Wood Stick Animal Puzzle – Crafting Fun with a Twist

🎂 4 + years ⏱️ 30 min 📍 Anywhere ⭐ sporty

Imagine holding a puzzle in your hands that you made yourself. Not pre-made pieces, but a true one-of-a-kind, featuring your favorite animal and made of wood! That's what you'll create today. You'll need patience, a steady hand, and a little help from an adult. The best part: your puzzle can be as big or small as you want. And if you're up for it, you can even make several and invent a puzzle game with friends.

What you'll need

Wood sticks (popsicle sticks or tongue depressors)
A printed or drawn picture of an animal
Glue stick
Transparent tape
Sharp knife (for adults only)
A sturdy surface

How it works

Take several wooden sticks and lay them side by side on the table. Make sure they are close together and form a straight line. This will help ensure your picture is applied straight later on.
Choose an animal template that you like. Maybe your favorite animal? Cut the picture so that it fits perfectly on the wooden sticks. Now, spread glue on the back and carefully press it onto the sticks.
To keep your puzzle stable, cover the entire picture with a layer of transparent tape. This protects it and makes it more durable. Trim the edges of the tape neatly so nothing hangs over.
Now comes the tricky part, but don't worry, an adult can help. Use a sharp knife to cut along the gaps between the sticks. Be careful not to let the paper slip!
Almost done! To ensure your puzzle lasts a long time, you can wrap tape around the sides of each stick again. This keeps everything stable, even if you use the puzzle often.
Now you can try out your puzzle! Mix the pieces and try to put your animal back together. Or you can make a few more puzzles. Have fun puzzling!