Christmas Car Popsicle Stick Craft

This Christmas car popsicle stick craft is a sweet, hands-on way to slow things down during a busy December. Using simple craft sticks and a bit of faux greenery, kids can build a festive car carrying a tiny Christmas tree home for the holidays.

It’s a great fit for classrooms, therapy sessions, or a quiet afternoon craft at home, and it works well across a wide range of ages.

Christmas car popsicle stick craft title image with a red car carrying a tree

Christmas Car Craft Materials

Before jumping in, take a minute to set everything out. This craft uses mostly dollar store items and basic classroom supplies, which makes prep simple and predictable.

Materials:

Jumbo craft sticks
Regular craft sticks
Faux pine greenery stems
Clear rhinestones
Glue gun and glue sticks
Red acrylic paint
Brown acrylic paint
Black cardstock
Gray cardstock
Red cardstock
Light blue cardstock
Recycled cardboard
Scissors
Paintbrush
Pencil

Once everything is ready, you’re set to start building.

How to Make a Christmas Car with Popsicle Sticks

This Christmas car popsicle stick craft comes together in clear steps, making it easy for kids to follow along and stay engaged from start to finish.

Want to add another tree-themed craft to your holiday lineup? This adorable 3D Christmas Tree Paper Loop Craft uses simple paper loops to build a festive tree that pops right off the page — a fun and easy project for little holiday makers.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Gather all supplies and set up your work surface. Having everything ready at the start makes this craft feel calm and unhurried, especially if kids are helping.

Dollar store craft supplies for a Christmas car popsicle stick craft including jumbo craft sticks, acrylic paint bottles, paintbrush, black marker, scissors, cardstock, wired garland, and a hot glue gun on a white wood background.

Step 2: Create the car base

Line up three jumbo craft sticks on your work surface. Using scissors, trim additional jumbo craft sticks to width and attach them across the back with a glue gun and glue sticks. This creates a sturdy base for the car.

Tip: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

Popsicle sticks glued together horizontally to form a rectangular base, with two shorter craft sticks glued vertically on the back for support, and a hot glue gun nearby.

Step 3: Paint the car

Basecoat the car with red acrylic craft paint. Let it dry, then apply a second coat if necessary. This is a great step for kids to take their time with.

Popsicle sticks painted red laid flat on a white wood background with a red acrylic paint bottle and paintbrush.

Step 4: Paint the tree trunks

Cut a regular craft stick in half with scissors. Basecoat the tree trunk pieces with brown acrylic craft paint. Let dry, and apply a second coat if needed.

Brown painted craft stick pieces shown with a paintbrush, scissors, and acrylic paint on a white wood background.

Step 5: Trace the patterns

Download, print, and cut out the car patterns. Trace the wheel pattern two times onto black cardstock, trace the hub cap two times onto gray cardstock, trace the car roof pattern onto red cardstock, trace the car windows onto light blue cardstock, and trace the tree onto cardboard with a pencil.

Cardstock pieces cut into circles and half circles for wheels and car windows, with a pencil and scissors on a white wood background.

Step 6: Cut out the pieces

Cut out all traced patterns with scissors, making sure to cut inside the pencil lines for a clean, finished project.

Cardboard triangles cut out for the car roof with scissors and cardstock window pieces nearby.

Step 7: Assemble the car

With a glue gun and glue sticks, attach the windows to the roof and glue the hub caps onto the wheels. Glue the car roof to the top edge of the car body, then glue the wheels along the bottom. At this point, the car really starts to take shape.

Popsicle stick car body assembled with red painted sticks, white cardstock windows, and black cardstock wheels placed nearby, with a hot glue gun.

Step 8: Add the headlight

Attach a self-adhesive clear rhinestone to the front of the car as the headlight. It’s a small detail, but it adds a lot of character.

Two completed popsicle stick car crafts with red bodies, white windows, black wheels, and rhinestone details displayed on a white wood background.

Step 9: Attach the tree trunk

Glue the painted tree trunk to the base of the cardboard Christmas tree. Hold it in place for a moment so it sets securely.

Cardboard triangle pieces glued to popsicle sticks to create a tree stand for a Christmas car craft

Step 10: Wrap the tree

Attach the end of a faux pine greenery stem to the base of the Christmas tree with a glue gun and glue sticks. Wrap one stem around the tree, then attach a second stem and continue wrapping until the cardboard is completely covered.

Wired green garland pieces trimmed and arranged to resemble a Christmas tree, with a hot glue gun and garland packaging visible.

Step 11: Attach the tree to the car

Glue the finished Christmas tree to the top of the car using a glue gun and glue sticks. Hold it in place briefly while the glue sets.

Christmas trees glued on top of red popsicle stick Christmas cars

Step 12: Display your finished Christmas car

Once everything is fully set, display your Christmas car as part of your holiday decor. You can also add names to turn them into place cards or use them in a classroom display.