We love using Dollar Tree materials to make imaginative crafts! Which is why we love this easy Uncle Sam craft made with a wooden spatula!
A little paint, some craft foam and a few embellishments turn a spatula into a cute Uncle Sam puppet or fun patriotic decor.
For kids, this is a great Uncle Sam puppet that can be used for imaginative play and homeschool learning activities designed around the Fourth of July, America’s Independence, Patriotism and U.S. History.
Our Bald Eagle Wooden Spoon Craft make a great puppet, too!
For adults, this Uncle Sam craft is cute displayed on a shelf or tucked into a potted plant. These are great patriotic decorations for a Fourth of July party or picnic.
We used the same dollar store materials for this craft as we did for many of our other July 4th crafts. So you can easily make several different projects with the same supplies. Here are some of our other projects utilizing the same materials:
- DIY Star Wands
- Uncle Sam Handprint Craft
- Popsicle Stick Rocket Craft
- DIY Firecrackers with Popsicle Sticks
- Folk Art Star Sign
- Patriotic Clothespin Stars
DIY Uncle Sam Craft Using a Wooden Spatula
The Dollar Tree calls this a bamboo turner, but it looks like a wooden spatula, so that is what we will call it!
Materials
- Free Wooden Spatula Uncle Sam Pattern
- Wooden Spatula / Bamboo Turner
- 2 Popsicle Sticks (or Craft Sticks)
- Acrylic Craft Paint (Red, White, Blue, and Pink)
- 2 Wiggle Eyes
- 3 Red Buttons
- Silver Glitter Craft Foam or Cardstock
- White Craft Foam
- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks or Craft Glue
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Clear Rhinestone (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Place the regular craft stick two inches down from the top of the wooden spatula. Draw a line underneath the stick with a pencil.
Remove the popsicle stick paint it with the blue acrylic craft paint.
Paint the top of the bamboo turner white from the pencil line up to the top.
Let dry completely. Add a second layer of white paint, if needed.
Using a small flat paintbrush, add vertical stripes with red acrylic craft paint.
Step 2
Glue the blue craft stick over the painted edge of the wooden spatula to form the hat brim.
Trim ½” from each end of the craft stick with scissors to make a straight edge on either side.
Step 3
Paint the handle of the wooden spatula with blue acrylic craft paint.
Let dry completely. Apply a second coat, if needed.
Step 4
Glue two wiggle eyes to Uncle Sam’s face just underneath the hat brim.
Add cheeks by dipping a new pencil eraser in pink acrylic craft paint and dotting on the right and left side under the wiggle eyes. Or use a small paint brush to make small pink dots.
Step 5
Download, print and cut the wooden spatula Uncle Sam pattern.
Trace the beard and mustache onto white craft foam and then cut out.
Glue the beard to the bamboo turner, just underneath the pink cheeks. Then glue the mustache on top.
Cut off the tip of an unpainted popsicle stick with scissors. Glue the small rounded section underneath Uncle Sam’s eyes and over the mustache to form Uncle Sam’s nose.
Step 6
Glue three red buttons to the handle of the wooden spatula.
Step 7
Trace the star pattern onto the back of the silver glitter cardstock. Cut out the star from the foam.
Glue the star to the hat above the hat brim.
For an extra sparkly touch, attach a clear rhinestone to the center of the star.
Be sure to Pin This project to save for later!
Want more cute Fourth of July crafts? Be sure to see these ideas, too:
