The festive season is rolling around again, bringing with it the scent of pine needles, the twinkle of fairy lights, and the excited chatter of children counting down the days. What better way to channel that energy and create lasting memories than by diving into some fun Christmas crafts? Getting hands-on with glitter, glue, and paint isn’t just about making decorations; it’s about spending quality time together, fostering creativity, and making your home feel uniquely festive with personalised touches. Forget expensive store-bought baubles; the most cherished decorations are often the slightly wonky, glitter-covered creations made by little hands.
Crafting with kids doesn’t need to be complicated or require a huge stash of fancy supplies. Often, the simplest ideas using everyday household items spark the most joy. So, clear a space on the kitchen table, put on some festive tunes, and let’s get making! We’ve gathered some easy and engaging ideas centred around classic Christmas themes: ornaments, reindeer, and the big man himself, Santa Claus.
Sparkling Ornaments to Trim the Tree
Tree ornaments are perhaps the most classic Christmas craft. They can be hung year after year, becoming treasured keepsakes. Here are a few ideas that are perfect for kids of various ages.
Salt Dough Delights
Salt dough is a fantastic, inexpensive medium that feels wonderfully squidgy and dries hard, perfect for painting. It’s a timeless classic for a reason!
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups of plain flour
- 1 cup of table salt
- Approx. 3/4 cup of water
- Cookie cutters (stars, trees, circles, gingerbread men)
- A straw or skewer (for making a hole for hanging)
- Baking sheet and parchment paper
- Acrylic paints, glitter, sealant (like Mod Podge or clear varnish)
- Ribbon or twine for hanging
How to make them: Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Gradually add the water, mixing until a firm dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5-10 minutes until smooth. Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully lift the shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Don’t forget to use the straw or skewer to make a hole at the top of each ornament for the ribbon! Bake at a low temperature (around 120C or 250F) for 2-3 hours, or until hard. Let them cool completely.
Now for the fun part: decorating! Let the kids loose with paints, glitter glue, or permanent markers. Once the paint is dry, you might want to add a coat of sealant to protect their masterpieces and make them last longer. Thread a ribbon through the hole, tie a knot, and they’re ready for the tree!
Pipe Cleaner Sparklers
Pipe cleaners are wonderfully versatile and easy for little fingers to bend and shape. You can create all sorts of simple, sparkly ornaments.
What you’ll need:
- Pipe cleaners (festive colours like red, green, gold, silver are great)
- Optional: Pony beads, small jingle bells
- Scissors (adult supervision needed)
- Thread or thin ribbon for hanging
Ideas:
- Candy Canes: Twist a red and a white pipe cleaner together, then bend the top into a cane shape.
- Stars: Cut pipe cleaners into smaller sections (e.g., three equal lengths). Lay them over each other in a star shape and twist securely in the centre. Bend the ends slightly if desired.
- Wreaths: Twist the ends of a green pipe cleaner together to form a circle. Decorate by twisting on small pieces of red pipe cleaner for ‘berries’ or threading on beads.
- Beaded Shapes: Bend a pipe cleaner into a simple shape (like a tree or star outline). Let kids thread pony beads onto it before twisting the ends together.
Attach a loop of thread or ribbon for hanging. These are quick, relatively mess-free, and look lovely catching the fairy lights.
Natural Pinecone Pretties
Bring a touch of the outdoors in! Go on a nature walk to collect pinecones – this adds another fun activity to the process.
What you’ll need:
- Pinecones (clean and dry)
- Paint (white, green, glitter paints work well)
- Glitter
- PVA glue
- Small pom-poms
- Hot glue gun (adult use only) or strong craft glue
- Twine or ribbon
How to make them: Kids can paint the tips of the pinecone scales white to look like snow, or paint the whole cone green like a mini Christmas tree. While the paint is wet, sprinkle on some glitter for extra sparkle. Once dry, use craft glue (or hot glue with adult help) to attach small pom-poms like colourful baubles. Attach a loop of twine or ribbon to the top for hanging, either by tying it around the top scales or using a dab of hot glue.
Rudolph and Friends: Reindeer Fun
No Christmas is complete without reindeer! These crafts are always a hit with kids.
Toilet Paper Roll Reindeer
A true classic craft, using readily available materials.
What you’ll need:
- Empty toilet paper rolls or kitchen towel rolls cut in half
- Brown paint or brown paper
- Googly eyes
- Red pom-poms or red paper circles for the nose
- Brown or black pipe cleaners, or brown paper/card for antlers
- Glue
- Scissors
How to make them: First, paint the toilet paper roll brown and let it dry (or cover it with brown paper). Once dry, glue on two googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose. For the antlers, cut a brown pipe cleaner in half. Twist each half around the top edge of the roll, bending them into antler shapes. Alternatively, cut antler shapes from brown card and glue them inside the top edge of the roll. Simple, cute, and instantly recognisable!
Handprint Antlers
Capture a moment in time with these adorable handprint reindeer.
What you’ll need:
- Brown paint
- Paper or cardstock (white or light blue)
- Googly eyes
- Red pom-poms or red marker/paint
- Glue
- Optional: Brown marker
How to make them: Paint the child’s palm and fingers (excluding the thumb) with brown paint. Press their hand firmly onto the paper, fingers spread apart – these are the antlers! Repeat with the other hand if desired, or just use one. Once the paint is dry, glue on googly eyes below the ‘antlers’ (on the palm print area). Add a red pom-pom nose or draw one on. You can draw a simple head shape connecting the antlers and eyes if you like. Write the child’s name and the year to make it a special keepsake.
Ho Ho Ho! Santa Claus Creations
Crafting Santa is always filled with festive cheer. Bring the jolly man in red to life with these ideas.
Paper Plate Santa Face
Easy, effective, and great for developing fine motor skills with gluing.
What you’ll need:
- Paper plates (the cheaper, thinner kind work best)
- Cotton balls
- Red construction paper or card
- Pink or peach paper/paint/crayons for the face
- Googly eyes
- Red pom-pom or red marker for the nose
- Glue stick and liquid glue
- Scissors
How to make them: Cut the paper plate roughly in half, or cut out a section from the middle if you want a smaller face area. Colour or paint a semi-circle area near the straight edge pink or peach for Santa’s face. Cut a triangle hat shape from the red paper, large enough to fit across the top (curved edge) of the plate section. Glue the hat onto the plate. Glue googly eyes onto the face area and add a red nose. Now for the beard! Apply liquid glue generously around the bottom curved edge and the sides of the face area. Let the kids pull apart cotton balls slightly and stick them on to create a fluffy beard and moustache. Add a cotton ball to the tip of the hat too!
Important Safety Note: Many craft supplies, like small beads, googly eyes, and pom-poms, can be choking hazards for very young children. Always supervise crafting sessions closely, especially with toddlers and preschoolers. Ensure materials are age-appropriate and keep tiny items out of reach of babies and toddlers who might put them in their mouths.
Cotton Ball Beard Santa
Another take on Santa, focusing purely on that magnificent beard!
What you’ll need:
- Cardstock (red, white, peach/pink)
- Cotton balls
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
- Black marker
How to make them: Cut a simple Santa head shape from peach or pink cardstock (a semi-circle on top of a rounded rectangle works). Cut a red triangle hat and glue it to the top. Cut a thin strip of white cardstock and glue it along the bottom edge of the hat for the trim. Glue on googly eyes. Draw a simple mouth with the black marker. Now, apply glue generously below the mouth and around the sides of the face shape. Stick on cotton balls to create Santa’s big, fluffy beard and moustache. Add a cotton ball to the hat’s point. This is a great tactile craft for little ones.
Tips for Happy Crafting Sessions
To make your Christmas crafting time smooth and enjoyable for everyone, keep a few things in mind:
- Preparation is Key: Gather all your supplies before you invite the kids to the table. Cover surfaces with newspaper or an old tablecloth for easy cleanup. Have wipes or a damp cloth handy for sticky fingers.
- Embrace the Mess: Crafting can be messy, and that’s okay! Dress kids (and yourself) in old clothes or aprons. Focus on the process and the fun, not on keeping everything pristine.
- Keep it Age-Appropriate: Choose crafts that match your child’s abilities and attention span. Simplify steps for younger children and offer more complex options for older ones. Don’t expect perfection.
- Let Them Lead: While you provide the materials and basic instructions, allow children to interpret the craft in their own way. If their reindeer has purple antlers or Santa has a blue hat, celebrate their creativity!
- Focus on Fun: The most important goal is to have fun together and create positive memories. Put on some Christmas music, maybe have some festive snacks nearby, and enjoy the shared experience.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. The possibilities for Christmas crafting are endless! Use these as inspiration and feel free to adapt them based on the supplies you have and your children’s interests. Making things together is a wonderful way to slow down during the busy holiday season, connect as a family, and fill your home with decorations that truly mean something. Happy crafting!
