Introduction to Christmas Art Crafts
The holiday season is my favorite time to get creative with the kids. There’s something magical about sitting around the table with construction paper, glue sticks, and a vision of festive creations. Christmas art crafts aren’t just fun activities to pass the time—they’re opportunities to build memories, develop fine motor skills, and spark imagination during the most wonderful time of the year.
I’ve learned through many glitter-covered disasters and proud refrigerator displays that these creative moments matter. When my daughter made her first handprint reindeer at age three, her face lit up brighter than our Christmas tree. That’s when I realized these simple crafts were creating traditions we’d cherish for years.
Let’s explore 12 kid-friendly Christmas art crafts that are simple enough for little hands but engaging enough to keep their holiday excitement focused on something productive (and adorable).
1. Paper Plate Santa
This jolly craft transforms an ordinary paper plate into a bearded wonder that children love to create. I remember trying this with my son when he was four—he used so much cotton for Santa’s beard that our creation couldn’t hang properly on the wall!
- Materials needed: Paper plate, red and white paint, cotton balls, glue, googly eyes, pink construction paper, scissors, black marker
- Steps: Paint the top third of the plate red (Santa’s hat), leave the middle white (face), glue cotton balls around the bottom edge (beard), add googly eyes, a pink paper nose, and draw a smile
- Difficulty level: Easy, perfect for ages 3-8
Pro Tip: Add a small jingle bell to the tip of Santa’s hat for an extra festive touch that kids love to shake!
2. Pine Cone Christmas Trees
Nature provides the perfect base for these miniature trees. Last winter, my kids and I collected pine cones during our neighborhood walk, not realizing we’d gathered enough to make a small forest of decorations!
- Materials: Pine cones, green paint, small pom-poms or beads, glue, star stickers or yellow paper, small terra cotta pots (optional)
- Steps: Paint pine cones green, let dry completely, add colorful pom-poms as ornaments, top with a star, optionally place in small pots
- Decoration ideas: Sprinkle with glitter while paint is wet, add ribbon bows, or create a mini garland with thread
Pro Tip: Place pine cones in the oven at 200°F for 30 minutes before crafting to ensure they’re fully open and free of critters.
3. Handprint Reindeer
Handprint crafts create keepsakes that capture a moment in time. I still have my daughter’s tiny handprint reindeer from five years ago, and it’s amazing to see how much she’s grown since then.
Start with brown construction paper or paint your child’s hand brown before pressing it onto white paper. The fingers become the reindeer’s antlers, while the palm forms the face. Once dry, add googly eyes, a red pom-pom or thumbprint for the nose, and black marker details.
This craft works for all ages—even my one-year-old nephew participated last year (with considerable help and cleanup afterward).
Pro Tip: Write the year on the back of each handprint craft to create a growth timeline you can treasure for years to come.
4. Cotton Ball Snowman
This fluffy friend is always a hit with the younger crowd. The tactile experience of handling cotton balls is particularly engaging for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Materials: Blue construction paper, cotton balls, glue, black buttons or paper circles, orange paper triangle, fabric scraps for scarf
- Steps: Draw three circles as a guide, help children glue cotton balls to fill the circles, add button eyes and mouth, paper carrot nose, and fabric scarf
- Variations: Use colored cotton balls for a rainbow snowman, add glitter for a sparkly effect
I once made the mistake of leaving the glue bottle unsupervised during this activity. My four-year-old decided more glue meant better snowmen, resulting in a soggy, never-drying creation that we eventually had to discard. Learn from my error—portion out the glue in small containers!
5. Christmas Card Collage
This craft teaches sustainability while creating something beautiful. After receiving dozens of cards each year, I started saving the prettiest ones for this purpose.
Have children cut out favorite images from old Christmas cards—Santas, snowmen, trees, or festive scenes. Provide a large piece of cardstock as the base and let them arrange and glue their selections to create a personalized holiday collage.
Older kids can create themed collages (all snowmen or all trees), while younger ones typically enjoy the freedom of random arrangement. Either way, the result is a colorful celebration of Christmas imagery that’s completely unique.
Pro Tip: Add a frame made from popsicle sticks painted red or green to complete the artwork.
6. Popsicle Stick Stars
These elegant ornaments are surprisingly simple to make and look beautiful hanging in windows or on the tree.
- Materials: 5-6 popsicle sticks per star, paint or glitter, glue, string for hanging
- Steps: Arrange sticks in a star pattern, secure intersections with glue, decorate with paint/glitter when dry, attach string
- Design ideas: Create multicolored stars, add sequins, or wrap with thin metallic thread
My first attempt at this craft was a disaster of misaligned sticks and excessive glue. I’ve since learned that laying out the pattern before gluing and using clothespins to hold pieces together while drying makes all the difference.
7. Felt Christmas Ornaments
Felt is forgiving, doesn’t fray, and comes in vibrant colors—perfect for kid-friendly crafting. These ornaments have become annual gifts from my children to their grandparents.
Cut simple shapes like stars, trees, or gingerbread men from felt. For younger children, prepare the shapes in advance. Let kids decorate with buttons, sequins, or fabric paint. For older children, create pocket ornaments by cutting two identical shapes and sewing or gluing the edges, leaving a small opening to stuff with cotton.
Add a ribbon loop for hanging, and you have a homemade ornament that will last for years.
Pro Tip: Create a family tradition by making one new felt ornament each year, dating it, and building a collection that tells your family’s story.
8. Glitter Pinecone Decorations
Warning: this craft involves glitter, which I affectionately call “the herpes of craft supplies” because it never truly goes away! Despite the mess, the results are worth it.
- Materials: Pine cones, white glue or spray adhesive, various colors of glitter, newspaper, ribbon
- Steps: Cover work area with newspaper, brush pine cones with glue or spray with adhesive, sprinkle generously with glitter, shake off excess, let dry completely
- Display ideas: Hang with ribbons, arrange in a bowl, or place on mantel
I once attempted this craft without proper containment measures. Three years later, I still occasionally find gold glitter in unexpected places around my living room.
9. DIY Christmas Wreath
Creating a wreath together builds teamwork and results in a prominent decoration the whole family can be proud of.
Start with a cardboard ring (cut the center from a paper plate for smaller wreaths). Let children cover it with crumpled green tissue paper, securing with glue. Add red pom-poms for berries, mini pinecones, or small ornaments. Finish with a ribbon bow.
My daughter insisted on adding a family photo to the center of our wreath last year—an unexpected but heartwarming personalization that has now become our tradition.
Pro Tip: Preserve your child’s handmade wreath by spraying it with clear acrylic sealer after it’s completely dry.
10. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments
This craft improves fine motor skills while creating festive decorations.
- Materials: Pipe cleaners, red and white pony beads, ribbon
- Steps: Bend one end of a pipe cleaner to prevent beads from falling off, have children alternate threading red and white beads, bend into candy cane shape when full
- Variations: Use green and red for a different look, or create patterns instead of alternating colors
I’ve found this to be the perfect activity for those antsy moments waiting for cookies to bake or during holiday movie watching. It keeps little hands busy and results in ornaments they’re genuinely proud of.
11. Christmas Tree Garland
Creating garland is a wonderful group activity that can involve children of different ages, each contributing according to their abilities.
Cut triangles from green construction paper for trees (or use any holiday shape). Have children decorate with markers, stickers, or glitter. Once dry, punch holes in the tops and thread with yarn or string, spacing the shapes evenly.
Last Christmas, my kids and their cousins made a garland long enough to wrap around our entire living room. The collaborative nature of this project made it special—each child could point to “their” contributions on the finished garland.
Pro Tip: Take a photo of the children holding their completed garland each year to document their growing creativity.
12. Paper Snowflakes
This classic Christmas art craft never loses its appeal. There’s something magical about unfolding a piece of paper to reveal a unique snowflake design.
- Materials: White paper (coffee filters work beautifully), scissors, string (optional)
- Steps: Fold paper into quarters or sixths, cut various shapes from the edges and folds, carefully unfold to reveal design
- Display ideas: Hang in windows, attach to gifts as tags, create a mobile
I still remember my mother teaching me this craft, and now I’m passing it on to my children. The look of wonder when they unfold their creation never gets old.
Conclusion and Benefits of Art Crafts
These Christmas art crafts offer more than just festive decorations. They provide opportunities for children to develop patience, follow instructions, express creativity, and experience the satisfaction of making something with their own hands.
In our screen-dominated world, hands-on crafting offers a welcome break and creates tangible memories. The slightly lopsided ornaments and imperfect creations often become the most cherished decorations in our home, each telling a story of little hands and big imaginations.
Whether you’re a
