27 Kids’ Christmas Crafts for Holiday Fun

Christmas is a magical time for kids. The twinkling lights, the warm cocoa, and the scent of cookies baking can turn even the coldest December day into a festive adventure. But what truly sparks joy is letting kids create, imagine, and decorate for the season. Kids’ Christmas crafts are more than just fun—they teach creativity, patience, and the joy of giving handmade gifts. In this guide, we explore 27 craft ideas that are easy, inexpensive, and perfect for family bonding. Each craft is designed to be safe, colorful, and festive, making the holiday season a little brighter.

1. Popsicle Stick Reindeer

Kids love reindeer, and making one out of popsicle sticks is simple and fun. Start by arranging three sticks in a triangle for the body. Add a googly-eyed face and twisty pipe cleaner antlers. This craft improves hand-eye coordination and allows kids to personalize their reindeer. You can even add small jingle bells for extra holiday cheer. It’s a project that’s quick, messy, and utterly adorable.

2. Salt Dough Ornaments

Nothing says homemade like salt dough ornaments. Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and ½ cup water to create the dough. Kids can roll, cut, and shape stars, trees, or candy canes. After baking, they can paint and decorate with glitter. These ornaments make lasting keepsakes and can double as gifts for grandparents or friends. The tactile experience is also a sensory delight for young crafters.

3. Paper Plate Santa

Turn a simple paper plate into Santa’s jolly face. Use red paint for the hat, cotton balls for the beard, and googly eyes for extra charm. This craft is perfect for toddlers who love painting with their fingers. Kids will enjoy seeing a familiar Christmas character come to life while practicing basic cutting, gluing, and painting skills.

4. Candy Cane Reindeer

Candy canes aren’t just for eating—they make delightful reindeer crafts! Add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antlers, and you’ve got an instant decoration. Kids can hang these on the tree or use them as sweet party favors. The combination of edible candy and craft activity makes it an engaging project that blends fun and festivity.

5. Handprint Christmas Tree

This craft is as personal as it gets. Trace children’s handprints in green paint and layer them to form a tree. Add stickers or stars for extra sparkle. It’s a simple activity that captures a moment in time—handprint crafts are sentimental and perfect for memory keepsakes. Plus, kids love seeing their unique contribution on display.

6. Pinecone Christmas Tree

Pinecones are nature’s little Christmas trees. Paint them green, sprinkle with glitter, and add small beads or sequins for ornaments. This project is perfect for combining outdoor exploration with indoor crafting. It’s a sensory delight—kids feel the texture of the pinecone, smell the natural scent, and see the transformation into a festive decoration.

7. Sock Snowman

Turn an old sock into a jolly snowman! Fill with rice, tie off sections for the head and body, and decorate with buttons and markers. This craft teaches basic sewing and tying skills while giving kids a sense of pride in creating a soft, cuddly figure they can display or gift.

8. Paper Snowflakes

Classic and timeless, paper snowflakes allow kids to practice folding and cutting skills. Each snowflake is unique, which makes them perfect for decorating windows or walls. Adding a sprinkle of glitter elevates the craft into something truly magical. It’s simple, affordable, and endlessly creative.

9. Christmas Card Making

Personalized Christmas cards are a heartfelt way to share the holiday spirit. Kids can draw, paint, or add stickers to create festive designs. This craft nurtures artistic expression and writing skills. Sending the cards also teaches kids about the joy of giving and connecting with loved ones.

10. Cinnamon Stick Ornaments

Cinnamon sticks smell like Christmas! Glue sticks into star or tree shapes and decorate with ribbons and beads. These DIY ornaments double as fragrant additions to your tree and make perfect homemade gifts. Kids love assembling them and watching their creations add both visual and aromatic charm to the home.

11. Popsicle Stick Sleigh

Craft a tiny sleigh using popsicle sticks. Paint it red, glue it together, and fill with small candy or toys. This craft encourages creativity and fine motor skill development. Kids can even “deliver” the sleigh as a gift, making the activity feel playful and meaningful.

12. Felt Christmas Stockings

Felt is soft, colorful, and easy to manipulate. Kids can glue or stitch pieces together to create mini Christmas stockings. Decorating with cotton, sequins, or buttons allows for endless personalization. This craft makes for a charming display on the mantle and gives kids a sense of accomplishment.

13. Painted Pine Cones

A variation on pinecone trees, painted pinecones are vibrant and easy. Kids can experiment with colors and textures, adding glitter or sequins for flair. These can become table decorations, hanging ornaments, or even small gifts.

14. Christmas Lanterns

Transform mason jars into glowing lanterns. Cover jars with tissue paper, add glue, and insert LED lights. Kids will marvel at the magical effect. This craft combines art with basic science, teaching about light diffusion and color mixing while creating a warm, festive atmosphere.

15. Reindeer Paper Bag Puppets

Paper bags make excellent bases for puppets. Add googly eyes, antlers, and drawn faces to create playful reindeer. Kids can put on mini puppet shows, turning crafting into storytelling and imaginative play. This dual-purpose activity is both artistic and theatrical.

16. Beaded Snowflakes

Using beads and wire, kids can create delicate snowflake ornaments. This project requires patience but results in stunning decorations. It’s a great way to practice fine motor skills and pattern recognition while producing something elegant for the tree.

17. Paper Cup Santa

Paper cups can magically turn into Santa figures with the right paint, paper, and markers. Kids can assemble a full set of mini Santas to decorate shelves or desks. This activity is simple, safe, and perfect for group crafting.

18. Popsicle Stick Snowman

Another popsicle stick variation, this time a snowman! Stack sticks, paint, and decorate with buttons, scarves, and tiny hats. This is an excellent project for coordination and layering skills. Kids enjoy seeing flat sticks transform into a three-dimensional figure.

19. Christmas Tree Garland

Craft garlands using felt shapes strung together. Kids can create stars, trees, or candy shapes. This encourages pattern-making and sequencing while producing festive home décor. Garlands are a great way to involve multiple kids in a collaborative project.

20. Button Ornaments

Button ornaments turn simple household items into festive treasures. Glue colorful buttons onto cardboard shapes and hang with string. This inexpensive craft encourages creativity, color matching, and imaginative design.

21. Yarn Wrapped Reindeer

Wrap yarn around cardboard shapes to create textured reindeer. Add googly eyes and small bells for extra fun. This craft is satisfying for kids who enjoy tactile activities and watching simple materials transform into something whimsical.

22. Paper Bag Gift Bags

Turn paper bags into festive gift carriers. Decorate with markers, stickers, and ribbons. Kids can wrap small gifts or treats for friends and family, making them feel part of the holiday giving tradition.

23. Snow Globe Jars

Create snow globes using mason jars, water, glitter, and small toys. Shake them up to see magical snowfall. This craft combines science and art, and kids are mesmerized by the swirling glitter, making it a favorite for rainy winter afternoons.

24. Popsicle Stick Star

Stack popsicle sticks in a star pattern, paint, and add glitter. This simple star ornament is easy to make but looks stunning on the tree. Kids enjoy counting sticks and arranging shapes, which subtly teaches geometry while crafting.

25. Fingerprint Santa

Use fingerprints to create adorable Santa faces. Kids dip fingers in paint, press onto paper, and add details with markers. This craft is personal, easy, and captures the essence of childhood creativity. It also doubles as a great keepsake for parents.

26. Christmas Wreath Craft

Paper plates, paint, and decorations turn into a festive wreath. Kids cut, glue, and layer decorations for a vibrant centerpiece. This project encourages creativity, planning, and spatial awareness while producing a cheerful decoration for any door.

27. DIY Elf Hats

Felt, glue, cotton, and sequins transform into tiny elf hats. Kids can wear them, use them as decorations, or include them in imaginative play. This craft combines dressing up with hands-on creation, making it engaging and memorable.

Final Thoughts

Engaging in kids’ Christmas crafts is more than keeping little hands busy—it’s about creating memories, building confidence, and celebrating the magic of the season. From popsicle stick reindeer to fingerprint Santas, each project is a chance for kids to explore their creativity, learn new skills, and feel proud of what they’ve made. So this holiday season, gather your supplies, put on some festive music, and dive into the colorful, glittery world of Christmas crafting.