Thursday, July 28, 2011

Frugal Finds: Popsicle Sticks

Your practical leaders are back in action again this month with our frugal (dollar store) finds as we call them.  Erin and Christine both had their first picks with coffee filters and tape. It was my turn, this month and I chose popsicle (craft) sticks. Most of us have these lying around, especially if you use rub-ons.  Hopefully, we've inspired you with our projects this month and make you think twice before you throw away those wooden sticks when your rub-ons are gone.


Practical Scrapper Kerri used popsicle sticks here to to create her pinwheels (which actually spin) on her layout.  She painted them with her Adirondack white paint dabber.

Practical Scrapper Erin used some glimmer mist, washi tape, and a texture stamp to create her fencing that her picture is on.  You can check out the details on her blog.



Popsicles sticks are great ways to add your journaling.  Here, Practical Scrapper Kerri created her journaling by listing of her family's top ten attractions at Hollywood Studios on her popsicle sticks.  She colored them first with her copic maker (R27) then printed out the list using her P-touch machine.



Practical Scrapper Audrey had this adorable layout that we found where she painted some popsicle sticks with a whitewash and then added some crackle paint.  after that cut and layered them to make photo corners and also for her popsicle embellishment.


Check out the stamping Practical Scrapper Christine did on her card.  What an adorable way to add a little sentiment!



Practical Scrapper Kerri used popsicle sticks here to create frames around her photos. She painted them with her Adirondack white acrylic paint dabber then added some diamond stickles after the paint was dry.


Practical Scrapper Kerri
Well, why not use a popsicle stick to create a popsicle card?


Look at this card that we found by a reader, Sian Ridley.  Sian stained her popsicle sticks with ink to create her rainbow of colors and keep her card clean and simple.

We've showed you what we've created with them, now how about some ways to use them as a tools.
1.) Use them for rub-ons
2.) Use them as a scoop for glitter/powders-- I love to do this when I make my own version of glimmer mist because the tip of the sticks fits perfect into the top pf a mini mister. 
3.) Paint with them--they make great polka dots because of the curved ends.
4.) Use liquid glues, it's always nice to have one hand give them a good stir.
5.) Don't have a bone folder( or can't find yours), popsicles sticks make a great fix for creating those perfect folds/creases. 
6.) Use them to smooth out air bubbles from stickers.
7.) They also work great for cleaning up spilled embossing powder/glitter by "brushing" with them to put in a pile.

Got any ways we haven't shared to use popsicle sticks?  Leave us a comment sharing a link showing us how you used them or comment telling us how they make a great tool!

 **Designer projects are not always linked in our posts, but you can always find their blogs in our sidebar or in the staff tab**

1 comment:

Kristie Maynard said...

What a great post! Love your ideas. I have been trying to think of what to use to make an 'ark' for a project and popsicle sticks might just work, I'll have to mess around with some and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the inspiration!