Thank you Sparkle® for sponsoring this post.

My kids’ favorite way to learn and play is through making colorful, hands-on creations! My two very artsy daughters had the best time with this popsicle craft. It’s perfect for summer, only requires a few simple materials, and the finished popsicles are really cute and unique!

Before you get started, I recommend having Sparkle® Tear-A-Square® paper towels nearby. If your kids are anything like mine, mess-making is a talent they’ve mastered. My six-year-old is learning to be tidier, but my four-year-old is basically a graffiti artist and she leaves her artistic mark wherever she’s been.

The beauty of these paper towels is that you can choose what size you need depending on the degree of messiness. We lay full sheets out on the girls’ work area to protect our surfaces while they create. This step alone cuts down on most of the clean-up because we don’t have to scrub our entire counter after craft time. Half sheets are excellent for wiping little paint-smudged fingers, and the quarter sheet is perfect for blotting stray spots of paint and glue.

As a family that tries to minimize waste, I appreciate how versatile these are. The perforated lines make picking a size quick and convenient and we get to use exactly what we need for every type of mess.

Look for Sparkle® Tear-A-Square® paper towels at your nearest Walmart!

Now, let’s get started with our popsicle craft! We use cereal boxes because they’re thicker and sturdier than paper and I love reusing materials we already have around our home. This craft is also very open to interpretation and your kiddos get to use their imagination and express themselves. It’s so fun to see what they come up with!

Materials

• cereal boxes (any type of thin cardboard packaging will work, like boxes from crackers or fruit snacks)
• scissors
• paint
• clothespins and cotton balls or paintbrushes
• craft sticks
• glue or tape
• decorations (we used glitter, sequins, stickers, and pom poms)

Instructions

1. Start by cutting out popsicle shapes from the cereal boxes. Your older kids may be able to do this part by themselves but go ahead and cut the shapes for your toddlers and young preschoolers.
2. Paint the popsicle shapes and let them dry. Although my girls painted with cotton balls and clothespins, you can also use paintbrushes. We did a single color for each popsicle, but I’m sure it would also look awesome to try a combination of colors!
3. Use glue or tape to attach the craft sticks to the back of the popsicles.
4. Glue your favorite decorations to the popsicles. Play around with different colors and patterns to make every popsicle different and special.
5. When the glue is dry, let your little ones play with their popsicle craft or put them on display in your home!

The best time to clean up after this craft is while the paint and glue are drying. We set the popsicles in a separate area to dry and then grab our Sparkle® Tear-A-Square® paper towels to wipe up any messes. As I mentioned before, laying a full sheet out beforehand makes cleaning significantly easier, and half sheets and quarter sheets are great for rubbing hands and small areas on the counter.

Sparkle® Tear-A-Square® paper towels are a must for craft time, but they also come in handy when my girls are baking and cooking with me. Shop Walmart now to grab a few rolls for your family!