Get kids into the holiday spirit with fun and easy DIY Christmas crafts that spark creativity and excitement.
From handmade ornaments to festive decorations, these projects are perfect for little hands and big imaginations.
Here are some DIY Christmas crafts for kids to make this season magical and memorable.
Paper Bag Snowman Puppet
This easy all-ages craft is fun to make — and then to animate with little hands!
Get the tutorial at Simple Everyday Mom »
Pom Pom Ornaments
Make a tree full of these soft, whimsical ornaments inspired by reindeer. You can pick any color yarn you want for the face, but we’re partial to the blue and pink.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed »
Felt Dog Ornament (or Stocking Tag)
There are two templates that make this project super easy to do. Choose colors that coordinate with your family’s favorite pup!
Get the tutorial at Oh Yay Studio »
Christmas Character Candy Pots
Collect mini flower pots for this easy holiday craft. Use basic craft supplies such as googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and felt to bring them to life as Christmas characters like a reindeer, elf, and snowman.
Get the tutorial at Crazy Little Projects »
Wiggly Paper Snowman
Wiggly paper folding makes this craft extra fun for kids. And the photo makes it a family keepsake.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Mini Canvas Ornament
This super easy craft lets children explore their inner artists and create mini masterpieces that make a great addition to any tree. Simply use acrylic craft paint and paint pens to decorate mini canvases.
Once dry, attach a ribbon hanger to the back with glue and then add to your tree. In need of some gift inspo?
These make great ornaments and decorative gift tags for grandparents, teachers, babysitters, and friends as well!
DIY Toy Drum Ornaments
Your everyday toilet paper rolls have never looked so good thanks to this tutorial. To create these toy drum ornaments, cut down a toilet paper roll with scissors to about 1.5”-2” tall. Then, paint the outside with acrylic paint and let dry.
Cut two circles that are the size of the opening of the roll out of craft paper, and attach using some hot glue. Add any details you want onto the side of the drum, like making a crisscross pattern with washi tape or ribbon attached with a thin line of hot glue if needed.
Use a strip of washi tape, ribbon or craft paper attached onto the top and bottom of the “drum” to create a clean straight line. Add on a loop of ribbon with a dot of hot glue onto the side to hang your little drums onto the tree!
Wrapped Candy Ornaments
A great way to repurpose mismatched or boring ornaments! Cut a square of parchment paper and place a round ornament in the center. Wrap the paper around it like a candy, twisting the paper to secure it. Add decorative bows to either end and hang.
Starburst Ornament and Tree Topper
You can easily make use of toilet paper rolls and leftover scraps of wrapping paper in this DIY craft — which can be designed as an ornament or a tree topper.
Start by painting the inside and outside of the toilet paper rolls with contrasting paint colors and let dry completely. Measure 2” down the roll and mark all the way around, and then flip the roll over and measure 2” down and mark all the way around so you have a ½ wide inch gap marked in the middle of the roll.3.
Starting on one end cut 8 evenly spaced lines stopping at the 2” mark you made. Flip the tube around and repeat step 3 on the other side. Fold down the cuts you made on one side and cut the rectangles into points with your scissors.
Repeat step 5 on the other side.Finish the star off by flattening the folds down to make sure they stay in place. Add a ribbon and hang the ornament onto the tree or use it as your tree topper this Christmas season.
Animal/Family Ornaments
Even our furry friends deserve a place on the tree. Start creating these purrr-fect ornaments by wrapping a pipe cleaner around a small ornament (using hot glue if needed). Create little legs by folding the pipe cleaner in half.
Add on another set of legs and tail by cutting small bits of pipe cleaner to the one you have wrapped around the ornament by twisting it or adding a small dot of hot glue to secure. Then, use hot glue to add your pet’s printed-out face on top and any other small decorations you wish.
Add a string to hang with hot glue and your ornament is complete!
DIY Upcycled Wallpaper Ornaments
Take advantage of old wallpaper scraps or buy a pack of your own to create these unique ornaments. Cut wallpaper into nine .5” x 10” strips. Poke three holes in each strip (top, middle and bottom).
Thread a wooden bead onto a 10” piece of floral wire and wrap the wire around itself to secure. Next, add paper strips onto the wire through the center hole. Thread each end of the bottom strip onto the wire.
Move clockwise repeating with each strip until all ends are on the wire. Add on another wooden bead and make a loop of wire and wrap it around itself to secure. Tie a ribbon on top to hang.
Pine Cone Swan Ornament
Bring the “seven swans a swimming” from the iconic “12 days of Christmas” song to life with this easy tutorial. Paint a mini pinecone white and let dry completely. Roll the end of a white pipe cleaner around itself to make a little head for your swan.
Cut the pipe cleaner about 1” below the head you made and attach it to one end of the pinecone with a dot of hot glue to create your swan’s neck and head. Cut a small triangle out of your gold craft paper and attach it to the side of the pipe cleaner head to make your beak.
Cut out two small wing shapes out of felt and hot glue them onto the side of the pinecone to make your wings. Add a looped piece of string to the swan to create an ornament and show off proudly on the tree.
Biodegradable Garlands
Biodegradable and compostable, these old-school style garland strands are a great way to use old pantry staples and create one-of-a-kind Christmas tree decor. Thread a needle and sturdy monofilament through leftover or stale pantry items like popcorn, dried fruits, bay leaves and candy.
Or loop decorative ribbon around pretzels and dried pasta for an unexpected twist! We painted our pasta metallic gold for extra shine! Hang on your Christmas tree, out of reach from small children and pets.
Once the holidays are over, remove the monofilament/ribbon and pop in your nearest compost bin!
Pine Cone Flower Ornaments
Using sturdy floral clippers, cut off the bottom half of a pinecone — it’s easiest to make a few cuts and twist until the pinecone breaks. Hot glue the bottom of the pinecone to a round wooden disk. Once dry, glue a ribbon loop on the back of the wooden disk to hang.
Popsicle Stick Wreath
Stock up on small and large craft sticks, then have the kids paint them three different shades of green. Glue the sticks to a 12″ foam wreath, overlapping and mixing the shades of green as you go. A red ribbon finishes off the look.
Paper Bag Snowflakes
These intricate paper snowflakes only look hard to make! Break out the safety scissors and craft paper and get to work making these beautiful and delicate window hangings.
Marbled Nail Polish Tree Ornaments
If you already have a few shades of green nail polish, this craft is for you! Drizzle two or three shades of green polish into a cup of cold water. Holding the base, dip your wooden tree into the mixture (making sure the entire area is covered). Hold it over a paper towel until it’s stopped dripping, then place it right side up on the towel to dry.
Santa Advent Calendar
Help Santa nail his Christmas look — one cotton ball at a time. First, cut out Santa’s head and red hat on pieces of white and red paper. Draw on his eyes, pink cheeks and nose, then jot down 1-25 on his white beard. Starting December 1, have your kids tape up a cotton ball until Santa’s beard is complete.
DIY Snow Globe
Similar to vignettes, except this version is definitely more appropriate for younger kids. Once you have the jar you want to use, make sure to clean it thoroughly. Then, arrange your scene using bottle brushes and figurines and glue them to the top of the jar. Now it’s time to create some sparkle: add 1-2 teaspoons of glitter to the jar. Fill it with distilled water, nearly all the way to the top. Then add a few drops of glycerin and stir. Add some glue to the top of the jar and then place it on the base, and once dried, flip it to see some magic.
Twig Ornaments
This craft comes with an adventure: First, take a foraging walk outside to gather twigs. Then, use glue to create holiday shapes and finish with festive embroidery thread wrapping.
Leaf Paper Garland
This simple project is adaptable for kids of all ages. Parents can handle the scissors for smaller kids. You’ll just need construction paper in complementary greens, as well as glue.
Filled Ornaments
When kids fill clear ornament balls with small objects or art supplies, there’s no end to the creative possibilities. (Older kids may work carefully with glass ornaments, while smaller kids are better off with plastic.)
Candy Cane Place Card Holders
Sure, these easy glued-together candy cane place cardholders look elegant with calligraphy. But they’re much cuter when kids take over the task of writing guests’ names.
Embellished Stocking
If time is on your side, make a bunch of personalized stockings for your entire family before Christmas morning. To make, fold the hem of the stocking to attach ribbon or pom pom-trim, then decorate with festive stickers and felt cut-outs. Once it’s fully dry, fill it with an assortment of stocking stuffers.
Popsicle Stick Snowflake Ornaments
Inspired by traditional Scandinavian straw ornaments, these popsicle stick ornaments are the perfect weekend activity. To make, paint popsicle sticks white and let dry. Arrange matching sizes into an X-shape and glue together in the middle. Arrange 2 X’s diagonally on top of each other to create a snowflake shape and glue in the middle. Let dry completely. Weave colored embroidery thread around the popsicle sticks to create an X or grid pattern. Tie the thread at the back of the snowflake and trim any excess. Glue a ribbon loop to the back of the snowflake to hang.
Popsicle Stick Winter Window Ornament
To make these cute DIY ornaments, you’ll need five regular popsicle sticks, plus one bigger stick for the bottom. Decorate your creation with a mini wreath, fake snow and a photo of your little one.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Gingerbread Play Dough
Put a holiday spin on a traditional play dough recipe with cinnamon and ginger. The festive aroma will further enliven sensory playtime.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree
This is a craft that looks and smells great! Kids might need help using a hot glue gun to stick the button on top, but they can certainly handle tying the green ribbons on the cinnamon stick.
Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft »
3D Christmas Tree Doodle Art
Kids can really express their creativity — and channel their excited energy — into this Christmas tree doodle craft. They offer a cool 3D effect, which will make them really standout.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train »
DIY Christmas Village
This Christmas village is so picturesque, it looks store-bought — but it’s really all DIY, made from cardboard, paint and wooden discs. That means you get to choose everything, down to the colors. If you click through to the tutorial, you can even print out the villagers for your own set.
Get the tutorial at Alice and Lois »
Craft Gingerbread Stick Houses
You can hang these on a door, on the tree or wherever else you need a dose of good cheer. Bonus: Made from craft sticks, beads and other common art supplies, they’re less of a crummy mess than a real gingerbread house.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Santa in a Chimney
That chimney? It’s a painted flower pot. If you have one of those lying around, plus a styrofoam ball and some fuzzy craft sticks, you can make this hilarious craft, too.
Get the tutorial at Craft Project Ideas »
Salt Dough Snowflakes
You can either use a stamp to put a snowflake shape on a salt dough circle, or you can use a cookie cutter to make salt dough in the shape of a snowflake. Either way, you have an ornament, a gift topper or other Christmas keepsake.
Get the tutorial at Domestically Blissful »
Pasta Christmas Tree
Preschool kids will love gluing pasta in various forms to make a tree-shaped design for a wallhanging or card. Pro tip: Instead of painstakingly painting each piece, toss a batch in a sandwich bag with paint to color the whole lot at once!
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Rudolph Ornaments
Make ornaments to represent all nine of Santa’s reindeer or give them all sparkly red noses á la Rudolph — it’s your call.
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Santa Slime
Kids will love getting messy making this fluffy, Christmas-theme slime… complete with a Santa-inspired jar for storing it.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Paper Plate Christmas Masks
Ordinary white paper plates and a few simple craft supplies are all kids need to whip up this adorable holiday project. Don’t forget to take tons of pictures of the little artists sporting their snowman, Santa Claus, and Mrs. Claus masks.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised »
Santa Handprint Craft
What’s sweeter than a Christmas craft that preserves your child’s handprint for the family archives? Use heavy card stock to trace the handprint and turn this project into a holiday card loved ones will cherish.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids
Chocolate Centerpiece
Use Hershey Kisses wrapped in holiday-color foils to make this ultra-easy project: Cut triangles from scrapbooking paper to represent trees, and let kids poke them into the top of the Kisses with toothpicks. Arrange them on a platter for a table centerpiece that’s homemade, affordable… and delicious, too.