Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornament – A Cute & Easy DIY Christmas Craft for Kids

There’s something magical about handmade Christmas ornaments. They carry stories, memories, and a little bit of the holiday spirit long after December ends. One of the easiest ornaments you can make with your kids this season is the Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornament — a simple craft that turns an ordinary wooden stick into an adorable frosty friend ready to hang on your tree.

This craft is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids, classroom holiday parties, family craft nights, and even handmade gift exchanges. The materials are inexpensive, the steps are simple, and the final ornament looks incredibly charming. Whether you’re decorating your Christmas tree, creating homemade gifts for grandparents, or building a keepsake collection, this cute snowman ornament is sure to become a holiday favorite.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn everything you need to make your own popsicle stick snowman, plus creative variations, safety tips, and ideas for turning this simple craft into a treasured Christmas memory with your children.

Why Make Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornaments?

Before we jump into the step-by-step instructions, let’s talk about why this craft is such a winner for families.

1. It’s Affordable

Most of the supplies are items you likely already have at home — craft sticks, markers, buttons, and scrap paper. Even if you need to buy supplies, everything can be found at the dollar store or any craft store for just a few dollars.

2. It’s Perfect for All Ages

Preschoolers can help paint and decorate, while older children can cut the hat and scarf pieces, customize the face, and add buttons. Adults love it just as much — especially when crafting with little ones.

3. It Builds Fine Motor Skills

Cutting paper, gluing tiny details, painting, and drawing faces help kids strengthen hand control, coordination, and patience — all while having fun.

4. It Makes Heartfelt Gifts

Personalized ornaments make great gifts for teachers, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. You can even write the year on the back to turn the craft into a keepsake.

5. It Creates Holiday Traditions

Making ornaments each year is a fun family tradition that builds memories and results in a beautiful, meaningful Christmas tree.

Materials You’ll Need

To make your Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornament, gather the following supplies:

White craft paint
Wooden craft stick (popsicle stick)
Colored paper (black, white, orange, red) for hat, hat band, nose, and scarf
Buttons (tiny craft buttons work best)
Twine or ornament hook (for hanging)
Glue (school glue for kids or hot glue for adults)
Clear sealant (optional but great for longevity)
Black marker for drawing the face

Most supplies are flexible — you can swap red paper for felt, trade buttons for pom-poms, or use googly eyes instead of drawn ones.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below is a detailed breakdown of each step so your snowman ornament comes out adorable every time.

Step 1: Paint the Popsicle Stick White

Start by coating your wooden craft stick with white craft paint. You want an opaque, frosty finish, so one to two coats may be needed depending on your paint.

Tips for Success:

Use a foam brush or kid-friendly paintbrush.
Teach little ones to hold the stick by the top or bottom and rotate it as you paint.
Let the stick dry completely before moving on to the next step.

You can let it dry on wax paper or prop it up on a paper cup.

Step 2: Draw the Snowman’s Face

Once the stick is dry, use a black marker to draw two eyes and a dotted smile.

Kids love personalizing their snowman faces, so feel free to let them get creative:

Add eyelashes
Make a goofy, wide smile
Draw rosy cheeks with pink marker
Use googly eyes for extra fun

The beauty of this craft is that each snowman turns out with its own personality!

Step 3: Glue on the Buttons

Next, grab a couple of small craft buttons and glue them onto the lower portion of the snowman’s body.

Ideas & Variations:

Use buttons in classic Christmas colors like red or green.
Add glitter around the buttons for extra sparkle.
Use paper dots or pom-poms if you don’t have real buttons.

Step 4: Cut Out the Paper Pieces

Now it’s time to prepare the snowman’s accessories. Using colored paper, cut out:

Black rectangles for hats
Thin white strips for hat bands
Small orange triangles for carrot noses
Red strips for scarves

You can adjust the sizing depending on how large your popsicle stick is. For most standard sticks:

The hat should be around 1.5 inches wide and 1 inch tall.
The scarf should be about 3 inches long so you can fold it around the stick.

Kid-Friendly Cutting Tips:

Pre-draw the shapes for little ones to cut along.
Provide safety scissors.
Offer choices of other colors if they want a funky snowman!

Step 5: Assemble the Snowman

This is the step where your snowman comes to life!

Add the Hat

Glue the black hat piece at the top of the popsicle stick. Add the thin white band across the bottom of the hat.

Attach the Nose

Glue the orange triangle in the middle of the face. You can position it sideways for that classic carrot look.

Attach the Scarf

Wrap the red strip around the stick just under the face. You can glue it flat or fold one end down like a real scarf.

Optional Upgrades:

Add glitter glue along the hat band.
Use patterned scrapbook paper for a festive scarf.
Draw little “stick arms” along the sides of the popsicle stick.

Step 6: Add the Hanger

Turn your snowman over and glue a small loop of twine or an ornament hook to the back of the hat.

Make sure the loop is secure and centered so the snowman hangs straight on the tree.

Step 7 (Optional): Apply Clear Sealant

If you’d like your ornament to last for years, apply a thin coat of clear sealant once everything is dry. This helps protect the paper pieces and keeps colors vibrant.

Allow the ornament to dry completely before handling.

Step 8: Hang on the Tree and Enjoy!

That’s it — your adorable Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornament is ready! Find the perfect spot on your Christmas tree or gift your ornament to someone special.

Creative Variations to Try

One of the best parts of this craft is how customizable it is. If you’re crafting with a group of kids or making a whole set for your tree, try experimenting with these fun ideas.

1. Use Felt Instead of Paper

Felt adds a cozy, textured look to the scarf and hat. It also holds up better if you’re applying sealant.

2. Make a Family of Snowmen

Create a “family” of ornaments — a larger stick for an adult snowman and smaller sticks for child snowmen. Hang them together as a family cluster.

3. Add Glitter Snow

Apply dabs of clear glue and sprinkle white glitter around the edges of the snowman to mimic falling snow.

4. Use Craft Foam

Foam sheets make the accessories more durable, especially if younger kids will handle the ornaments.

5. Add Initials or Names

Write your child’s name or the year on the back to turn each snowman into a memory you’ll look back on.

6. Dress Up Your Snowman

Add tiny earmuffs, a bow tie, rosy cheeks, or a patterned hat. Kids love getting creative with these!

Tips for Crafting with Kids

Crafting with children is joyful but can sometimes be a bit chaotic. These tips help make the experience smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.

Prep Ahead

Cut the paper shapes ahead of time if you’re crafting with toddlers or a group.

Use School Glue for Kids

Hot glue is faster, but school glue is safer for little helpers. Adults can reinforce pieces with hot glue later if needed.

Cover Your Work Area

Use a craft mat, parchment paper, or an old tablecloth to protect your table from paint and glue.

Keep Wipes Nearby

Painty fingers, sticky hands, and gluey buttons are part of the fun — but wipes help keep everything manageable!

Encourage Creativity

Let kids choose their own colors and styles. Not every snowman needs to look identical!

How to Turn This Craft Into a Holiday Tradition

Kids treasure annual traditions, and ornament-making is a beautiful one to bring into your home.

Here are some sweet ideas to make it extra special:

Create a Craft Night

Put on Christmas pajamas, turn on a holiday movie, make hot cocoa, and craft together as a family.

Make a Personalized Ornament Every Year

Write the year on the back. Over time, you’ll build a collection that captures your child’s creativity through the years.

Gift Them to Loved Ones

Grandparents especially love ornaments made by little hands.

Host a Kids’ Ornament Party

Set up a table of craft sticks, markers, paint, accessories, and glue. Put on Christmas music and watch the creativity unfold.

Storage Tips for Keeping Ornaments Safe

Homemade ornaments and kids’ crafts are often fragile, so proper storage helps them last for years.

Store ornaments in a lidded plastic bin with air cushioning, tissue paper, or newspaper.
Label bins by year or child if you love organizing by memory.
Keep them in a cool, dry place to prevent warping and fading.

Make It a Learning Moment

Believe it or not, this simple craft offers sneaky educational benefits for kids:

Fine Motor Skills

Cutting, gluing, and painting build coordination and hand strength.

Creative Expression

Choosing colors and designing the snowman helps kids express personality through art.

Following Directions

This step-by-step project teaches sequencing and listening skills.

Holiday History

Talk about snowmen, winter traditions, and why we decorate trees during Christmastime.

Final Thoughts

The Popsicle Stick Snowman Ornament is the kind of craft that makes childhood magical. It’s inexpensive, simple, and filled with opportunities for creativity. Long after the holiday season ends, these sweet little snowmen will remind you of the laughter and joy shared around the craft table.

Whether you’re crafting for joy, decorating your home, or building a keepsake collection, this DIY ornament is the perfect holiday activity. Grab some popsicle sticks, paint, glue, and colored paper — and let the crafting fun begin!