15 Fun Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids to Try

Let’s be real—Christmas crafts are one of those rare parenting miracles that make everyone happy. The kids get to make a creative mess (that you’ll somehow end up cleaning), and you get to keep them occupied long enough to enjoy your coffee while it’s still hot. Win-win, right?

Whether you’re a “Pinterest parent” with perfectly coordinated supplies or just a regular parent trying to survive December with your sanity intact, these 15 fun Christmas craft ideas for kids will bring color, joy, and maybe a little glitter chaos into your home.

I’ve personally tried a few of these with my nieces and nephews, and let’s just say—my living room still sparkles… in March.

So, if you’re ready to create some festive fun (and maybe a few fridge-worthy masterpieces), let’s jump into the good stuff!

1. Paper Plate Christmas Trees

Who knew those leftover paper plates could be the start of a mini forest?

Why It’s Awesome

This one’s perfect for toddlers and younger kids. It’s cheap, easy, and gives instant results—no waiting, no whining.

What You’ll Need

• Paper plates
  
• Green paint or crayons
  
• Stickers, pom-poms, sequins, and glue
  
• A small brown rectangle for the “trunk”
  

How to Make It

1. Cut the paper plate into a triangle (like a pizza slice).
   
2. Let the kids paint or color it green.
   
3. Glue on your decorations—stickers, glitter, pom-poms, you name it.
   
4. Add the “trunk” at the bottom and voilà—a mini Christmas tree ready for the fridge gallery!
   

Pro tip: If you have multiple kids, let each one make their own “tree” and hang them together as a family forest wall display.

Why it works: Kids love crafts they can personalize. This one lets them go wild with decorations while practicing fine motor skills (bonus parenting points).

2. Salt Dough Ornaments

Ah yes, the classic that smells vaguely like baked bread and nostalgia.

Why It’s a Must-Try

You only need three ingredients, and the final product lasts forever. Plus, it’s the perfect keepsake craft.

What You’ll Need

• 2 cups of flour
  
• 1 cup of salt
  
• 1 cup of water
  
• Cookie cutters, paint, ribbon
  

How to Make It

1. Mix the flour, salt, and water into dough.
   
2. Roll it out and use cookie cutters for shapes—stars, trees, snowmen.
   
3. Use a straw to poke a hole at the top (for the ribbon).
   
4. Bake at 200°F (90°C) for about 2 hours or until hard.
   
5. Once cool, paint and decorate!
   

Bonus idea: Press your child’s handprint into the dough before baking—instant sentimental ornament.

IMO, this is one of those crafts that kids love and parents secretly keep for decades.

3. Reindeer Handprint Art

Because who doesn’t love tracing their hands and pretending it’s Rudolph?

What You’ll Need

• Brown construction paper
  
• Googly eyes
  
• Red pom-poms
  
• Glue and scissors
  

How to Make It

1. Trace your kid’s hands on brown paper and cut them out.
   
2. Glue them as “antlers” on another brown oval shape (the face).
   
3. Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom for the nose.
   
4. Draw a smile and hang it up.
   

Tip: Write the child’s name and year on the back. You’ll thank yourself later when you find it in a keepsake box.

Why kids love it: It’s hands-on (literally), fast, and totally customizable.

4. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

You’ve got popsicle sticks lying around, right? (If not, it’s the perfect excuse for some ice cream.)

What You’ll Need

• Popsicle sticks
  
• White or blue paint
  
• Glitter glue
  
• Sequins and gems
  

How to Make It

1. Glue 3–4 sticks together in a snowflake pattern.
   
2. Once dry, paint and decorate with glitter or jewels.
   
3. Add string or ribbon to hang on the tree.
   

Pro tip: Mix in metallic paint for a frosty shimmer that looks straight out of a snowstorm.

These are easy, sparkly, and kid-approved. You’ll probably find yourself making a few too.

5. Mason Jar Snow Globes

Now we’re entering next-level craft territory—because kids absolutely adore anything that sparkles and moves.

What You’ll Need

• Small mason jars
  
• Glitter
  
• Small plastic figures (like trees or reindeer)
  
• Water and glycerin
  
• Super glue
  

How to Make It

1. Glue your plastic figure to the jar lid.
   
2. Fill the jar with water, a few drops of glycerin, and glitter.
   
3. Seal tightly, flip it over, and shake!
   

Pro tip: Add a ribbon around the lid for a festive touch.

Why kids go nuts: It’s like making magic in a jar. Watching glitter swirl = instant happiness.

6. Christmas Card Collages

Got a pile of old Christmas cards lying around? Don’t toss them—repurpose them!

What You’ll Need

• Old holiday cards
  
• Scissors and glue
  
• Construction paper
  

How to Make It

1. Cut out your favorite images or messages.
   
2. Arrange them on a sheet of paper to make a collage.
   
3. Add stickers, glitter, or doodles for fun.
   

It’s a great way to teach kids about recycling while letting their imagination run wild.

Pro tip: Turn these into gift tags or wall art later.

7. Candy Cane Reindeer

It’s not Christmas until candy canes take over your kitchen counter.

What You’ll Need

• Candy canes
  
• Brown pipe cleaners
  
• Googly eyes
  
• Mini red pom-poms
  

How to Make It

1. Twist the pipe cleaner around the top for antlers.
   
2. Glue on the eyes and red nose.
   
3. That’s it—adorable edible reindeer.
   

Kids will absolutely love making (and probably eating) these. They also make super cute stocking stuffers.

8. Pine Cone Christmas Trees

The outdoors meets creativity—and your front porch gets a free makeover.

What You’ll Need

• Pine cones
  
• Green paint
  
• Small beads or sequins
  
• A bit of glue
  

How to Make It

1. Paint the pine cone green.
   
2. Add beads as ornaments.
   
3. Optional: sprinkle some white paint for “snow.”
   

Why it’s perfect: It brings nature into your home and gives kids an outdoor scavenger hunt before crafting.

9. Christmas Countdown Chain

Because “How many days till Christmas?” is a daily question starting December 1.

What You’ll Need

• Red and green paper strips
  
• Tape or glue
  
• A marker
  

How to Make It

1. Write one number (1–25) on each strip.
   
2. Link them together into a chain.
   
3. Hang it up and tear one link off every day.
   

It’s interactive, visual, and gets kids excited for the big day—without needing a screen!

FYI: You can sneak in daily “kindness challenges” on each strip—like “share a toy” or “help Mom with dishes.”

10. Santa Paper Bag Puppets

Ready for a puppet show, Christmas edition?

What You’ll Need

• Brown paper lunch bags
  
• Cotton balls
  
• Red paper
  
• Googly eyes
  
• Glue and scissors
  

How to Make It

1. Cut out Santa’s hat and coat from red paper.
   
2. Glue them onto the bag.
   
3. Add cotton balls for the beard and trim.
   
4. Draw or glue on Santa’s face.
   

Once done, kids can put on a mini Christmas puppet show. (Trust me, it’ll be adorable chaos.)

11. Button Wreath Ornaments

Buttons aren’t just for shirts anymore.

What You’ll Need

• Green buttons (assorted sizes)
  
• Ribbon
  
• Thin wire or string
  

How to Make It

1. String buttons in a circular shape.
   
2. Tie off with ribbon to make a small wreath.
   
3. Hang on the tree.
   

It’s charming, colorful, and looks surprisingly fancy for something made in 10 minutes.

12. Christmas Slime

Yes, slime. It’s messy, it’s stretchy, and kids can’t get enough of it.

What You’ll Need

• Clear glue
  
• Baking soda
  
• Contact solution
  
• Glitter (red, green, gold)
  

How to Make It

1. Mix glue and baking soda.
   
2. Add contact solution until it firms up.
   
3. Mix in glitter for a holiday vibe.
   

Pro tip: Store in small jars as DIY gifts or stocking stuffers.

And yes, you’ll be cleaning sparkly slime off your table later—but it’s worth it.

13. Christmas Cookie Cutter Prints

If your cookie cutters only come out once a year, this craft changes that.

What You’ll Need

• Cookie cutters
  
• Paint
  
• Paper
  

How to Make It

1. Dip the cutters in paint.
   
2. Stamp them on paper to make prints.
   
3. Add details once dry (faces, ornaments, etc.).
   

Fun twist: Use this technique to decorate wrapping paper for gifts!

14. Snowman Sock Crafts

Got lonely socks? Turn them into a snowman family!

What You’ll Need

• White socks
  
• Rice (for filling)
  
• Rubber bands
  
• Buttons, ribbon, and markers
  

How to Make It

1. Fill the sock with rice and tie off sections for the body and head.
   
2. Decorate with buttons and draw the face.
   
3. Use another sock as a tiny hat.
   

Bonus: Add a cinnamon stick inside for a festive scent!

These little guys make great table or mantel decorations.

15. Christmas Light Finger Painting

Finally—an excuse to make a mess on purpose.

What You’ll Need

• Paper
  
• Black marker
  
• Washable paints
  

How to Make It

1. Draw a squiggly line (the “string” of lights).
   
2. Let kids dip their fingers in paint and make “bulbs” along the line.
   
3. Once dry, hang up your light masterpiece!
   

Why it’s a hit: Zero rules, full creativity. Kids can go wild, and it still turns out festive.

Conclusion

So there you have it—15 fun Christmas craft ideas for kids that are easy, festive, and guaranteed to fill your home with creativity (and maybe a few sparkles that you’ll be finding until Easter).

Whether you’re baking salt dough ornaments, making snow globes, or just watching your little one proudly show off their popsicle stick snowflake, these activities remind us what the season’s really about—connection, creativity, and a little chaos wrapped in tinsel.

So grab your glue, crank up the Christmas playlist, and get crafting. Trust me—these are the moments your kids will remember long after the wrapping paper’s gone.