We started making popsicle stick crafts after trying a simple popsicle stand. Popsicle sticks are inexpensive and easy to work with, and they make great projects for families. Inspired by Pixar’s Up, we created a colorful popsicle stick version of the iconic house. It’s bright, playful, and surprisingly straightforward to build with basic craft supplies.
This miniature house works well as a dollhouse for older kids or as cheerful decor for a playroom or bedroom. Below are the supplies and step-by-step instructions to make your own.
Supplies Needed
Gather these materials before you begin:
- About 250 standard popsicle sticks (jumbo sticks can be used where noted; if you fill the walls to the roof you may need more)
- Bamboo skewers
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun or wood glue
- Paints: green, blue, yellow, purple, pink, gray, white, brown and red
- Twine (to attach the door so it can open)
How To Make A Popsicle Stick Up House
Construct the walls and roof panels from popsicle sticks. Make the following pieces and glue them together as described:
- Front wall: 3 full sticks plus 4 half sticks aligned horizontally with spaces for the door and window. Reinforce with 3 vertical sticks glued across the back.
- Bay window (make three): 6 half sticks lined horizontally with a gap for the window, reinforced on each side with a vertical stick.
- Side walls (make two): 11 sticks each, aligned horizontally and reinforced with two vertical sticks on the edges.
- Back wall: 22 sticks arranged in two columns of 11. Glue a vertical stick along each outer edge of each column, then join the two columns with two half sticks.
- Roof panels (make two): 24 sticks each, set vertically and glued to horizontal support sticks at top, bottom, and across the middle.
Make the large roof peak. Line up five sticks vertically and secure them with a short cross piece. Make a matching piece, glue their tops together to form a triangular peak, and fill the triangle with horizontally cut sticks, leaving a center window space. Add a back support of three horizontal sticks with a cross piece, and glue vertical trim down each front edge of the peak.
Make the small roof peak using the same method but with smaller pieces to fit proportionally.
Create the bay window roof. Align four sticks and glue a half stick across them. Attach a perpendicular stick along one side for added detail and support.
Build the chimney. Use four jumbo sticks (or eight regular) cut so two fit horizontally and two at an angle. Glue them into a chimney shape that sits flush on the sloped roof.
Assemble the porch base. Glue two jumbo sticks (or four regular) side by side for the porch floor, then add a jumbo stick (or two regular) along each side. Make a small stair by gluing two short stick pieces perpendicularly.
Paint each piece before final assembly for the best coverage. Suggested colors:
- Front wall: peachy pink
- Bay windows: green (make three)
- Left side wall (facing the house): yellow
- Right side wall (facing the house): purple
- Back wall: half blue, half purple
- Roof panels: grayish purple
- Roof peaks: yellow with blue trim on the front
- Bay window roof: mustard
- Porch and stair: white on top, brown on the sides, magenta trim
- Chimney: deep red with brown/black brick detailing
Assemble the house: Attach the bay window to the front wall, then glue on the side walls and the back wall. Add the bay window roof, the main roof panels, both roof peaks, and the chimney. Leaving a small gap at the top of the side walls makes it easy for small figures to be placed inside; fill those gaps with painted sticks if you prefer a closed structure.
Create door and window frames. Cut sticks to fit each opening, glue them into frames, paint off-white, and add magenta inner trim. Glue the frames around each window and the door opening.
Porch overhang. Use two sticks for columns and attach a jumbo stick (or two regular) across as the beam. Cut bamboo skewers to make railings and decorative trim beneath the beam, then glue the columns to the porch.
Make and hang the door. Cut and stack two jumbo sticks (or four regular) vertically and reinforce with a short horizontal piece. Paint brown and add details with paint or marker. Attach the door to the frame using two short pieces of twine tied to the door and the frame so it can swing open.
Finish details. Paint or draw the number “18” on one porch column or another suitable spot to complete the look.
Where To Display Your Up House
Place the finished house on a bookshelf, dresser, or in a playroom for a whimsical touch. For a long-lasting display, you can craft miniature balloons from clay and attach them to the roof to echo the movie’s famous flying house.
More Popsicle Stick Crafts
The same techniques work for many other projects: an ice cream stand, a miniature brownstone, a Main Street–style facade, or a colorful holiday village. Experiment with shapes and colors to build a whole tiny neighborhood.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Now all that’s left is to find miniature characters to play with the house—maybe a little Dug who can hide under the porch.
