Santa Popsicle Stick Craft
This Santa popsicle stick craft project is always a December favorite. Between the fluffy beard, sparkly swirls, and classic red hat, this craft feels like it belongs right on a mantel or holiday shelf.
It’s a great mix of painting, cutting, and decorating, which makes it perfect for slowing down and actually enjoying the process instead of rushing to the finish line.
Jump to Supplies Steps Printable
Materials for This Santa Popsicle Stick Craft
This craft uses simple supplies with a few fun textures mixed in. It’s one of those projects where the details really do the heavy lifting.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your craft stick Santa:
Print-ready templates and step-by-step instructions.
Less prep, more crafting.
- Craft sticks, jumbo Shop
- Wiggle eyes Shop
- Glitter glue, clear Shop
- Glue gun and glue sticks Shop
- Pom poms, white and red tinsel Shop
- Acrylic craft paint, red and a flesh tone color of your choice Shop
- Cardstock, green, red, and white Shop
- Scissors Shop
- Paintbrush Shop
- Pencil Shop
- Black marker Shop
- Patterns
Once everything is ready, it’s time to build Santa from the top down.
Step-by-Step Santa Popsicle Stick Instructions
This project is easiest if you let pieces dry as you go and build in layers.
Step 1: Gather your supplies
Lay out all materials so everything is easy to reach while working.
Step 2: Build Santa’s hat
Create a triangle using three jumbo craft sticks on your work surface. Secure the corners with a glue gun and glue sticks.
Tip: Liquid craft glue works too, but it will need extra drying time.
Step 3: Paint the hat
Basecoat the craft stick triangle with red acrylic craft paint. Let dry and apply a second coat if needed.
Step 4: Trace and cut the hat backing
Download, print, and cut out the Santa patterns. Trace the Santa hat pattern onto red cardstock and cut it out neatly.
Step 5: Line up the hat backing
Line the cardstock triangle up with the painted craft stick hat so it fits neatly behind it.
Step 6: Attach the hat backing
Glue the red cardstock triangle to the back of the painted craft stick triangle.
Step 7: Add the pom pom trim
Glue white tinsel pom poms along the bottom edge of Santa’s hat to create the fur trim.
Step 8: Top the hat with a pom pom
Attach one large white tinsel pom pom to the top of the hat.
Step 9: Trace the beard
Trace the Santa beard pattern three times onto white cardstock, or trace your child’s hand for the beard shape.
Step 10: Cut out the beard
Cut out the beard pieces carefully.
Step 11: Attach the beard
Glue the three handprint beard pieces along the bottom edge of Santa’s hat.
Step 12: Paint the face
Basecoat a scrap piece of white cardstock with a flesh tone acrylic paint of your choice. Let dry and apply a second coat if needed.
Step 13: Cut the face and mustache
Trace Santa’s face pattern onto the painted cardstock and trace the mustache onto white cardstock. Cut out all pieces neatly.
Step 14: Assemble the face
Glue the face onto Santa, attach the wiggle eyes, and then glue on the mustache.
Step 15: Add sparkle
Decorate Santa’s beard and mustache with swirls and lines of clear glitter glue. Set aside to dry completely.
Step 16: Trace the holly leaves
Trace two holly leaf patterns onto green cardstock.
Step 17: Cut and outline the holly
Cut out the leaves and outline them with a black marker.
Step 18: Attach the holly
Glue three red tinsel pom poms together in a triangle and attach the holly leaves underneath. Then glue this onto Santa’s hat.
Step 19: Display
Display your finished craft stick Santa as holiday décor, or add a name to turn it into a festive place card.
Grab This Craftivity Packet
Want to save time on prep?
This craftivity packet includes all of the patterns you need to make this Santa popsicle stick craft quickly and easily, whether you’re crafting at home or in the classroom.
Use code SANTA to get 25% off the matching packet.

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