Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft: Easy Halloween Activity

Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft for Kids cover

This popsicle stick mummy craft turns wooden craft sticks into a little Halloween character covered in overlapping white paper bandages, with just enough space left for a pair of eyes to peek through.

The wrapping is what makes this mummy different from many other popsicle stick Halloween crafts. Instead of relying mostly on paint and facial pieces, kids layer paper strips across the wooden body in different directions. The strips can cross, overlap, hang slightly over the edges, and look a little messy. In fact, uneven wrapping fits the mummy look better than perfectly straight rows.

You can keep the finished craft simple with a wrapped body and two eyes, or add arms, legs, loose bandage ends, a tiny smile, or a hanging loop.

Table of Contents

Why Kids Will Love This Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft

This project combines simple wooden construction with a hands-on wrapping activity.

Kids can:

Arrange the wooden craft sticks
Build the mummy base
Paint the body white
Cut or tear paper bandages
Layer strips in different directions
Leave an opening for the eyes
Choose a funny eye expression
Add arms or legs
Create loose bandage ends
Personalize the finished mummy

The wrapping doesn’t have to be neat or symmetrical. That takes some pressure off younger crafters and gives every mummy a slightly different appearance.

One child might create diagonal bandages with sleepy eyes, while another makes a heavily wrapped mummy with big surprised eyes peeking through.

Supplies You’ll Need

Basic Supplies

Gather:

Use the number of craft sticks required by the mummy you actually build and photograph. The amount can change depending on craft-stick size and the width of the finished body, so don’t rely on an unsupported fixed quantity.

Optional Supplies

You can also use:

Construction paper is the main wrapping material in this tutorial. Tissue paper, crepe paper, gauze, and yarn are optional alternatives or variations rather than required supplies.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft

Step 1: Arrange the Popsicle Sticks

Lay several wooden craft sticks vertically next to one another.

Keep them fairly close so they create one solid mummy body instead of looking like separate pieces.

Don’t add glue yet. Straighten the sticks and check the overall width before continuing.

Step 2: Add the Back Supports

Place one or two additional craft sticks horizontally across the back of the vertical pieces.

These support sticks hold the mummy body together.

Make sure they cross the main sticks securely without extending awkwardly beyond the sides.

Step 3: Glue the Mummy Base Together

Apply craft glue to the horizontal support pieces.

Press the vertical sticks into place and check the front to make sure they haven’t shifted too far apart.

Leave the base flat until the glue holds securely enough for you to move the structure without pulling it apart.

Step 4: Paint the Craft Sticks White

Paint the visible front of the mummy body with white washable craft paint.

Cover the exposed wood, then let the paint dry completely before wrapping.

If your actual version uses white pre-colored craft sticks, you can skip the painting step. The supplied outline specifically treats this as a no-paint option when it matches the tested finished version.

Step 5: Cut or Tear the Mummy Bandages

Cut white construction paper into long, narrow strips.

The strips don’t need to match. Try different widths and lengths, and don’t worry if the edges are slightly uneven.

You can also let younger kids tear the paper instead of cutting it. Torn edges work naturally with the messy mummy-bandage look.

Step 6: Arrange the First Bandages

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft - part2

Lay several white strips across the painted mummy body.

Try horizontal, diagonal, crossing, and overlapping positions.

Don’t glue right away.

Move the strips around until the wrapping looks good, and remember to leave some open space near the upper part of the body for the eyes.

Step 7: Glue the First Layer of Wrapping

Once the first strips are arranged, glue them onto the wooden base.

Some strips can extend slightly beyond the sides of the mummy.

Press the paper down enough to hold, but don’t worry about making every bandage lie in exactly the same direction.

Step 8: Add More Mummy Bandages

Continue layering white strips over the first pieces.

Cross some of them diagonally. Add others horizontally. Allow pieces to overlap.

The goal isn’t a neat row of white stripes. You want the body to look wrapped, with different paper layers moving in different directions.

Leave the eye area visible.

Step 9: Make the Mummy Eyes

Cut two eye shapes from paper.

You can use white circles with black pupils, layered black-and-white eyes, or googly eyes.

Try different expressions, such as:

Surprised
Silly
Sleepy
Looking sideways

Larger eyes can be easier for preschoolers to position between the bandages.

Step 10: Add the Eyes

Place the eyes in the open area you left between the paper strips.

Move them around before gluing so they sit where you want them.

Glue the eyes securely.

They should look like they’re peeking through the mummy wrapping rather than sitting on top of a fully covered face.

Step 11: Add More Bandages Around the Eyes

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft - part 3

Add one or two additional white strips around the eyes.

These final pieces help frame the face and create the recognizable peeking-through-the-bandages effect.

Be careful not to cover the eyes completely.

Step 12: Make the Mummy Arms

Cut two simple arms from white construction paper or cardstock.

Another option is to use white-painted craft sticks if that’s how your finished version is constructed.

Keep the arms simple so they don’t compete with the wrapping.

Step 13: Attach the Arms

Glue one arm behind each side of the mummy body.

You can position them straight out, raised, pointing downward, or slightly crooked.

Different arm positions are an easy way to make several mummies look different without changing the main craft.

Step 14: Add Mummy Legs

For a full-body mummy, add two white craft sticks or paper strips beneath the body.

This step is optional.

A simpler version can end with the main wrapped body and arms.

Step 15: Add Loose Bandage Ends

Attach a few shorter paper strips so they stick slightly away from the body.

These loose ends can make the mummy look as though some of its wrapping is coming undone.

Use only a few. Too many dangling pieces can hide the main body and make the finished design harder to read.

Step 16: Add the Final Details

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft - part 4

Kids can add a few extra details if they want.

Ideas include:

Tiny smile
Eyebrows
Rosy cheeks
Bow
Bow tie
Halloween stickers
Crooked bandages
Name tag

Keep the white wrapping and peeking eyes as the dominant features.

Step 17: Add a Hanging Loop

If you want to turn the mummy into a hanging Halloween decoration, attach ribbon or string securely to the back.

This step is optional.

Check the position before securing the loop so the finished mummy hangs reasonably straight.

Step 18: Let It Dry and Display

Allow all paint and glue to dry completely.

Once everything is secure, display the mummy on a shelf, classroom wall, bedroom door, bulletin board, or Halloween party table.

You can also add several mummies to a Halloween garland or hang them individually as ornaments.

Easy Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft Tips

Arrange the wooden base before gluing so you can fix any gaps between the sticks.

Let the glued base dry before painting or wrapping it. A loose wooden structure becomes harder to repair once paper strips are attached.

For younger kids, prepare the base and paper strips in advance.

The strips don’t need to be equal widths or lengths. A mixture actually makes the finished wrapping more interesting.

Let children arrange several bandages before adding glue, especially around the eye area.

Most importantly, don’t require neat wrapping. Crooked and overlapping strips are part of the look.

Fun Popsicle Stick Mummy Variations to Try

A classic white mummy uses a white wooden body, white construction-paper strips, and two eyes peeking through.

For a googly-eye mummy, use oversized moving eyes between the bandages.

A cute mummy can have large eyes, rosy cheeks, and a little smile, while a silly mummy might use mismatched eyes and very crooked wrapping.

A torn-paper mummy skips precise cutting completely. Tear every bandage strip for rougher edges.

You can also try tissue paper or crepe-paper wrapping for a softer appearance. Craft gauze is another optional variation when that material is actually used and tested in the finished version.

Skills Kids Practice With This Craft

Depending on the child’s age and the amount of adult preparation, the project can involve painting, gluing, cutting, tearing paper, layering, arranging, following a sequence, and making independent design choices.

The wrapping stage also lets kids experiment with placement and direction as they decide which strips should cross and where to leave gaps.

When to Make This Mummy Craft

This craft works well for Halloween, preschool Halloween week, kindergarten activities, classroom art centers, homeschool, October craft days, Halloween parties, library craft sessions, storytime, fall festivals, and rainy-day crafting.

Because the construction is relatively simple once the wooden base is prepared, it can also work well for a group activity.

Display Ideas for Popsicle Stick Mummies

Finished mummies can go on shelves, classroom walls, bedroom doors, bulletin boards, garlands, or Halloween party displays.

For a classroom group, create a Mummy Parade.

Have each child make one mummy using a different bandage arrangement and eye expression. Then line the finished crafts along a wall or bulletin board.

Add a simple heading such as Mummy Parade.

Even when everyone starts with a similar wooden body, the different strip directions and eye expressions keep the display from looking identical.

Turn It Into a Mummy Wrapping Activity

The wrapping stage can become the main activity for younger children.

Give each child a pile of white paper strips and let them experiment with overlapping, crossing, layering, changing direction, and leaving gaps.

Remind them to keep enough space open for the eyes.

For younger kids, the sequence can stay very simple:

Pick a strip → place it → glue it → add another strip

That keeps the activity focused on the defining physical action of the craft instead of adding lots of tiny details.

Easy Popsicle Stick Mummy Craft for Preschoolers

For preschoolers, prepare most of the structural work ahead of time.

Provide:

A pre-glued craft-stick mummy base
A white-painted or white craft-stick body
Pre-cut white paper strips
Two large eyes

Then let the child choose one strip at a time, glue it across the body, overlap more pieces, leave a gap for the eyes, attach the eyes, and finish with another strip or two around them.

Skip the arms, legs, bows, and tiny decorations unless the child specifically wants them.

This keeps the wrapping activity central while removing difficult construction and detailed cutting.

Popsicle Stick Mummy Decoration Ideas

Attach ribbon or string to make a hanging mummy ornament.

Make several mummies and connect them for a mummy garland.

A suitable magnet can be securely attached to the back of a dry craft to create a mummy magnet.

For classrooms, add children’s names near the lower edge or on the backs.

You can also place several finished mummies around a simple paper pyramid, tomb, or Halloween background when that fits the theme you’re using.

Paper Strips vs. Tissue Paper vs. Gauze

The wrapping material changes the look and handling of the finished mummy.

Construction paper gives you clearly defined strips and is straightforward to handle and prepare for a classroom activity.

Tissue paper creates thinner, softer-looking layers but is more delicate.

Crepe paper creates more flexible, streamer-like bandages.

Craft gauze gives the mummy a more textured wrapped appearance, but it should be treated as an optional variation unless it’s part of the version actually tested and photographed.

More Halloween Crafts for Kids

Continue the craft-stick Halloween collection with:

Final Thoughts

This popsicle stick mummy craft keeps the construction simple but adds a hands-on wrapping step that makes the finished Halloween character easy to recognize.

Keep it basic with white strips and peeking eyes, or add arms, loose bandages, and a funny expression.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this popsicle stick mummy craft good for?

It works well for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary children. Younger kids may need an adult to assemble the craft-stick base beforehand.

How many popsicle sticks do I need to make a mummy?

Use the number required by the version you actually make. The amount depends on the size of your craft sticks and how wide you want the mummy body.

What kind of glue should I use for popsicle sticks?

Use an age-appropriate craft adhesive suitable for wood and paper. Follow the directions for the adhesive used in your actual project.

Do I need to paint the craft sticks white?

Not necessarily. White pre-colored craft sticks can provide a no-paint option when they match the version you’re making.