DIY Bottle Brush Tree Drink Stirrers
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Add a touch of holiday charm to any drink with these easy DIY Bottle Brush Tree Drink Stirrers! This quick project requires only a handful of supplies and about 30 minutes, making it perfect for a last-minute holiday upgrade to your favorite beverages. Whether you’re creating a festive bar cart, setting up a cozy cocoa station, or need a handmade gift idea these adorable stirrers are sure to impress.
Friends, this project has been years in the making. I’m honestly so happy to be finally sharing these DIY Bottle Brush Tree Drink Stirrers with you!
A little backstory….
I want to say it was 4 or 5 years ago that I found these bottle brush tree drink stirrers in the Dollar Spot at Target. I use them almost every year as a little decoration on my bar cart or when I’m styling a Christmas drink. No matter when I post a picture of them, I get dozens of requests for where I found them. As you probably know, when something is purchased from Target’s Dollar Spot, odds are you will never see it again. Such was the case with these adorable drink stirrers. They’ve never been sold again.
Every year I tell myself that I’m going to create a DIY version of these stirrers and then Christmas slips by and so does the project. Well, this year I made it a point to make this project happen and I finally did! In fact, I even bought the supplies back in October so I was certain to get started and complete it.
Either way, I’m thrilled to share this insanely easy (and insanely adorable) project with you.
You only need four supplies and under 30 minutes to whip up the cutest holiday drink accessory in all of the land. When corralled in a small pitcher or glass, they even double as festive decor for your bar cart, holiday drink station, or hot cocoa bar. And, I love these as a handmade gift idea too! Pair them with a bottle of liquor, some homemade hot cocoa mix and marshmallows, or even a gift card to a local coffee shop.
Speaking of … if you need some holiday cocktail ideas, I have a blog post dedicated to my favorite recipes. I also have the most delicious hot cocoa mix recipe. It’s a must for your hot cocoa stations. Which I recommend serving in these adorable santa mugs.
As you will see in this post, I use these bottle brush drink stirrers for cocktails, hot cocoa, and everything in between. You can even toss one in Santa’s milk on Christmas Eve. He’ll be so impressed that you may even get an extra present or two under the tree!
So, without delay, let me show you how to make these.
Why You’ll Love This Project
- These drink stirrers add a unique, playful touch to any holiday drink. With just a pop of color and charm, they turn an ordinary beverage into something truly festive and memorable. Perfect for adding that extra bit of holiday cheer!
- You can create these in no time at all, even if you’re short on crafting experience. With only four supplies and less than 30 minutes, you’ll have an impressive set of drink stirrers that look like they took much longer to make.
- They’re versatile enough to double as decor when they’re not in a drink. Display them in a small pitcher or glass on your holiday bar cart, and they instantly elevate your drink station or hot cocoa bar with minimal effort.
- This project is budget-friendly but has a big impact. A few inexpensive materials are all you need, making it easy to create in bulk for holiday gatherings or as thoughtful little gifts for friends and family.
Materials
For this project you will need: (each item is linked below)
- small bottle brush trees (1-inch tall) – These tiny, festive trees are the stars of the stirrers, adding a charming holiday touch to any drink. The 1-inch size is perfect for balancing on the stirrer sticks without being too bulky.
- wood lollipop sticks – These sturdy sticks serve as the base for the stirrers, giving a clean, natural look that complements the rustic feel of the bottle brush trees.
- 80 grit sandpaper – A quick rub with this coarse sandpaper helps flatten the end of each lollipop stick, creating a smooth surface for a stronger glue bond.
- gel super glue for wood – This type of glue is ideal for bonding the trees to the sticks, providing a strong hold that dries quickly and works well on wood surfaces.
Where to Find 1-inch Bottle Brush Trees
As with any craft, you’re going to need some supplies. Other than the sandpaper (which I had on hand), I found everything on Amazon. (I’ve linked everything in the supply list below.) However, I’m sure you could find these things at your local craft store too.
Before I share my list, I did want to mention that for the best look, you really need a particular size bottle brush tree. (They need to be 1-inch tall.) Many are too big. I actually purchased four different ones to find the best size. You can find the ones I used HERE.
Now, these sell out every year and the 1″ size are really hare to find. Here are some alternatives:
- THESE seem to be the best option. It looks like one has a gold base and one has a natural base. Be sure you’re ordering the 1″ size.
- I found THESE. However they are 1.4-inches tall verse the 1-inch tall that I used.
- THESE are also 1.5-inch tall and could work.
- You may also want to check in-store at Michael’s or Joanns.
With that being said, let’s craft!
How to Make
I’m going to walk you through the basic assembly steps for these festive drink stirrers below. I’ve also provided a materials list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
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- You want to start by creating a flat surface on the ball of the lollipop stick. To do this, set a piece of 80 grit sandpaper on your table. Hold the ball end of the lollipop stick. Now keeping the stick straight up and down, rub the ball end against the sandpaper to create a flat surface.
- You don’t need to sand for very long: maybe 5-10 seconds. You can see in the image above that I only sanded away a bit to create that flat surface.
- Next, after removing any excess dust, add a small drop of super glue to the sanded edge of the lollipop stick. Then, top with the wood base of your tree.
- Hold it in place for about 20-30 seconds while keeping the tree and stick aligned as straight as possible.
Voila! That’s it.
Yep. It’s honestly THAT simple. I had over 2 dozen of these made in under 30 minutes.
They make any holiday drink exponentially more Christmassy!
And, as you can see, the little collection of bottle brush tree drink stirrer looks so cute displayed on a counter. This way you have them ready for whenever a drink requires an extra special festive touch. They are just the cutest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my bottle brush trees are slightly bigger than 1 inch? Will they still work?
Absolutely! While the 1-inch trees offer a cute, compact look, slightly larger trees can add a bit more drama to each drink stirrer. Just make sure they’re not too top-heavy so they stay balanced on the sticks. If you’re using larger trees, check that the glue bond is secure to prevent any wobbling.
Do I need to sand the lollipop stick ends if they already look flat?
Yes, a quick sand helps ensure a smooth, even surface for gluing. Even if the ends look flat, sanding gives the glue a better surface to grip onto, making the bond stronger. This small step helps prevent the trees from popping off later on.
How should I clean these drink stirrers after using them?
Since these are handmade, it’s best to avoid soaking them. Simply wipe the lollipop stick with a damp cloth and avoid getting the tree wet. This will help maintain their shape and keep them looking great for future use.
More Holiday DIY Projects You’ll Love
- Vintage-Inspired Christmas Gift Bags
- DIY Christmas Cookie Bags
- Rainbow Ornament Wreath
- Cookie Cutter Wreath
- Colorful Wood Christmas Trees
- Wood Bead Garland
- DIY Wood Stockings
I hope you’ll give this unique project a try. Your friends and family will be delighted at your creativity when you slide one of these cuties into their drink this holiday season. If you try it, please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.
Happy Crafting!
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Hold it in place for about 20-30 seconds while keeping the tree and stick aligned as straight as possible.
- Repeat the process to create as many stirrers as you'd like.
I want to make these. My only concern is the stick is wooden. I’m worried they won’t fair very well sitting in drinks all the time being wood. Does anyone have experience using these and how they hold up over time? Thanks!
I don’t think these will last ‘forever’ but they should hold up for multiple uses. If that is a concern, you can use a plastic drink stirrer instead of wood.
xo Michael
LOVE this idea. Your link to the bottle brush trees doesn’t work. Do you think it’s the link? Or maybe they’re sold out? I can’t find them anywhere else, everyone must’ve seen your idea and bought them! 🙂
They are probably sold out. They do every year. But there are several extra links to others that will work too. I hope that helps!
xo Michael
In about 15 minutes I made some!!! I had some green stirrers, cleaned the top with alcohol, and glued some mini trees I found at Dollar Tree and they turned out beautiful!!! Thanks so much for this idea!!!
I saw the trees at Dollar tree, now $1.25 Tree. About 5 per package. Look there if sold out at Amazon.
I made these last year and they came out just like Michael’s. They are so festive!
These are precious! It’s little touches like these that make an event…even just a drink by the fire…so special!
Thanks Michael….I also ordered the materials 😉
AND just finished making the Christmas bags for my gift cards!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Can’t wait to make these! So cute! I just ordered all the materials!
Thank you fir your inspiration!
Ruth
I just went to Amazon to order the trees and they are unavailable 😩. Do you have another source?
I’ve updated the post with a few other options. Hope that helps!
xo Michael
Not to be a bearer of bad news, but I notice the little bottle brush trees were sold by Darice. I recently read on another blog that Darice has gone out of business. They were purchased by MIchael’s and apparently MIchael’s decided to close he Darice division.
That’s a shame to hear. I love Darice. I use their stuff all of the time when crafting.
xo Michael
I just used your links to order the trees and sticks – can’t wait to both make and use these – so fun! And, now, I’m thinking of all sorts of ideas for the tops to coordinate with other holidays and party themes.