How to Make a Manger From Popsicle Sticks

Plug in the hot glue gun and set it on a paper plate to protect your work surface from dripping glue. Load a glue stick in the back of the hot glue gun and let the gun heat for approximately 5 minutes.

Take four craft sticks and make two Xs with the sticks. Two ends of the sticks of the X should be about 2 1/2 inches apart, the other ends should be about 3 1/2 inches apart. Use a dot of hot glue to hold the sticks together.

Cut eight craft sticks carefully to 3 1/2 inches in length with heavy duty scissors. The ends of the sticks may go flying when they are cut.

Lay two of the 3 1/2 inch-long craft sticks down on your work surface parallel to each other and 4 inches apart.

Run a line of hot glue down the length of both 3 1/2 inch sticks, and then lay full length craft sticks perpendicularly on top of them side by side to create a wall of craft sticks that is 3 1/2 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches long. The full length craft sticks will hang over the shorter sticks at the ends.

Hot glue two 3 1/2 inch craft sticks on top of the wall directly above the first two.

Hot glue two full length craft sticks across both ends of the shorter sticks so you are building up the walls of the manger like you build a cabin with Lincoln Logs. Continue building the walls up this way until you have used all your 3 1/2 inch sticks.

Turn the manger upside down and hot glue the ends of the crosses you made that are 3 1/2 inches apart to the long sides of the manger just inside the 3 1/2 inch sticks on the bottom of the manger to create the stand.

Let the hot glue cool for a minute before flipping the manger back over and standing it up.