Are you looking for a fun and simple craft to do with the kids this weekend, or maybe just a cute decoration to add a springtime touch to your home for Easter? Look no further! In this blog post, I'll walk you through creating an adorable bunny silhouette using nothing more than popsicle sticks and a glue gun. So, gather your materials and let's hop to it!
Materials You'll Need:
• Approx. (105) 4.5" Popsicle sticks
• Approx. (335 total) 2.5" Popsicle sticks (285 for the body + 50 for the tail)
• Glue gun with glue sticks
• Bunny silhouette template (optional)
• Scissors (if cutting out a template)
• Paint, stain or markers (optional for decoration)
• This bunny can stand up, but you can also use some ribbon or string
to hang on a wall or a door (optional).
Step by Step Instructions:
1. Planning Your Bunny Shape:
Before you start gluing sticks together, it’s a great idea to plan out your shape. If you’re confident in your drawing skills, sketch a bunny silhouette directly onto a piece of paper. Alternatively, you can use my template below. You can choose to print this template out by downloading it to your phone and printing or keep your phone open to this photo while laying the first layer of sticks.
2. Laying the Groundwork:
Begin by laying out popsicle sticks side by side to create a base for your bunny silhouette. This will be the backdrop on which your bunny shape will be glued. Use as many sticks as you need to match the width of your bunny template.
3. Heating Up the Glue Gun:
It’s time to get your glue gun warmed up; remember to take care as glue guns can get quite hot. Kids should always be supervised when using them. Using heat-resistant gloves is advised.
4. Constructing the Base:
Run a bead of glue along the edge of each popsicle stick and press them together to form the solid base layer. You'll want to make sure the sticks are tightly aligned to provide sufficient support for your bunny silhouette.
5. Creating the Silhouette:
Now, take individual popsicle sticks and layer onto top of each other following the same sizes of popsicle sticks until you've formed several layers. I used 15 layers of popsicle sticks, but you can decide to make yours thinner or thicker. Glue each piece down where it belongs until the entirety of the bunny shape is filled in. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect – a little bit of rustic charm adds character!
6. Bottom Support:
To make sure your bunny can stand up or be hung up, you’ll want to make sure the bottom part is as straight as possible.
7. Decorating your Bunny:
Once the glue has dried, you can decorate your bunny silhouette. Paint it in your preferred color, draw in details with markers, leave it natural. Or, for a more rustic look, I chose to sand off all of the glue threads and roughen up the sticks to prepare it for stain. I used Early American and an old brush. You can also use a sock to apply the stain. After you apply it, immediately wipe off the excess. Only one layer was needed for my bunny.
8. Adding a Hanging Mechanism:
If you want your bunny to adorn your walls or your door, you can loop ribbon or string around one of the ears, the body or glue a loop to the back of the silhouette.
9. Enjoy Your Crafty Creation:
Display your bunny silhouette proudly! Whether it finds a home on a mantel, wall, or in the hands of a delighted child, your popsicle stick bunny is sure to bring a smile to anyone who sees it.
Crafting doesn't have to be complicated to be enjoyable. With the simplest materials and a bit of imagination, you've created something truly delightful that your kids will remember for years to come. Have fun, get creative, and maybe even make a whole family of bunny silhouettes of different sizes. Happy crafting!
