We’ve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Celebrate the holiday season with these cute DIY ornaments, stockings and cards.
When the weather outside is frightful, it’s the perfect time to huddle up indoors with some festive holiday snacks, cheery holiday tunes on the speakers and a crackling fire. Add some creative expression to that perfectly cozy day at home with a slate of Christmas crafts for kids — easy DIY holiday projects that they can whip up all on their own (or with a little help from a grownup).
Our list includes dozens of easy craft ideas that are sure to keep the kids busy — and jolly! — as they wait for Santa’s sleigh. Many require supplies you may already have on hand. Others even call for objects you can forage with your family outside as part of a fun pre-crafting adventure.
Think simple paper crafts, handprint crafts and ordinary object upcycling for toddlers and preschoolers. We’ve also got plenty of more sophisticated craft options for older kids with greater motor control and patience — like stockings, DIY door wreaths, mantel trimmings and Christmas tree ornaments galore. Bonus: Many of these kids' Christmas crafts also double as handmade gifts and timeless keepsakes for teachers, family, friends, neighbors and other loved ones. (After all, there’s no gift you can buy that compares to a unique masterpiece made with love!)
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.
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.
RELATED: How to Make Easy Paper Snowflakes
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.
This easy all-ages craft is fun to make — and then to animate with little hands!
Get the tutorial at Simple Everyday Mom »
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.
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.
For this simple project, gather the kids to paint pre-cut wooden ornaments. When dry, they can have fun wrapping them with colored yarn in cheerful hues.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
Turn your kid's footprints into a sweet keepsake that you'll cherish for years to come. Just be sure to use washable paint because, well, things could get messy.
Get the tutorial at Messy Little Monster »
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 Inspired by Charm »
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.
This simple project is adaptable for kids of all ages. Parents can handle the scissors for littler kids. You'll just need construction paper in complementary greens, as well as glue.
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 »
RELATED: 20 Easy Salt Dough Ornaments to Make in Time for Christmas
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.)
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 »
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.
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.
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 »
The fun thing about this craft is that you get to start it by going on a nature walk. Then, with just a few tweaks, your natural raw materials become a cheerful holiday gnome.
Get the tutorial at Bowdabra »
For added dimension, mix a bunch of paper ornaments with multicolored baubles. To make, trace our templates onto card stock and cut them out. Decorate to your liking with glitzy pipe cleaners and snowflake cut-outs. Finally, punch a hole, add a ribbon and hang 'em on your Christmas tree.
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 »
Not only are these elves and penguins cuties, they can help hold up the holiday cards you get sent in the mail! If you click through to the tutorial, you can see how to make a gingerbread character, too.
Get the tutorial at Craft Project Ideas »
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 »
What gives these ornaments their perfectly round shape? They're re-used lids from Country Crock containers! They look festive and save an item from going in the recycling bin.
Get the tutorial at Nest of Posies »
Building a snowman always requires more work than you think — but luckily, these 3D paper versions are super easy (and quick!) to make.
Get the tutorial at White House Crafts »
You know what they say about the holidays and bells ringing, right? With this festive doorknob display, made mostly from dollar-store items, you can hear bells every time you enter the front door.
Get the tutorial at Bowdabra »
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 »
Colorful tissue paper, star cut-outs and pom poms make these 3D trees come to life. They double as decor, too: Once they're dry, dot them across your mantel, staircase or shelves.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised »
Help kids apply styrofoam balls to a wreath form with hot glue. When dry, finish with a pretty bow and a wire for hanging.
Preschool kids will love glueing 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 »
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 »
Make your tree sparkle and shine by gluing a handful of colorful rhinestones to clear plastic baubles.
Get the tutorial at White House Crafts »
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 »
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.
Cut shapes out of chip board — or even an upcycled cereal box — and then punch holes along the perimeter. Let kids paint them and then lace them up with yarn for festive ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Cutesy Crafts »
This may look professionally done, but there's a secret — it's made with temporary tattoos! Visit the tutorial to find the tattoo printable, or use the method with any temporary tattoo design of your choosing.
Get the tutorial at Maritza Lisa »
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 »
Use paint-stirring sticks and a string of clear lights to craft the sweetest star-shaped tree topper ever. (Make simpler, smaller versions with popsicle sticks for hanging in windows or from a mantle.)
Get the tutorial at The Melrose Family »
All kids need is five minutes to make this super-simple Christmas tree craft. Fold green craft paper accordion style, and then deck it with colorful paper cutouts as ornaments — and don’t forget the star on top.
Get the tutorial at White House Crafts »
Use pine cones, wood slices, and acrylic paint to create this Christmas tree project, perfect for displaying as a table centerpiece or clustered on the mantle. Try it with foraged objects if you can — but buying them works, too!
Get the tutorial at PJs and Paint »
Dangle colorful scraps of paper as ornaments from a spiral-cut paper plate. It’s a fun-to-spin project that even preschoolers can make.
Get the tutorial at Red Ted Art »
Immortalize your kid’s handprint in salt dough with this easy ornament project even the littlest kids will enjoy having a (ahem) hand in. Hang them from the tree or mantle with pretty ribbon.
Get the tutorial at Nest of Posies »
Use two sheets of paper in contrasting greens to make this project, in which kids weave strips to create cheerful Christmas trees for wall hangings or cards.
Get the tutorial at Buggy and Buddy »
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 »
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 »
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.
Get the tutorial at It All Started With Paint »
Paper doilies and craft sticks form the basis of this easy project with a pretty, delicate result. Cut the doilies into triangles, and glue them to the sticks, letting the kids decorate their trees as they wish. Hang them using colorful ribbon.
Get the tutorial at Buggy and Buddy »