Nutcracker Popsicle Stick Craft

This nutcracker popsicle stick craft is one of those projects that feels big and festive without being complicated. It uses simple dollar store supplies, comes together in about 30 minutes, and ends with a bold little nutcracker kids are very proud of.

It works beautifully for classrooms, homeschool, or a cozy December craft day at home, especially if you’re looking for something that feels classic but still fun to make.

Popsicle stick nutcracker craft displayed on a tan background with layered text reading “Nutcracker Popsicle Craft Stick.”

Materials for This Nutcracker Popsicle Stick Craft

Before you start, it helps to have everything out and ready. This craft moves through building, painting, and decorating, so having supplies within reach keeps things moving smoothly.

Most of these can be found at the dollar store, and colors can always be swapped to fit your style.

Materials:

Jumbo craft sticks
Wiggle eyes
Glue gun and glue sticks
Feather
Rhinestones
Acrylic craft paint (flesh tone of choice, blue, yellow)
Cardstock (white, bright green, black)
Scissors
Paintbrush
Black marker
Red marker
Pencil
Ruler
Nutcracker patterns

Once everything is ready, it’s time to build the base of your nutcracker.

Step-by-Step Nutcracker Popsicle Stick Craft Instructions

This craft is built in layers. First the head, then the hat, then all the personality details that make a nutcracker feel like a nutcracker.

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Set everything out on your work surface so you’re not reaching for scissors or glue mid-step.

Craft supplies arranged on a white wood surface, including craft sticks, acrylic paint bottles, googly eyes, scissors, a glue gun, markers, cardstock, and colorful plastic gems.

Step 2: Build the nutcracker head.

Line up six jumbo craft sticks side by side. Trim additional jumbo craft sticks to width and glue them across the back to hold everything together. This forms the nutcracker’s head.

Liquid craft glue can be used, but hot glue keeps the project moving without long wait times.

Popsicle sticks glued into a rectangle base with a horizontal stick across the top edge, with a hot glue gun nearby on a white wood background.

Step 3: Build the nutcracker hat.

Line up six more jumbo craft sticks side by side. Trim and glue additional craft sticks across the back to secure them. Measure and trim the hat piece to 5 inches tall.

Close-up of a partially assembled craft stick rectangle with additional craft sticks placed nearby and a glue gun positioned to the right.

Step 4: Attach the hat and nose.

Glue one jumbo craft stick across the head about 1.5 inches down from the top to create the hat brim. Attach the hat just above the brim.

Measure and cut one jumbo craft stick to 2 inches long and glue it vertically in the center of the face to create the nose.

Two separate craft stick rectangles laid on a white wood surface, each reinforced with horizontal craft sticks on the back.

Step 5: Paint the base.

Basecoat the head with a flesh tone acrylic paint. Paint the hat brim yellow and the hat blue. Let everything dry, then add a second coat if needed.

Painted craft stick pieces in blue, yellow, and flesh tones drying on a white wood surface, with paint bottles and a paintbrush nearby.

Step 6: Trace the pattern pieces.

Download, print, and cut out the nutcracker patterns. Trace the hat trim onto bright green cardstock, the mouth onto white cardstock, the eyebrows and hair twice, and the mustache once onto black cardstock.

Black cardstock pieces cut into shapes and traced with pencil, arranged on a white wood background.

Step 7: Cut out the cardstock pieces.

Cut all pieces carefully, cutting just inside the traced lines for a clean finish.

Black and white cardstock shapes cut out and laid flat on a white wood surface, with green cardstock and scissors nearby.

Step 8: Draw the mouth details.

Outline the mouth with a red marker. Use a black marker to draw a simple checkered pattern for the teeth.

Two markers placed next to a small white cardstock piece outlined in red and black on a white wood surface.

Step 9: Assemble the face.

Glue the eyebrows, wiggle eyes, and mustache onto the face. Attach the mouth underneath the mustache.

Partially assembled nutcracker face made from painted craft sticks with googly eyes, black cardstock shapes, and a glue gun nearby.

Step 10: Add the hair.

Flip the nutcracker over and glue the hair pieces to the right and left sides of the head.

Popsicle stick base assembled with black cardstock shapes attached on both sides, with a hot glue gun on a white wood background.

Step 11: Decorate the hat.

Glue the bright green cardstock accent to the hat. Add a purple feather, then attach a self-adhesive red rhinestone at the base of the feather.

Finished nutcracker craft made from popsicle sticks with blue hat, yellow band, googly eyes, black mustache, feather, and gem, with craft gems and a glue gun nearby.

Step 12: Display your finished nutcracker.

Let everything cool and fully set, then display your nutcracker on a shelf, mantel, or holiday craft display. You can also add names to turn them into festive place cards.

Finished popsicle stick nutcracker displayed upright on a white wood surface with green greenery in the background.

Grab This Nutcracker Popsicle Stick Craftivity

If you want to skip the prep and have everything ready to go, the nutcracker craftivity includes the printable patterns you need to make this project easy from start to finish.

It’s a great option for classrooms, small groups, or when you just want to print and start crafting without extra steps.

Use code GIFT at checkout to get 25% off.

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