I always like to make at least one handmade Christmas ornament each year. They add that personalized touch and I really enjoy looking back at older ornaments as I pull out the Christmas decorations. This year I’m doing a wintery Christmas cabin theme in our family room so I decided to make some cute popsicle stick sleds. I’ve seen a few different versions of these popsicle stick sleds on Pinterest but initially saw them over on Fireflies and Mudpies.
Popsicle Stick Sleds Christmas Tree Ornaments Tutorial
These cute little popsicle stick sleds are an easy Christmas craft that’s fun for both kids and adults. Make them as simple as you would like or dress them up with some creative embellishments!
MATERIALS
- popsicle {craft} sticks {2 regular sized and 5 small per sled}
- wood glue
- wood stain
- paint
- twine
- glue dots
- embellishments if desired {I used a couple of jingle bells, some faux flocked greenery, and baker’s twine}
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Glue 4 of the small craft sticks together staggering the end stick on each side slightly lower. I found the easiest way to apply the glue for this project was to squirt some glue out onto a paper plate and then use a large toothpick or skewer to apply the glue along the edges. Allow to dry.
- Paint the small craft sticks whatever color you would like. Allow to dry.
- Stain the regular sized craft sticks using a rag.
- Glue on the stained sled runners to the smaller popsicle sticks. Again this is much easier to do if you use a skewer or large toothpick to apply the glue.
- Glue on the cross stick to the front of the sled.
- Add whatever embellishments you would like. I took a few little sprigs of faux greenery, wrapped them in baker’s twine, and then threaded on a couple of small jingle bells. I then just tied the baker’s twine around the cross bar. If you’re doing this project with kids, they could decorate the sled or write their name and year on it. I’ve even seen some that add a photo to the sled.
- Cut some regular twine to your desired length and attach to the underside of the cross bar using glue dots. If you don’t have glue dots, you can use regular craft glue but, honestly, those glue dots are so much easier and way less messy.
Popsicle Stick Sleds DIY Video
These little sleds look cute hung on the tree, but if you use a little creativity they can be used in many other ways as well. Use them in rustic Christmas vignettes, add them to Christmas presents, or use them as name cards on your Christmas table. The possibilities are endless!
For more handmade Christmas ornaments, check out these posts…
These sleds are so adorable. I think I will make some with my grand kids this week.
Bev
So far I decided that I want to do my tree in the red Christmas trucks and the sleds and then I’m going to find other ideas for maybe something different and I’m thinking burlap for the Garland
Oh that would be awesome!
So cute! My kids would love to make these. Saying hi from Family Joy Blog Link Up Party
Thanks so much Katie!
These are so adorable and so easy to make! I love them!
I love your handmade ornaments. For years my mothers tree was covered in them I have many on my own tree that get put up year after year and now my daughter has her own childrens art work on the tree. I love the ones you shared as I said I have also shared some on my blog at Shop Annies.
So far, I’ve used all my popsicle sticks to make picture frames. I better get to licking some more! lol
2ut
It’s a tough job but someone has to do it! 😉
These are so adorable!
These are just darling! I bet my boys would enjoy making them too! Pinned. Thanks for the idea and the tutorial
Very pretty! Thank you for linking to my sled ornaments!
Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Love adorable sleds, cute, easy and affordable to make, winner all the way. Don’t know if will get to make for this year but will print out to have for next year.
Just before Thanksgiving I get out my huge folder of holiday projects to do, sift thru for ones want to make, delete, usually add to from blogs offering projects, then decide again. So many wonderful holiday projects to make is hard to decide every year.
Usually find several on your blog.
Enjoy weekend and upcoming week.
I think I’m going to have to make these with my kids this year! So cute and easy!
Hope you have fun with them!
These are so precious. I pinned away. Thanks for sharing your inspiration.
Kris
Thanks so much Kris!
Jenn, I found your blog today and love the idea of the sleds. Garden Club will be delighted to make these as a place setting favor for our Christmas Party! for each member to take home.
Thank You
Nancy Elizabeth
What a wonderful idea! Thanks for letting me know.
Love the little sleds! Thanks!
Thank-you! Merry Christmas!
These are so clever and a little different from the usual ornaments. I’ve never seen short popsicle sticks; where did you find them?
Thanks so much! The short popsicle sticks were just from Michaels but I’m sure other craft stores would have them and maybe even the dollar store too.
Oh wow, my mother’s friend made me one of these when I was a little girl and I always loved it! I have to try this! 🙂 Lisa
Full circle! 🙂
I’m a librarian at a public library and would love to do this craft this coming Christmas season. Would it be possible for me to use your image (with your credentials on it) to promote the craft? We promote with fliers around the library and social media posts.
Yes, you’re welcome to use the image with credentials or a link back to the post if on any social media. I hope it works out well for you!
I try to make my friends a Christmas ornaments every year I just love this idea.Thanks I plan to start tomorrow because Christmas is just around the corner.
Smart idea to get started early. Time between now and Christmas always flies!
What size bells did you use? 1/2 inch or 3/4th?
I didn’t measure them but I think they would either be 1/2 inch or possibly even a little smaller.
These sleds are darling! What kind of paint did you use to get that rich red color?
Thanks! I like to buy the little jars of sample paints from Home Depot. This one was a BEHR one coat paint – I think it might have been called Barn Red?
Thank you, Jenn! Hope to try it with my 8 year old grandson as gifts for his step siblings coming from England for Christmas. He likes crafts, but nothing “girly”!!
Could you please tell me how many inches long the small sticks are on this sled ornament? Thank you
I would guess about 3 inches? At our craft store they had small popsicle sticks (that were used for the top and sled platform) and the regular sized sticks that you find on popsicles (that were used for the sled runners). There are also jumbo popsicle sticks – I guess you could use these for the base and regular sized sticks for the top and sled platform if you wanted a bigger sled.
Thank you fo
r your quick reply! Looking forward to making them.
Also, what kind of paint do you recommend? Thank you
You could really use any kind of craft paint. I used some paint samples of BEHR paint left over from another project.
So Behr, being wall paint??
I had forgot about making these sleds years ago for my family. Putting their name on them. Thanks for being this back to me. Joanne
There’s nothing like Christmas memories! Glad they brought back some nice memories!
Thanks for this great idea. I am going camping with my niece and her two little girls. This will be great to do if it rains.
Good to be prepared! 😉
Linn, this is a great sled. We are always looking for new ways to decorate for the holidays. These could be made in earth tones for Thanksgiving also. Popsicle sticks come in different sizes so there is a lot of flexibility to add these to wreathes, as ornaments, or centerpieces. Thank you for posting it.
As my mind is racing I realized that by using scrap wood a version about 2 feet long could be made for the front porch either leaning there or with presents piled on top of it.
Just so you know, these things take a long time to make so I would suggest making them in smaller batches if you don’t have much time.
Could you use a hot glue gun for This? Since my daughter has started school I’ve become quite handy with one so I always have glue sticks around!!! I’d like to make some of these for her teachers and my fellow hair stylists at work!!!
Yes, for sure!
Years ago when one of my sons was in elementary school(he will be fifty years old his next birthday) his teacher made all her students sleds like these for Christmas gifts and I still hang his on our Christmas tree every year. Glad to learn how to make them now.
Oh that’s so cool! I love that you have kept it all of these years. Thanks for sharing your story!
Such an adorable sled. Love the idea. My 10 years old is taking on this project this year give his friends as a Christmas gift.
I have also included this in my blog post, please check it out. Thank you so much again.
Empirical Mom – 51 DIY Christmas Ornaments
Thanks so much! I hope your son has fun with them!
Absolutely love these! I am unable to find longer sticks for the sleigh “runners” at the dollar store, but thought I could possibly use dollar store emery boards. Do you think this would work? If not, any other suggestions?
You can buy the popsicle sticks on Amazon or at Michaels. My concern with the emery board is that it might be too thin with not enough material to glue – but you could always give it a try! The sleigh runners are usually the easiest popsicle sticks to find as they’re just the standard sized popsicle sticks. You might have more luck at another dollar store if you have others around you.
So sweet!!! What color and type of wood stain did you use for the runners?
Any wood stain will work. I believe this was MinWax in a dark walnut stain.