Kid’s Craft Project – Penguin Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments

Today’s Crafting with Kids craft project is one that has been around for many years! I remember making these with my daughter and now I’m making them again with my 6 1/2 year old grand daughter.

These craft stick ornaments only take a handful of basic supplies to make. They work up super quickly and in one afternoon you can make several. Once completed you can use them as Christmas tree ornaments, package toppers or glue a magnet on the back of each one to turn it into a holiday refrigerator magnet.

Note: Someone sent me an email to ask me what a Wooden Craft Stick was. It’s basically a wooden tongue depressor so grab some at your doctor’s office, otherwise they’re readily available at your craft supply store too!

Penguin Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments

Wooden Craft Sticks
Wooden Popsicle Sticks
Black Acrylic Paint
White Acrylic Paint
Orange Acrylic Paint
Scrap Ribbon, Yarn or Fleece
All-Purpose Craft Glue
Scissors
Paint Brush, Paper Towels and Water
Toothpicks
Hanging String

Cover your work surface with newspaper or an old plastic table cloth from the dollar discount store. You’ll need a plastic dish with water, a few paper towels and a plastic butter dish lid or plastic plate to serve as your painter’s palette.

Paint all sides of the wooden craft stick black and let it dry. Paint all sides of the wooden popsicle stick white and let it dry. Once both wooden sticks are dry…glue them together by placing the white popsicle stick on top of the black craft stick. Make sure you view the photo as you need to leave the top upper portion of the black craft stick exposed to serve as the penguin’s head.

You’ll want to paint a white oval shape for the penguin’s head on the black craft stick (the area you left exposed & not covered by the white popsicle stick). Next…dip the end of a round toothpick into black acrylic paint and dot on 3-4 dots on the white popsicle stick to serve as “coal” buttons. Dot on 2 slightly larger dots for the Penguin’s eyes. Let dry for 15-20 minutes.

Once dry…dip a new round toothpick into white acrylic paint and make tiny dots in the center of the black dots to finish the penguin’s eyes. Use a thin paint brush to paint on an orange triangular shaped beak.

You can use whatever scraps you have on hand to make his scarf. Yarn, ribbon and narrow fleece strips all work well.

If you are going to use them as package toppers or Christmas tree ornaments…cut a piece of thin ribbon or use embroidery floss to make the ornament hanger and glue it on the back of the penguin’s head. If you’re turning him into a refrigerator magnet…glue the magnet onto his back side and let him dry overnight.

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