Creativity that sticks with busy families.
As parents, we want our kids to have creative, confidence-building experiences, but after a long day, it’s hard to find the energy to plan activities or clean up a creative mess.
GlueStick was built for busy families who want their kids to build real-world skills, feel proud of what they make, and have fun without spending a ton of time or money on prep and planning.
What makes GlueStick different
Child-led, creative fun.
GlueStick puts kids in the driver’s seat. Our step-by-step guides, simple supply lists, and kid-friendly instructions mean children can start, create, and clean up their own projects as independently as possible. Kids build confidence and creativity, while caregivers get a well-deserved break.
Creative freedom, not clutter.
With GlueStick, your kids get endless creative projects without ads, upsells, or pressure to buy more stuff. We help families use what they already have, making creativity accessible and affordable.
Convenient creative platform.
GlueStick is more than just ideas, it’s the only app that supports your family from setup to cleanup. We bring together supply tracking, guided activities, and a safe sharing space so your family can spend less time prepping and more time making memories together.
A community of real creators.
Our projects are written by parents, educators, and passionate makers who care deeply about supporting kids’ creative journeys. We support our contributors with fair compensation for their work.
Designed for kids, not search engines.
Every tutorial is written at a first-grade reading level, so kids can follow along independently and feel proud of what they create. Parents can trust that content is safe, age-appropriate, and written to engage kids, not an algorithm.
It was a cold, rainy day, and preschool was on break. Abby Allen, our founder, had Zoom meetings while her husband took care of their daughter. Abby’s daughter loved making art but didn’t create anything all day. When Abby came out of her office, she saw them both staring at different screens and felt frustrated. She wondered why her husband, who was creative, couldn’t think of projects to do with their five-year-old daughter.
He said he felt overwhelmed. He wasn’t sure where to find good ideas for kids, didn’t know what craft supplies they had, and worried about making a mess before dinner. Abby understood; she also spent a lot of time planning art projects instead of having fun with her daughter.
Making art was important for Abby to connect with her child, and she wanted a better way for her family to be creative together.
After talking to other parents, she learned they felt the same way. They knew making projects together helped kids build important skills and confidence, but many weren’t happy with how it was going at home.
With her experience as a software engineer, Abby decided to create GlueStick. She believed technology could help families choose, set up, and clean up art projects quickly so they could enjoy time together and have fun.
Did we achieve this goal? Let us know what you think. We value your feedback!
GlueStick’s Story
I come from a long line of crafty women. When I was young, my mom owned an independent craft store. She got her creative spark from my grandmother, who was inspired by her mother, an expert seamstress. To me, a house isn’t a home without a closet full of creative supplies. It’s important to me to pass this tradition of creativity to my own daughter. In a world increasingly managed by machines, creativity is what’s going to keep us human. I want my daughter to have the confidence to create her own dreams, and that starts with pulling out the crayons and glue sticks at the kitchen table.
— Abby Allen, GlueStick Founder
Awards and Recognition
GlueStick participated in the inaugural cohort of Elevate Hennepin’s CEO Start program.
GlueStick was a semifinalist in the 2024 Minnesota Cup Education Division.
GlueStick was profiled by Andrew Tellijohn in MinnPost.
Listen to Abby talk about work life integration with Kasey Devine on the how? Podcast.
All people, especially children, are inherently creative and curious. Foster the spark.
The world needs creative solutions. Encourage innovative ideas.
The most important thing we can give each other is our time. Make every moment count.
Technology can make creative opportunities more accessible. Reach everyone.
Learning fast and FIX things. Focus on learning and improvement, when you fail, fail fast, learn, and try again.
Creating things with caregivers strengthens family bonds. Make Memories Together.
Our Values
Ready to get started?
We’ll have your kids creating in minutes. No special supplies required.
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