Source: Allpa via Printables

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Ice Cream Bliss

No Sticky Fingers at the Beach with This Cool Design

by Moira Daly
Published Jul 7, 2025

Want to avoid the hassle of ice cream dripping down your toddler's hands and making everything sticky? Here you go.

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Whether you’ve got kids yourself or you’ve simply been around them, you’ll know that things get sticky (“Poncho!”). Throw into the mix ice cream, chatty children, and high temperatures, and it’s a recipe for gooey hands and arms, dirty clothes, and a trail of melted yumminess.

To avoid such a catastrophe, this Thing of the Week simply had to be the very appropriately titled “Ice cream handle and drip guard for kids“. (In all honesty, the “for kids” could’ve also been dropped, because some adults… but anyway.)

A straightforward design intended to make having an ice cream at the beach, by the pool, or even in your dining room more enjoyable, whether the kiddo wants to avoid getting dirty or the adult wants to avoid having to clean up. Even better? The design of the handle is such that, if a child wants to run off and play and leave the unfinished snack for a minute, the flat base makes it stand on the table (or the freezer) and not fall over or create a mess. Plus, it includes two sizes for different ice cream sticks.

What’s not to like?

3D Printing Tips

Image of: — Looks like it's getting the job done (Source: dwbmb via Printables)

The designer’s shared three size versions of the ice cream handle, so the width of the ice cream can be accounted for. In addition to the three 3MF files, the already-sliced G-code file has also been uploaded, in case you’re good to go and you’re also opting for a Prusa MK3, MK3S, or MK3S+, have a 0.4-mm nozzle, and have the PLA already loaded.

Given the sturdiness required for such a design, the designer’s also shared some specific recommendations that worked well for him: three outlines (we’re guessing these are shells?), 10% infill, six top layers and five bottom layers, and variable layer height.

While PLA seems to have done the trick and some makers have shared dazzling makes with silk and rainbow filaments, in the event you want to go the extra mile, you can check out food-safe options (and read a bit more on the topic).

Last but not least, it’s worth pointing out that the holes that are meant for the sticks go through the whole handle, therefore makers mention dripping from the bottom as a possible consequence. The designer acknowledged this, pointing out that makers can choose to close the design (which at least one has done) – but this comes at the expense of easier cleaning of the handle.

Who’s the Creator?

Maker Allpa has shared 60 free models and just over 10 through Printables’ Club & Store. His designs show a range of uses, with many focused on organizing kids’ playrooms and some dazzling Christmas-themed ideas.

The best part? You can support him by joining his Printables club and choosing one of three subscriptions or signing up for one of his commercial memberships via MakerWorld. You can also purchase the files directly via Cults.