The holiday season is the perfect time to gather the kids, spark their creativity, and make delightful Christmas crafts together. Whether you’re looking for classroom activities, weekend projects, or simply some hands-on holiday fun at home, DIY crafts are an excellent way to engage kids while creating cherished family memories—and adorable decorations.
This blog offers a collection of 10 simple, fun, and budget-friendly Christmas DIY crafts for kids. With minimal supplies and a dash of creativity, you’ll have a house full of holiday cheer.
Why DIY Christmas Crafts for Kids are Worth Your Time
Christmas crafts are more than just festive fun—they offer countless benefits for kids and families alike.
- Encourage Creativity: Crafts inspire young minds to think outside the box and create something magical on their own.
- Strengthen Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and painting help little ones hone their hand-eye coordination.
- Quality Family Time: Crafting provides a perfect opportunity for parents and kids to bond over shared activities.
- Memorable Keepsakes: Handmade ornaments and decorations become cherished sentimental items for years to come.
Now, gather your supplies and let’s kick off the crafting fun!
Supplies You’ll Need for Most Crafts
Before you start, make sure you have a few go-to supplies to make crafting seamless. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re ready for any project on this list.
- Colored paper or cardstock
- Glue sticks or liquid glue
- Scissors (safety scissors for young children)
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Pom-poms and pipe cleaners
- Popsicle sticks
- Glitter or sequins
- Cotton balls
- Washable paint
- Googly eyes
Easy to find and inexpensive, these basic materials will cover a wide range of craft possibilities.
1. Paper Plate Santa Claus
For a jolly Santa craft perfect for young hands, all you need is a paper plate and a few easy-to-find supplies.
Instructions:
- Paint one side of a paper plate pink for Santa’s face.
- Use cotton balls to create a beard around the edge.
- Cut a red triangle out of construction paper for his hat and glue it to the top of the plate.
- Add googly eyes and draw a button nose.
This is a fun project for little ones where messiness just adds to the charm.
2. Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees
Turn simple popsicle sticks into miniature Christmas trees!
Instructions:
- Glue three popsicle sticks together in a triangle shape.
- Paint them green and sprinkle some glitter on them before the paint dries.
- Glue on sequins or colorful pom-poms as ornaments.
- Attach a small brown rectangle of paper as the tree trunk.
Hang them on the tree or line them up on a decorative shelf.
3. Handprint Reindeer
Create reindeer art using your child’s handprint—this one is simple and oh-so-cute!
Instructions:
- Paint your child’s hand brown and have them press a print on a sheet of cardstock.
- Turn the thumb into the reindeer’s face by gluing on googly eyes and drawing a red nose.
- Use the fingers as antlers and decorate them with tiny pom-poms or glitter for added flair.
This makes an excellent keepsake for parents and relatives!
4. Cotton Ball Snowman Ornament
Who needs snow when cotton balls can create the perfect snowman craft?
Instructions:
- Cut out three circles of increasing size from white cardstock.
- Glue cotton balls onto the circles to make them fluffy.
- Stack the circles to form a snowman and secure them with glue.
- Add a scarf made out of felt, a tiny popsicle-stick hat, and a carrot-colored nose drawn with a marker.
Attach a string to the back and hang it on the tree!
5. Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Characters
Transform empty toilet paper rolls into festive Christmas characters.
Instructions:
- Wrap the roll in colored construction paper based on your character (red for Santa, green for elves, etc.).
- Add details such as googly eyes, cotton beards, or a felt hat.
- Draw on buttons, belts, and smiles.
This craft is incredibly versatile—create a whole cast of holiday characters!
6. Salt Dough Ornaments
Get your hands messy making salt dough ornaments. Once baked and painted, they become perfect tree decorations or gifts.
Instructions:
- Mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 3/4 cup of water to create dough.
- Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes.
- Poke a hole at the top of each ornament for a string.
- Bake at 200°F for 2-3 hours until hardened.
- Once cool, paint and decorate with glitter.
Simple and fun, these ornaments provide hours of entertainment!
7. Mason Jar Snow Globe
Nothing says winter wonderland like a DIY snow globe.
Instructions:
- Fill a mason jar halfway with water and add glitter.
- Attach a small holiday figurine to the inside of the lid using hot glue.
- Screw the lid on tightly, turn it upside down, and watch it snow!
Kids will adore watching the glitter swirl around their favorite holiday character.
8. Paper Chain Garland
Decorate your home with a classic paper chain garland.
Instructions:
- Cut strips of colored paper (red, green, and white work perfectly).
- Form a loop with one strip and glue the ends together.
- Thread a second strip through the first loop and glue its ends together.
- Repeat until your chain is as long as you’d like!
Use this timeless craft as a countdown chain for Christmas!
9. Pinecone Christmas Trees
Turn pinecones into miniature Christmas tree decorations.
Instructions:
- Collect a few pinecones on your next walk or at a craft store.
- Paint them green and sprinkle glitter for a snowy effect.
- Add tiny “ornaments” such as sequins or beads.
- Use a cardboard circle as the base and glue the pinecone to it.
It’s a festive way to bring nature indoors for the holidays.
10. Jingle Bell Bracelets
Make some festive noise with jingle bell bracelets.
Instructions:
- Use colorful pipe cleaners as the bracelet base.
- Thread small jingle bells onto the pipe cleaner.
- Twist the ends together and adjust for a snug fit.
Kids will love jingling their way through the holiday season.
Spark Holiday Joy this Christmas Season
DIY Christmas crafts for kids are a heartfelt and joyful way to celebrate the holiday season. From crafting adorable snowmen to creating custom ornaments, these simple projects encourage creativity, bonding, and a whole lot of fun.
Need more craft inspiration? Be sure to share your creations and tag us using #MyChristmasCrafts on Instagram—we’d love to see how your works of art come to life!
