Lay out every piece separately beside the painted panel. Check that the brim reaches across the top of the five sticks and that the beard leaves some red coat visible below it. Adjust any paper piece before gluing. Keep the two black eyes as marker details so you do not need tiny paper circles.
4Step 4: Assemble Santa and Let It Dry
Place the hat over the top of the panel, slightly overlapping the peach area. Glue its lower portion to the wood, then add the white brim across the hat's base and the small white circle at its tip. Make sure the hanging loop remains accessible behind the hat.
Glue the rounded triangular beard below the eye area, overlapping the face-to-coat transition. Position the two moustache pieces across the beard's top and add the peach nose between them. Draw two small black eyes on the peach face above the moustache.
Add the teal star to the lower right of the red coat. Press the paper pieces gently into place and lay the ornament flat while the glue dries. Once everything has set, lift it by the loop over a soft surface to check that the hanger and rear supports are secure. The finished Santa is ready to display.
Helpful Tips for Making This Craft
Use a glue intended for the materials you are joining, especially at the wooden supports and twine attachment. A paper glue stick may be fine for cardstock, but it may not hold the wooden base securely. Avoid lifting or bending the base while its joints are still wet.
Paint in thin coats so the surface dries evenly and the spaces between sticks stay visible. Before drawing the eyes, lightly mark their positions with a pencil. Two small dots usually give the face a cheerful expression without making it crowded.
For a group activity, prepare the supported bases before the decorating session. Children can then paint and cut while the adults manage drying space. Keep each child's pieces together on a small tray to avoid mixing up the noses, stars, and hat parts.
Easy Ways to Customize the Craft
Change the teal star to forest green, navy, or a bright festive color. Add a few simple marker lines to the beard for extra character, or vary the hat height while keeping enough overlap to attach it securely. Choose a peach tone that you like for the face and nose.
For a personal keepsake, write a name and year on the back after the glue has dried. Keep extra decorations lightweight so they do not pull the paper hat forward. If you want a shorter hanger, adjust the loop before attaching the upper rear support.
Where to Use or Display It
Hang the Santa ornament on a Christmas tree, an indoor branch display, or a gift bag handle. It can also be attached to a handmade Christmas card as a removable decoration. The paint and paper are best suited to dry indoor use.
Store the ornament flat in a small box after the holidays. Place a sheet of tissue between ornaments to protect their paper hats and beards. Avoid packing heavier decorations on top of them.
Final Thoughts
This popsicle stick Santa ornament combines a sturdy little wooden panel with easy paper decorations. The simple four-step build leaves plenty of room for children to choose their colors and expressions. Make one for your own tree or create a small set to share as handmade Christmas keepsakes.
