Introduction to Kids Christmas Gift Crafts
There’s something magical about handmade Christmas gifts, especially when they’re crafted by little hands. As a mom of three, I’ve spent countless December afternoons covered in glitter and glue, helping my kids create heartfelt presents for grandparents, teachers, and friends. These kids Christmas gift crafts have become some of our most cherished holiday traditions.
Beyond just creating presents, crafting during the holidays offers children a chance to express their creativity while learning the joy of giving. I’ve found that my kids take immense pride in watching someone unwrap something they made themselves—their faces light up brighter than our Christmas tree!
Let me share ten of our favorite holiday crafts that have been tested (and occasionally disaster-proofed) in our home over the years.
1. Handmade Christmas Cards
We always kick off our holiday crafting season with personalized cards. There’s something so special about receiving a card with a child’s artwork that no store-bought version can match.
- Fold colored cardstock in half for the base
- Provide washable markers, crayons, and colored pencils
- Add embellishments like stickers, glitter, or small foam shapes
- For younger kids, try potato printing with Christmas shapes
- Older children can try more advanced techniques like paper quilling
Last year, my 5-year-old made a card with his handprint turned into a reindeer—complete with googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose. His grandmother still has it displayed on her fridge!
Pro Tip: Create a card-making station with all supplies organized in muffin tins or small containers. This makes cleanup much easier (I learned this after finding glitter in my carpet for months).
2. Festive Candle Holders
These beautiful candle holders transform ordinary glass jars into magical light displays. I started making these with my kids after collecting too many pasta sauce jars to recycle!
- Clean and dry glass jars (jam jars or baby food containers work perfectly)
- Cut tissue paper into small squares or shapes
- Mix equal parts white school glue and water
- Apply the glue mixture to the jar with a paintbrush
- Stick tissue paper pieces onto the jar, overlapping slightly
- Apply another layer of glue mixture over the top
- Once dry, place a battery-operated tea light inside
Pro Tip: For safety reasons, always use battery-operated candles when crafting with kids. We learned this lesson after a close call with a real candle and a curious toddler!
3. DIY Ornaments
Homemade ornaments have become our family’s signature Christmas gift craft. Each year, relatives eagerly anticipate what creative design the kids will come up with next.
- Salt dough ornaments (mix 1 cup salt, 2 cups flour, 1 cup water)
- Clear plastic ornaments filled with colorful beads or tinsel
- Cinnamon applesauce ornaments (they smell amazing!)
- Popsicle stick snowflakes painted white and dusted with glitter
- Photo ornaments with the year marked
I still treasure the lopsided salt dough handprint my son made when he was three. It’s imperfect, but it captures a moment in time I can never get back.
Pro Tip: Make extra ornaments each year and store them with the date written on the back. They become a beautiful timeline of your child’s growth and creativity.
4. Painted Mugs
Personalized mugs make practical gifts that recipients actually use. My mother-in-law still uses her “World’s Best Grandma” mug my daughter painted five years ago!
- Purchase plain white ceramic mugs (dollar stores are great sources)
- Use oil-based paint pens specifically for ceramics
- Let kids draw designs, write messages, or create fingerprint art
- Allow the paint to dry completely (usually 24 hours)
- Bake according to paint pen instructions to set the design
Pro Tip: For younger children, use masking tape to create boundaries or patterns they can fill in. I’ve found this prevents the “oops, I colored the entire mug black” situation!
5. Personalized Picture Frames
These make heartwarming gifts, especially when paired with a special photo. Grandparents particularly treasure these personalized keepsakes.
- Start with inexpensive wooden frames from craft stores
- Paint the frame a base color and let dry
- Decorate with buttons, sequins, small shells, or stickers
- Add personal touches like the child’s name or handprints
- Insert a recent photo or holiday portrait
One year, we collected small shells during our summer vacation and saved them for Christmas frame decorating. The beach-themed frames with family photos made meaningful gifts that connected two special times of year.
Pro Tip: Take a photo of your child making the craft and include it alongside a family photo in a double frame—it tells the complete story of the gift.
6. Homemade Bath Bombs
These fizzy treats make luxurious gifts that older children can create almost independently. They’re perfect for teachers, aunts, or family friends.
- Mix 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup citric acid, 1/2 cup Epsom salt
- Add 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted), 5-10 drops essential oil
- Spritz with witch hazel until the mixture holds together when squeezed
- Press into silicone molds or plastic ornaments
- Let dry overnight before packaging
I’ll never forget when my son decided to “test” one of his creations in our white sink without permission. The bright blue bath bomb created quite the memorable scene—and taught us both about proper testing protocols!
Pro Tip: Add dried flower petals, oatmeal, or dried herbs for natural color and texture. Just avoid food coloring, which can stain bathtubs (another lesson learned the hard way).
7. Knitted Scarves
For older children with some patience, simple knitting projects create gifts with both practicality and heart.
- Start with chunky yarn and large needles (size 13-15)
- Teach the basic knit stitch for beginners
- Aim for a scarf about 5-6 inches wide and 48-60 inches long
- Add fringe to the ends for a finished look
- Wash and block the scarf before gifting
My 11-year-old daughter started with a very uneven scarf for her grandfather. Three years later, she’s knitting complex patterns. That first wonky scarf remains his favorite, though!
Pro Tip: For very young crafters, try finger knitting or using a knitting loom instead of needles. The results come together more quickly, which helps maintain enthusiasm.
8. Cookie Mix in a Jar
This Christmas gift craft combines creativity with practicality—and teaches measuring skills too!
- Layer dry cookie ingredients in a quart-sized mason jar
- Start with flour, then add sugar, chocolate chips, etc.
- Pack each layer firmly before adding the next
- Attach a handwritten or decorated recipe card
- Decorate the jar lid with fabric, ribbon, or a personalized tag
My kids love creating these almost as much as they enjoy delivering them. There’s something so satisfying about seeing the neat layers of ingredients come together.
Pro Tip: Take a photo of your child’s favorite cookie recipe in action, from mixing to baking to eating, and create a mini-photo strip to attach to the jar.
9. Scented Sachets
These sweet-smelling pouches are perfect for dresser drawers or closets and make lovely gifts for anyone who appreciates subtle fragrance.
- Cut small squares of fabric (about 5″x5″)
- Fold in half with right sides together and sew two sides
- Turn right-side out and fill with dried lavender, rose petals, or herbs
- Sew the opening closed or tie with ribbon
- Decorate with buttons, embroidery, or fabric paint
When my son was seven, he insisted on making “manly” sachets filled with pine needles and cinnamon for his dad. They weren’t the prettiest, but they smelled wonderful and became a treasured gift.
Pro Tip: No-sew option: use small squares of tulle or organza fabric gathered with ribbon to create easy sachets for younger crafters.
10. DIY Snow Globes
There’s something magical about a homemade snow globe that captures the wonder of the season perfectly.
- Use a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid
- Attach a small figurine to the inside of the lid using waterproof glue
- Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water
- Add a teaspoon of glycerin (helps snow fall slowly)
- Add glitter or fake snow
- Seal the lid with waterproof glue and let dry completely
Our first attempt at snow globes resulted in a kitchen floor covered in glittery water when the seal failed. Now we always test them outside first!
Pro Tip: Use plastic jars for younger children’s projects, and waterproof all seams with hot glue before filling with water.
Conclusion: The Joy of Handmade Gifts
The true magic of these kids Christmas gift crafts isn’t in the finished products—it’s in the process. The concentrated look on a child’s face as they carefully paint a mug for Grandma, the giggles when glitter inevitably ends up everywhere, and the pride when they wrap their creation—these are the real gifts of holiday crafting.
Yes, there will be messes. Yes, some projects won’t turn out as planned. But these imperfect treasures often become the most cherished. The wobbly snowman ornament or the slightly lopsided picture frame tells a story that no store-bought gift ever could.
So gather your supplies, clear the kitchen table, and embrace the creative chaos. Years from now, when your children are grown, these handmade treasures will be the physical reminders
