Easy DIY Candy Spirit Sticks -

Easy DIY Candy Spirit Sticks

I recently made these easy DIY ‘candy spirit sticks’ for my daughter’s competitive cheer team and they loved them. Before competitions, the parents take turns providing the team with a goody bag of small snacks and treats. Since I lack in the hair and makeup application department, I have to show my skills with a hot glue gun! Don’t ever think that any one mom can do it all, because I am here to tell you that no mom has all her stuff together! However, these candy spirit sticks will ‘wow’ your kids and are a lot easier than applying glitter eye shadow, liquid eye liner and mascara to a 12 year old with a twitching eye.

With a few supplies from your craft caddy and paint mixing sticks from the hardware store, you can easily make these. I bought these paint sticks for ‘ten for $1’ at Home Depot, which is cheaper than anywhere else that I found them. From my craft supplies, I used a hot glue gun and glue sticks…maybe one glue stick lasts for 2-3 paint sticks. I also used scissors and an assortment of ribbon, tulle, strung beads and stickers that I already had.

If you want to personalize with the names or words of encouragement, it will be easier to do this first. Due to the number that I made for this project, I chose to leave the back of the sticks blank. You can write on the paint sticks with any permanent marker, place letter and numbers stickers on, or use a vinyl decal machine if you have one. There is usually a blank side and one side with a ruler. Personalize the blank side.

You will need a lot of individually wrapped candy. I used about 10 pieces of candy on each stick from hard candy to chocolate. I made 25 candy sticks, so I bought about eight bags of candy. Just check the label on the candy bag to get an idea of how many pieces you are getting. If you use larger candy like Reese’s or Ring Pops you will need less, but I like to fill in with small candies too.

I used an assortment of supplies from my craft stash, but you can purchase ribbon, washi tape, stickers, or small ornaments that match the colors or theme of any sports team, school, birthday party… You can even color coordinate the candy!

To begin, lay the blank side of the paint stick on your work service. I glued on the side with the ruler so it becomes hidden. You can play around with a layout for the ribbons and candy, but here is the basic one that I chose to do. Hot glue everything in place!

On the left, you can see that I begin by gluing tulle and ribbon about the 2 and 6 inch mark. I added some beads where the handle begins to curve. It’s not rocket science, it just depends on the size of the candy and what you think looks good!

On the right, I hot glue the larger candy in between the ribbon. I glue some of the smaller candy in the center of the ribbon.

Then I begin to layer the candy. Try to glue where the packaging seams come together or the ends of the candy, if you can, to avoid the hot glue form melting any candy. I don’t think this is a big deal but it will also make it easier for the kids to take the candy off. Sometimes, I glued one end of longer candy like this Laffy Taffy in the middle of the stick and let the ends hang off. Then I hot glue another piece or pieces of candy to the center.

After I have finished hot gluing the candy on, I add some ribbons and small decorations to the candy sticks. I tied the tulle and ribbon in a knot to create an easy place to glue and keep the ribbon securely in place.

I placed ribbon and tulle under the seams of some of the candy packages in the same areas as I did the first layer (2″, 6″ marks) to create a layered look. Tuck ribbon under the ring pop right above the handle of the paint stick as shown on the right.

Now just fill in with your assortment of ribbons and small candies!

I added self adhesive strips of stick on craft rhinestones to the ends of the sticks, but washi tape would also be cute.

If you are from the South, you are familiar with homecoming mums. I had some cheerleader garland leftover from a previous homecoming project, so I used it on a few. Just cut in two inch strips and glue the top of the garland under the candy wrapper.

Again, the fun thing about these is that they are easy to make and can be made to fit any theme or holiday. Here are some that I made using blue and white ribbons! Check out the details to hide the ribbons under the candy wrappers and layer the candy.