Launch into fun with a DIY popsicle stick catapult

It’s time to have “loads” of fun with this easy-to-build popsicle stick catapult, complete with edible ammo and hours of fun. This is the perfect kids’ boredom buster for any lazy afternoon. Make one today!

These catapults only take minutes to make but my boys played with them for hours. Plus, it’s the perfect craft for kids of all ages. My 10-year-old loved them just as much as my four-year-old. So, here’s some simple steps to making your own today.

Gather your popsicle stick catapult supplies

You only need five things to make your catapults and most likely you already have them at home. Here’s what you’ll need:

Make sure you use jumbo popsicle sticks because the regular popsicle sticks don’t bend as easily. I especially like the rainbow-colored popsicle sticks. I have a big box of them on hand for crafting emergencies, ha ha!

Start assembling

First, take seven popsicle sticks and stack them on top of each other. Then place one popsicle stick horizontally under the stack. Then place one final popsicle stick under the entire stack in the same direction as the original seven popsicle sticks (see image below).

For step two, wrap rubber bands tightly about a half inch from both ends of the main stack of popsicle sticks.

Next, using a kitchen knife, carve a small notch on both sides of a popsicle stick about an inch from the tip.

Attach the notched popsicle to the top of the stack so that it aligns with the single horizontal popsicle stick on the bottom. Then wrap a rubber band around both of the sticks so that the rubber band rests inside the notches.

Finally, last but not least, hot glue your paper shot glass to the top popsicle stick (see image below).

Try out your catapult

Now you’re done! Grab a few of your pretzel balls and start shooting. My kids liked having a competition to see how far they could shoot. We also had a lot of fun making slow motion videos of all the shooting action (see below).