Yes Really, A Hexagon Shelf Made From Popsicle Sticks
I absolutely love DIY projects that transform utilitarian everyday objects into unexpected works of art. Not only do these become fantastic conversation pieces in your home, they also allow you to create super budget-friendly art that doesn’t feel too “crafty.”
(Don’t get me wrong, I love crafts. That’s why I made a whole website about them. But I especially adore DIY projects that achieve a high-end look for a fraction of the price, like this Coffee Stirrer Wall Art.)
The Inspiration
And if you’re reading this, I’m assuming you like to make stuff too, because, well, that’s what we do here. So I’m guessing that you can relate to having an idea for a project and how it can get tangled in your brain like a Bruno Mars song, refusing to dislodge until you just make the darn thing.
That’s what happened with this popsicle stick hexagon shelf idea. It came to me one night when I was pacing back and forth in our bedroom in the dark. (Comforting a baby, of course. I don’t do that otherwise. At least not often.)
I was thinking about additional three dimensional art pieces I could DIY for our bedroom gallery wall. I wanted something that would add texture, warmth and angles amoung our framed coloring pages and other DIY art. Unfortunately, most do-it-yourself geometric display shelf tutorials I’ve seen are waaay complicated.
Basic Supplies, Big Impact
So in a moment of frozen-dessert-craft-mashup inspiration, I realized I could make an awesome hexagon shelf with one of the most basic craft supplies out there–popsicle sticks.
Every night that I’ve paced back and forth since (and trust me, there have been many), I perfected my plans for this simple, mid-century-inspired hexagon shelf.
More Home Decor Crafts to Make with Popsicle Sticks
In fact, I’ve thought about it so much that I came up with an expanded hexagon shelf idea that builds on this one. It’s even more mid-century-y and popsicle stick-y.
Learn how to make these rockin’ DIY honeycomb shelves to complement your single hexagon version.
A Hexagon-Making Template
After experimenting a bit, I realized that having a template to guide my shelf angles would be super helpful. So I put one together and added it to the Make & Do Crew Vault.
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Hexagon Shelf Supplies
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• popsicle sticks (about 100)
• tacky glue (most other glue would probably work too)
• hexagon shelf template (Using the template makes getting the angles right a lot easier and elevates your shelf from 3rd grade art project to West-Elm-worthy home decor. Subscribe in the box at the bottom of the post to receive access to it instantly.)
Step-by-Step dInstructions
1. Add a drop of glue to both ends of three popsicle sticks and lay them as shown.
2. Layer three more sticks to complete the hexagon.
3. Continue glueing and layering like this until your hexagon shelf is a deep as you’d like it to be. Mine is about 16 sticks deep.
4. Allow the glue to dry. Do your best to keep your three-year-old from using your in-progress shelf as a wooden Bumbo seat for her dolls.
6. Stain your hex shelf, taking care to get stain in between all of the popsicle sticks.
7. If you’d like, glue a picture hanger to your shelf. I skipped this step because I opted to just put two nails in the wall that the shelf could hang on.
8. Find your cutest homeless home decor knick knack and place it lovingly in its new wall home. Then start planning your next popsicle stick wall art:
Honeycomb Shelves
Modern Bunny Shelf (perfect for Easter or a nursery!)
Geometric Heart DIY Wall Art
Snazzy blog photos can make it look like some people are doing it all (effortlessly!) while others of us (me!) are barely holding it together. So whenever I can, I like to introduce a little reality check in the form of a very un-Pinterest-worthy detail from my perfectly imperfect real life. My hope is that it’s a helpful reminder all of us that NO ONE is nailing it all the time.
Here’s a tip: When you’re trying to take photos of your project and decide you need to transplant a cactus mid-photoshoot, don’t do it in your bathroom sink. Instead, do it in your husband’s bathroom sink, like I did. (Shh…don’t tell him!)
Noah Wickert says
Love this thing! easy to do!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Thanks Noah! I still enjoy seeing ours on the wall every single day. Especially because it looks nothing like popsicle sticks! 🙂
Zane says
Do you have to use the template
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Zane,
You don’t need the template, but it helps quite a bit with getting the angles just right and making your shelf look more tidy.
Happy crafting!
Jess
katherine says
Hi, I am struggling to download the hexagon template, it is asking for a password to access it and I have never created one? Would it be possible for you to email me it?
Many thanks
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
The password is in the welcome email you received from me and is the same for everyone. If you can’t find that email by searching your inbox/junk folder, just re-subscribe and you should get it again. (You won’t get double emails from me all the time though :))
Chelsea says
Has the template always been protected by a password? I printed one off like a month ago and didn’t have to subscribe or use a password. I accidentally threw it away before making my second one..
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Chelsea,
Yes, it’s always been PW protected, but the PW is the same for everyone. If you don’t have the original welcome email, just re-subscribe in any of the boxes and you’ll get the email again. (And don’t worry, you shouldn’t get duplicate emails from me in the future :))
Jaynette says
Hello, I would love to make this for my daughter upcoming big girl room. where do i get the Honeycomb template please? Thank you!!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Jaynette!
If you subscribe in any of the forms on the side or bottom of the site, you’ll immediatly get an email that tells you how to download it. (Check your junk/spam folder if you don’t see it right away.)
Happy crafting!
Jess
jaynette says
Hello Jess, Thank you for reply back. I just went and subscribed, i haven’t got any email but i went to click on the template and its asking for password. Thank you.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Jaynette,
The PW is in the email you should have received. Did you check your junk/spam by any chance? I’ll email you the PW now myself just to make sure you have it.
🙂
Jess
Jaynette says
Thank you so much!!!
Michelle says
What size Popsicle sticks did you use? When I go to buy on Amazon there are different sizes
Sophia says
Such a great idea, I can’t wait to try it!!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay, Sophia! Hope you enjoy it! They’re so easy and fun to make.
Keke says
How do you unsubscribe?? Gave wrong email ???
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Keke,
You will receive an email from me and there will be a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of it. If you can’t access that email account for some reason, you can give me the email address you entered and I can manually remove you as well.
Jess
Ivona says
Hi, I saw this idea on Pinterest and I love it! I think I’m going to make it with paper sticks instead of popsicle sticks and then share it on my blog. Don’t worry, you and your pattern will be properly credited 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!
Ivona
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Awesome! I’d love to see the photos when you finish, Ivona.
Happy crafting!
Jess
Melinda says
Hello. I subscribed twice to get the password for the templates and I haven’t received anything yet.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Melinda,
Have you checked your spam or junk folders? It might have gone there. It’ll be sent from makeanddocrew, so you might want to search for that to see if it turns up. If not, let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot further!
Jess
Keke says
How do you unsubscribe
Keke says
Help please I need to unsubscribe gave wrong email
Gheila Ibarra says
Hi, I’ve Been trying to have access to the hexagonal template … I gave my email but I didn’t received nothing and I checked my junk mail too… It’s getting really frustrated.
Hope you can help me
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Gheila,
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time! It sounds frustrating. Would you like to enter your email address again and I can check on the backend to make sure it goes through? That might help us troubleshoot. Perhaps there was some internet elf that stole it the first time. Let me know when you try again and if it works and I’ll make sure we get you the template either way. (You can email me too at makeanddocrew (at) gmail (dot) com.
Jess
Gheila says
I’ve tríed 2 more time … Thanks anyways …?
victoria lockridge says
i love this idea cant wait to try it
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay, Victoria! I’d love to see it when you’re finished if you’d like to tag me on Instagram (@makeanddocrew). I hope you enjoy shelf building!
Jess
Esther Kim says
Hi! I saw this idea from a youtube channel called “Whats Up Moms” and I thought this idea was soo cool!!!! I tried to get the template(I already subscribed) but the sign in page would just keep popping up. Can you please send the template to me? Thank you!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Esther–I’m so sorry you’re having an issue getting into the Vault. I just emailed you with a few troubleshooting questions and the template you need. 🙂
Michelle says
What size Popsicle stick do you use
Anjelina Gutiérrez says
I really need to try this Project, just and answer, doesn’t be easier to first Paint the sticks and then glue it?? thnks a lot.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Anjelina,
You can definitely stain the sticks first if you want to, but I think that gluing them first and staining them second is a little bit faster and easier. Let me know what you end up doing. I’d love to hear how it works out for you.
Happy crafting!
Jess