Popsicle Treasure Box Ranch House
*Note: This project is best worked on by parents and their children together. It is complicated and can become frustrating. However, it is great for spending quality time with kids while discovering the creativity of teamwork.
*Note: This project is recommended for ages 12 and up. It will take two to three days to complete as many stages require time for drying before moving on. In addition, caulking can take up to 24 hours to dry.
*Note: Your house does not have to follow or look just like the picture. Be creative! Add or take away parts as you wish to make a Treasure Box that fits you. For example, the house could have been set on a beach filled with seashells.
425 popsicle craft sticks
Glue
Small amount of household caulking or rubber cement
Small hinges or duct tape
Paint
Stapler
Board for securing Treasure Ranch
Baker's clay dogs, cats, ect for decorating
Two sequins for door knobs
Small ruler or measuring tape
Scrap of craft foam
Other decorating items you may wish to use
IMPORTANT: You must let each step dry completely before assembling the treasure box! If you don't, the parts of your treasure box will not support each other.
Glue to together lengthwise 44 popsicle sticks.
Repeat the above step once more. These stacks will be the tall, solid walls.
*HINT: Put a rubber band around the popsicle stacks you just made to hold them in place while they dry.
Lay two popsicle sticks parallel to one another.
Glue 8 whole popsicle sticks to these with the two parallel sticks 1/4 inch from the edges of the eight popsicle sticks glued to them.
Trim three popsicle sticks to be flush with the parallel sticks.
Glue these in place. (These are the end walls.)
Repeat one more time so that you have two end walls.
Glue two popsicle sticks at a 90 degree angle. This will form the peak of the roof, so the ends should be flush.
Repeat one more time so that you have two peaks.
Cut two popsicle sticks per peak to fit between the supports of the peak. This should form a triangle shape.
There should be four pieces per roof peak in order for these to meet with the walls later.
Make sure you have two peaks before continuing.
Lay twelve popsicle sticks flat against one another long ways.
Glue Eleven popsicle sticks on top of the twelve you have laid out. This is your floor.
To make the roof shingles, lay two popsicle sticks parallel to one another.
Glue 12 popsicle sticks on top of the ones that are parallel, leaving the two parallel popsickle sticks about 1 1/2 inches from the edges of the twelve you just glued.
Cut 11 popsickle sticks in half.
Glue one half to each of the places the twelve from the previous step meet. Let these overhang about 1 1/4 inches.
Glue Twelve popsicle sticks over the half popsickle sticks on each side of the roof shingle.
Glue a popsicle stick to each end of the roof shingle to form the trim on the roof that will hang over the house.
On one end of the shingle, glue 5 more popsicle sticks. This will be the top of the peak.
Make two roof shingles
Cut two popsickle sticks into five pieces. These will be supports for when the roof is placed on the house.
Glue four of the pieces from each popsicle stick in a stack.
Glue the fifth piece from the cut up popsickle stick flat on top edge of the stack.
You should have two supports.
Glue one support to each of the peak pieces at the very top of the V. Later, this will help support the roof and the hinged lid.
Once everything is completely dry, it's time to put it all together:
IMPORTANT: Let each step dry completely before trying to place another piece on during assembly. If the glue is not completely dry, the house will not go together correctly.
Take the floor of the house out.
Glue one stacked wall to the floor, leaving about 1/4 inch edge.
Glue the second stacked wall to the floor, leaving about 1/4 inch edge.
Glue the peaks to the top of the outer walls.
Glue the peaked walls to the floor and to the stacked walls.
Glue the first roof shingle to the top of the house.
Caulk the roof shingle into place. You can turn the house upside down to do this and let the house rest on the roof shingle in the proper position.
Let caulking dry overnight.
The next day:
Cut 8 popsicle sticks into thirds.
Glue these together with six to a stack.
Glue together a stack of six popsicle sticks
Glue together a stack of three popscicle sticks
Make the reinforcement once all parts are dry by gluing the two short stacks to the stack of six.
Glue the stack of three onto the opposite end of the six popsicle sticks.
Allow all to dry completely.
Glue the reinforcement you made to the house about 1 1/2 inches from the top of the wall where the second roof shingle will rest.
Apply caulking to the reinforcement to better secure it.
Construct a hinge from duct tape by turning the house on its side and positioning the shingle.
Make the inside of the hinge first.
Use duct tape to make a hinge on the outside of the treasure box as well. This will help make it strong enough to hold the roof and to allow the box to be opened without difficulty.
Staple the hinge to further reinforce it.
Allow all parts thus far to dry completely overnight.
The next day:
Paint the entire house with caulking. You can use a popsicle stick as a paint brush to smear a thin coat of caulking on all surfaces except the roof.
Let the caulking dry for about 8 hours.
Glue the entire completed house to the board. leave about two to three inches from the edge. Make sure the front of the house (the part that doesn't open) is nearest the edge of the board.)
Note: I used a flat art board for the example, but any board will work.
To create the back porch:
Make a floor just like you did for the house, but this time it should only be 6 popsicle sticks in width. So, lay out six popsicle sticks and glue five more popsicle sticks to the top where the original six popsicle sticks meet.
Turn the porch over and glue to the back of house. Make sure the porch is butted up against the house.
Glue two stacks of three popsickle sticks to the bottom of the reinforcement and to the top of the porch floor you just made. Make sure they are cut to size before doing this.
Allow to dry completely.
To create the front wrap around porch:
Create the floor of the porch the same way as before. Make your porch as wide as necessary to reach the edge of the board.
Glue porch front in front of the house.
Turn the house around and make one more floor for the side of the house the same way. Make sure this part of the porch is lined up with the edge of the board and the front section of the porch, not the house.
Glue the side porch in place and let dry.
Line the board's edge with popsicle sticks. Let these dry completely
Glue one popsicle stick to the porch in a standing up position. You will need to hold this in place until dry. This if for the mailbox.
To make the flowerbox on the opposite side of the house:
Glue two stacks of six popsicle sticks together.
Make a floor four popsicle sticks wide in the same manner as you have made all other floors.
Attach the two stacks of six popsicle sticks on each side of the floor piece.
Cut six popsicle sticks to size to fit between the two stacks of six on the flower bed.
From what you just cut, make two stacks of six. These are the sides of the flower bed
Glue the stacks into place.
Glue the flower bed to the side of the house.
Make a fence if desired. Keep in mind you don't have to make it perfect. For examples, look around the neighborhood at fences. most of them have parts that need to be repaired. I chose to do this on purpose to this house of treasures.
Paint the board green.
Paint your house as desired.
Once paint is dry, make doors and windows from the scraps of popsicle sticks left.
Glue onto the house.
Paint doors and popsicles.
Let dry.
On the doors, glue a gold sequin for the door knob.
Glue on dogs, cats, or any other animal you wish to guard your treasure or to decorate your yard. These can all be made with Baker's Clay
Make a small box from the scraps of popsicle sticks.
Glue your box to the back porch. Toss in a few more scraps of popsickle sticks for the box to hold.
Add trees or shrubs if you like.