How to Make a Drawbridge Out of Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle sticks can be purchased in the craft department of most stores.

Popsicle sticks are amazing tools that can be used to create interesting crafts and fun games. With just a few inexpensive items, children of all ages can design and produce masterful creations that are often both sturdy and attractive. One such craft is a drawbridge. Whether you're looking to add flair to your castle or to an existing bridge, you can build a suitable drawbridge to meet your needs within just a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Scotch tape
• Glue
• Small piece of Velcro
• String (optional)
• Drill (optional)
• Thumbtack (optional)
• Decorations (optional)
• Paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Lay five Popsicle sticks side by side. (This number may vary depending on the width of the drawbridge you need.) Ensure the sticks are touching and are even at the top and bottom.

2. Tape the five pieces together by applying one long piece of tape across the sticks near the top and the bottom.

3. Break two Popsicle sticks in half. Space the halves evenly across the five sticks (one at the top, one at the bottom and two spaced out in the middle) and tape or glue them down. If you use glue, do not glue the pieces to the existing tape. Instead, glue stick to stick. These crossbars give your bridge extra stability.

4. Paint or decorate your bridge as you desire. This step is much easier to do before you attach your drawbridge to your existing structure, whether it be a castle or full bridge.

5. Attach your drawbridge to your structure by laying it flat with the bottom touching the bottom of the frame to which it is to be attached. Use tape to attach the drawbridge to the structure. Tape in the same direction in which your drawbridge is turned, not across. Use several pieces to insure stability.

6. Flip your structure upside down, and tape the back of the drawbridge just as you did the front. This means your drawbridge will be attached from both the front and the back.

7. Attach a small piece of Velcro to the top of the inside of your drawbridge, and place the matching piece of Velcro at the top of the frame for your drawbridge. This will keep the drawbridge closed when you desire it to be so.

Tips & Warnings

• For an optional opening and closing technique, drill small holes in the top corners of your drawbridge and your frame. With the drawbridge open fully, run a piece of yarn or string through the right hole in the drawbridge and up through the right hole in the frame. Pull the string taught and tie a knot at each end. Repeat the process on the left side. Now, when you pull on the knots from inside your structure, the drawbridge will close. You can use a small thumbtack to secure the knots to keep the drawbridge from flapping open. When you want to let the drawbridge down, simply remove the thumbtack.

References

• Scout Mom: Building Art