How to Make Toothpick Sculptures Using Only a Glue Gun

These days, DIY art projects can require a so much material that if you’re on a budget, it can be quite difficult to collect all the necessary craft supplies. Not having everything can really take away the fun from the process of arts & crafts.

That’s why we’re going to introduce a simple project that requires just 2 craft supplies, but is just as engaging and fun as one that’s full-scale! Making a complex toothpick structure is as easy as can be. Toothpicks are wonderful material to work with because they’re lightweight, inexpensive, disposable, and you’ll manage to find them in abundance in your home. If you don’t have any on-hand, you can get them from a nearby pharmacy.

The other tool you’re going to need is a glue gun. It’s a hand-held “gun” that uses electricity to melt thermoplastic polymer tubular sticks to produce a liquid adhesive. This glue can be used as a better alternative to regular glue, because it has a shorter setting time and allows stronger bonding. You can purchase a cost-effective glue gun from our arts & crafts department at Art Cove. We supply the highest quality craft supplies at budget-friendly prices online and deliver all across the US.

Now let’s get started with toothpick sculpture making!

What You’ll Need

1. A glue gun

2. A pack of toothpicks

3. A small piece of sponge foam (optional)

Safety Considerations

Since heat is involved during the use of a glue gun, make sure to follow all these safety rules!

1. Wear leather or heat-resistant gloves to protect your hands.

2. Make sure no flammable items are nearby while you work with the glue gun.

3. Lay out newspapers at the station before starting the project so you can dispose of them later and not create a mess.

4. There’s a metal safety stand present near the nozzle of every glue gun. When not in use, use the stand to place the glue gun upright.

The Process

If you’re a beginner, it’s easier to start with abstract toothpick figures rather than trying to create sculptures of actual objects. Here’s what the process for making abstract toothpick sculptures using a glue gun looks like:

1. Load a glue stick through the grip ring at the end of the glue gun.

2. Plug the gun in a nearby power outlet, then set the gun aside using the safety metal stand and allow the stick to be heated up adequately.

3. As you wait for the glue to melt, in the meanwhile, take a sponge foam piece and stick a few starter toothpicks into it. This serves as the foundation of your sculpture that helps it stay upright. Alternatively, you can create a stable base using the toothpicks themselves. For example, you can create a thick column of toothpicks by bunching several one by one as you stick them together vertically using the glue gun. Next, create a flat horizontal base in a similar fashion to stick the column on.

4. Press the trigger on the glue gun to allow the flow of glue, and aim and stick toothpicks creatively from the ground up. Since you’re creating an abstract figure, there are no rules. Freely come up with random patterns and shapes with respect to the center of balance of your sculpture.

We keep a variety of hundreds of different arts & crafts supplies exactly because we want you to be inspired! Browse supplies by department and place your order now.