Popsicle Stick Airplane Craft for Kids

Learn how to make the simplest craft with your kids: The popsicle stick airplane craft.

The easiest popsicle stick craft

This is one of the easiest crafts ever, and my kids LOVED doing it. One thing I love about little kids is how easy they are to please. Life is just so awesome to them; it’s the little things.

There is a lesson in there. My kids often remind me to find joy in the little things and live in the moment. This is easier said than done. I often find myself worrying about life while I watch it pass me by. Remember to enjoy the little things and live in each moment.

Okay, I get off topic…Popsicle stick airplanes.

Like I said, this is so easy, and it’s cheap, AND the kids love it.

When you need a quick craft with supplies you probably already have in your home, this is it.

We do crafts enough that my daughter will say, “I want to make something”. I love that, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to pull out all the supplies and get going, and then spend an hour doing a craft.

I love pulling out a few items, and having fun together.

Popsicle stick airplanes are great because you can be creative with them. There is no wrong way to put it together. My son often likes to improvise and add sticks in random places.

Here’s how we did it:

Popsicle Stick Airplane Craft Instructions the Short Version

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Supplies:

8-10 Popsicle sticks per plane (You can buy the cheap ones from the dollar store, but I have found they don’t work as well, it’s up to you!)

Paint (I used acrylic, puffy paint will also work) You can but these individually at the store (Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels) for like a dollar. I’ve collected quite a few over the years.

Paint Brush any ole paint brush will do. If you don’t have any, I’d recommend just buying a cheap package at the store with different varieties (as shown in the link). It will work just fine.

Scissors

Hot glue gun*

*I decided to buy a low temperature “kids” glue gun. It was $5.00. I loved it because my daughter used it, and she touched the glue and it wasn’t hot. She didn’t get burned at all and she was able to do the whole project by herself.

**I will add that the gun also comes with low temperature glue. I have found that it doesn’t really work well. The glue doesn’t adhere as well. I just used regular glue sticks in the low temperature gun. It works well. Also, low temperature guns are only for very small craft projects. I wouldn’t use it on something that needs to be sturdy.

Time: 20-30 Minutes

Cost: $5.00 + hot glue gun (If you don’t have one) 0$ if you have all the supplies (which you might)

Instructions:

Glue 5 popsicle sticks right on top of each other to form the body of your plane.

Paint the 5 body of the plane a color of your choice.

Pull out 2 more popsicle sticks and paint a color of your chose. These will be your wings.

Cut the ends of a popsicle stick off about 2 inches in, making the end pieces about 2 inches. Paint them any color. These will be your tail.

Cut the end off of a popsicle stick, and then make another cut a couple inches down to form a straight rectangle. Cut that piece in half to make 2 small rectangular pieces. These will be your propeller. Paint them any color you desire.

Let everything dry. (You can use a blow dryer if you want, but it didn’t take long)

Glue everything together.

Glue one wing centered on the top of the body of the plane, about 1 inch down.

Glue the other wing centered on the bottom of the body of the plane, lined up with the top wing.

Glue the tail pieces. Centering the pieces.

Glue the propeller together like an X and then glue to the front of your plane.

Play with plane!

Variations:

You can place the popsicle sticks in different directions. You can make the tail stand up, or put a button on the propeller. (I wanted to do this, but couldn’t find our buttons). Use your creativity, and even ask your kids what they would like added to their plane. Stickers are a fan favorite too.

Airplane Popsicles Instructions the Long version with pictures

Glue 5 popsicle sticks right on top of each other.

Paint the 5 popsicle sticks a color of your choice. This will be the body of your plane.

Pull out 2 more popsicle sticks and paint a color of your chose. These will be your wings.

Cut the ends of a popsicle stick off about 2 inches in. Paint them any color. These will be your tail.

Cut the end off of a popsicle stick, and then cut off another straight piece about 2 inches long. Cut that piece in half to make 2 small rectangular pieces. These will be your propeller. Paint them any color you desire.

Let everything dry. (You can use a blow dryer if you want, but it didn’t take long)

Glue everything together.

Glue one wing centered on the top of the body of the plane, about 1 inch down.

Glue the other wing centered on the bottom of the body of the plane, lined up with the top wing.