About Popsicle Houses

There is not a huge amount of written history about Popsicle houses, but it is assumed that they originated around the same time the wooden stick became commonly used as the handle for an old-fashioned frozen treat. When the Popsicle were eaten--usually on hot days--parents would wash and save the wooden sticks for alternative uses. Because the used sticks were relatively strong and didn't cost much, the old sticks began to be used for arts and crafts projects.

Infinite Possibilities

For a young child experimenting with his first Popsicle house creation, a simple box with four walls and a roof is a great feat. But beyond the basic structures, many Popsicle house building experts have created mansions made of Popsicle sticks. Of course, these "mansions" are still on a miniature scale compared to real houses, but are huge in terms of a craft project made essentially of small pieces of wood and a bit of glue.

Supplies

The most important items needed to make Popsicle houses are the sticks themselves, glue, sharp scissors for cutting the sticks, paint and a heavy, flat object to use as a weight on top of the sticks so walls dry flat.

Types

The difficulty of making a Popsicle houses range from easy to extremely difficult depending on the skill level and the imagination of the house creator. Types of Popsicle houses include doll houses, replicas of real homes, log cabins, castles and dream houses.

Time Frame

Making a Popsicle house is a good activity for a rainy day or for a group of kids in need of a time-consuming arts and crafts project. Making a house out of Popsicle sticks is not a quick task because, depending on the complexity of the house, it may have to be completed in several steps. It's usually imperative that the glue be allowed to dry on certain Popsicle sticks before they can be added to the rest of the house. For example, attempting to add Popsicle stick walls to an incomplete house before the walls are dry can cause the walls or other parts of the house to collapse.

Considerations

Remaining calm and being patient are important traits for Popsicle house builders to have. A Popsicle house should not be built quickly, and taking time to plan how the house will look before construction begins is essential to more elaborate projects. Building a Popsicle house may turn out to be more frustrating and more complicated than originally anticipated but can easily become an impressive work of art if careful attention to detail is employed while the house is being created.