DIY Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks

Learn how to create a Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks! This simple DIY project is perfect for adding a festive, handmade touch to your Thanksgiving table.

I’m super excited to share this new Thanksgiving DIY project with you! It’s a sweet and easy-to-make mini centerpiece that’s perfect for your holiday table. The best part? It’s made with popsicle sticks!

DIY Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks Crate. Feature iage with title Text Overlay

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Homemade Popsicle Sticks Crate Thanksgiving centerpiece

Thanksgiving is one great time to bring a little handmade warmth to your home, and this popsicle stick flower centerpiece is just the project to do that. It’s simple, cute, and adds a festive, personal touch to your holiday table without breaking the bank. Plus, crafting it is half the fun!

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This project is actually one of a few my mom and I are both sharing on our blogs—mine in English and hers in Spanish. We love finding fun ways to celebrate the holidays together, and this centerpiece is no exception!

Although Thanksgiving isn’t traditionally celebrated in our South American culture, my mom has always loved the idea of gratitude. She’s big on creating traditions in life, and that spirit has naturally become a part of how we celebrate this time of year.

I love how she brings a bit of that Thanksgiving magic into the home, even from afar. So while we may not gather around a turkey in the same way, we still take time to reflect on all the things we’re grateful for, surrounded by homemade decor and the warmth of family.

You can read this post in Spanish over at her blog, Programando La Vida.

How To Make Thanksgiving Flower Centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks

Supplies:

Popsicle sticks (craft sticks)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Wood stain or paint (optional, for a rustic look)
Jute ribbon
Grosgrain ribbon
Floral foam block
Fall flowers (real or faux)

Tools:

Scissors or craft knife

Instructions:

Step 1: Stain the Popsicle Sticks

If you like the rustic vibe of a dark wood, then the first thing you need to do is staining the popsicle sticks. I used dark walnut but you can use your favorite stain color.

Let them dry well.

Step 2: Build the Mini Crate

Once the pieces are dry (if you painted or stained them), start assembling the crate., you’ll need to start by preparing your popsicle sticks. For this crate, you’ll be making:

2 longer sides
2 shorter sides
1 base

For the sides vertical pieces, cut one end of the popsicle sticks to make it straight. This will allow it to align perfectly with the base. But here’s the fun part—I decided to leave the top end rounded to give it a more fence-like finish. You will need 2 vertical sticks for each side.

For the sides horizontal pieces, you’ll need to trim off both rounded ends of the popsicle sticks. This will make everything fit together smoothly without gaps. Be sure to measure and cut carefully so all your pieces are consistent. You will need 3 pieces for each side.

Lay out 3 popsicle sticks horizontally and glue them to the vertical popsicle sticks on both ends to hold the horizontal pieces together. Repeat this process to create the other 3 sides.

For the base, you’ll follow a similar process. Lay 4 popsicle sticks side by side and glue them together to the side sticks to create a flat panel. Unlike the sides, there’s no need for rounded ends as this will be the bottom of the crate.

When you have the 4 part of the crate you should have something like this:

Step 3: Assemble the Crate

Glue the sides together first.

If you want extra support, you can glue skewer sticks to the corners with abundant hot glue.

Repeat until you get all 4 sides glued and reinforced.

Then glue the sides onto the base. Here again, you can glue some skew sticks for extra hold.

Be patient here, making sure everything is aligned. It’s such a satisfying little build!

Step 4: Decorate the Crate

Use your jute ribbon and grosgrain ribbon to wrap around the outside of the crate.

I added a cute little bow on one side right where the ribbon ends meet to give it a bit of cuteness.

You can totally make it your own with different ribbons, buttons, or embellishments.

Variations of the View of the side corner of the Popsicle Sticks Crate decorated with cute ribbons

Step 5: Add Floral Foam

Cut your floral foam block to fit snugly inside the crate. This will be the base for your floral arrangement. You want it to be a tight fit so everything stays in place.

Since I was using natural flowers I protected the floral foam with plastic wrap so the water wouldn’t damage the popsicle sticks.

Step 6: Arrange Your Flowers

Now for the final touch—adding your fall flowers! I used fresh flowers but you can use a mix of faux fall leaves and flowers to fill the crate.

Simply stick the stems into the floral foam and adjust them until you’re happy with the arrangement.

The final touch was adding some cute butterflies. This is totally optional.

I used some cute butterfly buttons and glued them to a piece of skewer sticks and plugged it among the flowers to make it look like they are sitting on the flowers.

That’s it!

The DIY Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks Crate finished

Your mini popsicle stick crate floral centerpiece is ready to shine. Place it on your dining table, entryway, or even as a cute Thanksgiving gift for a loved one.

Slight overhead view of the DIY Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks Crate decorated with cute ribbons

Crafting Tips

For a neater look, use a craft knife and ruler to trim the ends of the popsicle sticks. It gives you more control than scissors, and the cuts will be much cleaner. Learned the hard way!
If you’re not into faux florals or fresh flowers, try using dried flowers for a more rustic, boho feel.
If you’re making more than one of these centerpieces, working in an assembly line can make things faster and more efficient—glue all the pieces at once, then decorate!
Spray a little cinnamon or pumpkin spice room spray on the flowers or ribbon to give the centerpiece a festive fall fragrance.
To make sure your popsicle sticks are perfectly aligned when gluing them, use a ruler or a straight edge to line them up before gluing.

overhead view of the DIY Thanksgiving flower centerpiece with Popsicle Sticks Crate decorated with cute ribbons

Alternatives and Substitutions

If you’re short on time or want a sturdier base, buy pre-made small wooden crates from a craft store and decorate them with paint, ribbons, or fall accents.

For a more rustic look, use twine or raffia instead of grosgrain ribbon. You can wrap it around the crate for a farmhouse vibe.

For a fun twist, fill the crate with mini pumpkins, pinecones, sunflowers, gourds, hydrangeas, eucalyptus, chrysanthemums, greenery, or acorns and natural elements instead of flowers.
Add small name tags to the crate, turning it into a personalized place card holder for your Thanksgiving guests.

For a pop of color, paint the popsicle sticks in different shades of fall (think warm oranges, reds, and yellows) instead of staining them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use real faux for this centerpiece?

Absolutely! You can use faux flowers if you’d like.

What type of glue should I use for assembling the crate?

A hot glue gun works best for this project since it provides a strong, quick-drying bond. If you’re working with younger children or prefer not to use hot glue, tacky craft glue is a good alternative, but keep in mind it will take longer to dry.

How sturdy is the crate?

The popsicle stick crate is sturdy enough for a light floral arrangement, but it’s still made from craft materials, so handle it with care. If you need extra durability, consider reinforcing the joints with more glue or even using small wooden dowels for extra strength.

Can I customize the size of the crate?

Yes! The great thing about this project is that it’s fully customizable. You can adjust the number of popsicle sticks used for the sides to make the crate larger or smaller, depending on your needs and the size of your Thanksgiving tablescape. Just make sure the sides are proportional so it stays balanced.

How long does it take to make?

This project can be completed in about 1-2hours, depending on drying times and how detailed you get with decorating. If you pre-stain or paint the popsicle sticks ahead of time, the assembly itself will go even faster, around 30-40 minutes.