Yeah, it's hard to get a popcicle stick to look like anything other than a popcicle stick. I usually discard the rounded ends but if I'm using one, I'll hack it up a bit to make it look more roughly carved.
It might just be the picture, but if the wood looks a little too "rosy" I'll give it a thin, dark green wash at the end. Makes it look a little but gungy and weathered.
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