Popsicle Stick Wall Art: A Geometric Sunburst to Hang

This popsicle stick wall art is a sunburst: 24 standard craft sticks radiating from a painted card circle, with every second ray set a little further out so the edge has a two-tier, stepped outline. It uses whole sticks only, needs no cutting beyond two card circles, and finishes at about 12 in (31 cm) across.

The whole piece is assembled face down. You mark twelve positions on the back of the center circle like the hours on a clock, glue on twelve rays, then drop twelve more into the gaps. A second card circle sandwiches the stick ends so the rays cannot peel away.

What You Need

• 24 standard craft sticks, plus a few spares
• Stiff card, enough for two circles about 4 in (10 cm) across and a small patch
• Acrylic craft paint in two colors, such as mustard for the center and teal for the rays
• A flat brush
• White craft glue or tacky glue
• Kraft twine, about 6 in (15 cm)
• Pencil, ruler and scissors
• A round object about 4 in (10 cm) across to trace, such as a mug or a roll of tape
• Wax paper or baking parchment, and a heavy book

Cut and Paint the Parts

Trace the round object twice onto stiff card and cut out two circles. Paint one face of the first circle in the center color; this is the only part of it that will show. Leave the second circle plain, since it goes on the back.

Paint twelve of the sticks in the ray color and leave twelve natural. Painting the rays before gluing is far easier than working a brush between them afterward, and it leaves crisp edges where colors meet. Coat both faces in thin layers so the sticks stay flat, as described in the guide to painting craft sticks without warping.

Lay Out the Rays

Turn the painted circle face down on wax paper so its plain back is facing you. Find the center by drawing two lines across the widest part at right angles; where they cross is the middle, and their four ends are the 12, 3, 6 and 9 positions.

1. Mark twelve positions. Add two evenly spaced marks between each pair of quarter marks, as on a clock face, for twelve short pencil marks around the edge. Then draw a light guide ring about 3/4 in (2 cm) in from the edge by making a few dots with the ruler and joining them freehand.
2. Glue the first twelve rays. Take the twelve natural sticks. Put glue on the last 3/4 in (2 cm) of one stick and press it onto the circle, centered on a mark, pointing straight out from the middle, with its inner tip on the guide ring. Repeat for all twelve marks.
3. Add twelve more in the gaps. Take the twelve painted sticks. Glue one in each gap, halfway between its neighbors, but set it about 3/8 in (1 cm) further out, so only that much of its end rests on the card. Its outer tip now sits one stick width beyond the natural rays on either side.

Do a dry fit of four or five sticks before gluing anything. The inner ends fit closely near the center, and it is easier to adjust the guide ring by a little than to shift glued sticks.

Add the Backing Circle and Hanging Loop

The second-tier rays have only a short length resting on the front circle, so the backing circle does important work: it grips every stick end from the other side and turns twenty-four small joints into one sandwich.

Spread glue over the stick ends and the exposed card between them, then press the plain circle on top, lined up with the circle below. Cover with wax paper and set a heavy book on the center until the glue has set. Wipe away any squeeze-out between the rays first, since dried glue is visible from the front in the gaps.

For the hanger, fold the twine into a loop and lay its two ends on the backing circle, directly behind one ray so the sunburst hangs with a ray pointing straight up. Cut a small square card patch, cover it with glue and press it over the twine ends. Let the loop stand just above the edge of the circle, where the rays will hide it from the front.

Sizes and Stick Counts

The same layout works at other sizes. These figures are approximate, so measure your own sticks and do a dry fit before cutting the circles.

Sticks	Circle size	Approximate finished width
12 standard, one tier	4 in (10 cm)	11.5 in (29 cm)
24 standard, two tiers	4 in (10 cm)	12 in (31 cm)
24 jumbo, two tiers	8 in (20 cm)	19 in (48 cm)

Drawing the layout at full size on paper first, as explained in the guide to planning a stick project with sketches and templates, shows quickly whether a circle is big enough.

Hanging the Sunburst

The finished piece is light, so a small hook is enough. A removable adhesive hanger is an alternative for walls you do not want to mark; use it exactly as that product directs, on the kind of surface it is made for. Hang the sunburst indoors, away from steam, direct heat and candles, since it is wood and card held with craft glue.

Common Problems

• Uneven spacing. The marks were estimated rather than divided from the quarter points. Re-mark the back before gluing and place the quarter rays first.
• Rays that droop or tilt forward. A bowed stick, or too little of its end on the card. Swap in a straight stick and make sure the backing circle is pressed down firmly over every end.
• A ray pops off. The glue was applied over paint. Scrape the paint from the last part of the stick with sandpaper so glue meets bare wood, then reglue.

Finishing and Variations

Change the mood with color alone: all natural rays around a white center, three colors in rotation, or rays that shade from light to dark around the circle.

A sunburst pairs well with other geometric pieces. The honeycomb hexagon shelf uses the same whole-stick approach and looks at home on the same wall.