To help you sort through all the creative crafts out there, we have compiled a list of 30 of the best ideas for kids and DIY holiday and winter crafts you can make at home with the whole family. More: 12 Fun and Cheap Christmas Activities for Families
1. Handprint Wreath
Using your little one’s hands to make a wreath is a delightful keepsake you can hang up year after year. Using different shades of green construction paper or cardstock, trace and cut out a dozen or more of your child’s hands. Using glue or tape, arrange the cut-out hands to form a wreath. To add a pop of color, you can add some red berries and a colorful ribbon or bow to hang it up with. Get instructions for making your own handprint wreath here.
2. Sock Snowmen
Sock snowmen are one of my favorite crafts, and I have made them many times! To create these adorable little friends, you will need a pack of white tube socks, rice or beans, assorted buttons, ribbons, a hot glue gun, rubber bands, and a pack of children’s socks in different colors to make hats. Start by filling the bottom of the sock with dried rice or beans. Once you have a suitable size for the bottom snowball, twist the sock and close it with a rubber band. Repeat with the following two snowballs making each one smaller. Using scissors, make hats by cutting the toe portion off the children’s socks. Then, attach the hat, ribbon, buttons, and any other adornments you wish to add with the hot glue gun. See instructions for this craft, here.
3. Felt Christmas Tree
There are dozens of Christmas tree crafts out there you can make, but the felt Christmas tree is one of the most sturdy options. First, using green felt, cut out a Christmas tree shape. Then using fabric glue or a hot glue gun, attach pom poms, sequins, foam shapes, or mini candy canes to decorate it. To make it a Christmas tree ornament punch a hole at the top and strong a ribbon through the hole. Learn how to make your own felt Christmas trees to hang with pride, here. This YouTube video provides a great example of how to make felt Christmas trees with your toddler!
4. Homemade Christmas Cards
If your child enjoys drawing and using stickers, they may have fun making their own Christmas cards. You can purchase Christmas card kits or simply supply your child with paper, markers, stickers, glue, and decorations. If they need help writing, have them dictate the message to you, so it is written in their own words.
5. Handprint Reindeer
Handprints are a staple of preschool crafts. If you possess some artistic skills, you can draw a reindeer or find a printable or clipart template online to use and have your child color. Then, using paint and a brush, apply paint to your child’s hands and make handprints on top of the reindeer’s head to create antlers. To add a pop of color, use a red pom-pom to make it look like Rudolph. See how to make your own reindeer art, here.
6. Cotton Ball Snow
There are various ways you can use cotton balls to make snow. The simplest involves blue construction paper, white paint, and a cotton ball to dab and create snowballs or snowflakes. You could also create the image of snow by gluing cotton balls to the paper. You can add other images to your snowy picture, such as trees, birds, snowmen, etc. See great examples of cotton ball snow crafts from Projects with Kids.
7. Gingerbread House
Gingerbread houses are a staple of the holiday season. You can purchase kits from a variety of major retailers, or if you wish to design your own, find a gingerbread recipe online. Another option is to use graham crackers. The key to making a gingerbread house that will stand is using the correct type of icing. Traditional store-bought icing will not harden enough to keep everything in place. Instead, try making homemade royal icing which will harden like glue.
8. Paper Plate Wreath
Your child can create an adorable Christmas wreath using a paper plate, paint, glue, and pom-poms. First, cut the center of the plate out and allow your child to paint it green. Once dried, they can add sparkly pom poms or sequins to decorate it. Get instructions on how to make a plate wreath here.
9. Tissue Paper Suncatcher
Suncatchers make beautiful decorations you can enjoy year after year. First, use contact paper and cut out different holiday designs such as ornaments, Christmas lights, gingerbread men, etc. Then, using different colors of tissue paper, your child can overlap the different colors on one of the sticky sides. Once they are finished adding tissue paper, add the backside, sticky-side in; you can punch a hole at the top and use ribbon or a pipe cleaner if you want to hang them on a hook or your tree.
10. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a fun and engaging DIY Christmas craft the whole family can participate in. This Christmas craft only requires flour, salt, and water. Roll it out like cookie dough once and use cookie cutters to make various shapes. Then, use a pencil to poke a hole in the top of each ornament before the dough hardens. You can also use a toothpick to carve the year and your child’s name in the back before it hardens as well. Once the ornaments have hardened, have your child paint them and lace ribbon or a pipe cleaner through the hole so that you can hang them up. See our favorite salt dough recipes, here.
11. Marshmallow Menorah
Using large marshmallows, frosting, and candles, you can create an adorable marshmallow menorah for Hanukkah. First, cover a plate in tin foil and then apply a layer of frosting to help the marshmallows stick. Next, add nine large marshmallows and double stack the center marshmallow to create the holder for the shamash. Finally, use blue, white, and gold candles to complete this adorable craft. Learn how to make your own delicious decoration, here.
12. Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
If you want your home to smell fantastic, make Christmas decorations using this cinnamon applesauce dough recipe. Create the dough and roll it out as you would cookie dough. Then use cookie cutters to make gingerbread or other holiday shapes. First, punch a hole at the top of the ornament with a pencil before it dries. You can add decorations such as googly eyes, candy buttons, etc., or simply allow them to dry in their natural state.
13. Santa Face
If you love Santa crafts, then consider making a Santa face decoration. There are several ways to create a Santa face, but one simple way is by using skin tone paper, googly eyes, red cardstock, and cotton balls. Using your choice of skin tone paper, cut out a circle for a face. Next, use cotton balls to create Santa’s hair and beard. Then create a face using googly eyes and a marker. Finally, add a hat made from red paper and attach one more cotton ball to the tip of the Santa hat, and voila! Get step-by-step instructions here.
14. Kwanzaa Bracelets
Using some black string or plastic cording and beads, your child can create a Kwanzaa-inspired bracelet. You could encourage them to make patterns or add the beads in any design they wish. See how to make your own Kwanzaa bead bracelets here.
15. Snow Globes
DIY Snow globes are easy Christmas crafts you can make and give as gifts. Purchase empty snow globe containers or use mason jars, and then add your choice of decorations by gluing your Christmas scene to the lid. If you wish to add some liquid, you will need distilled water, epoxy, and glycerin; you can find instructions here. Otherwise, you can simply add fake snow to make a beautiful winter scene.
16. Reindeer Ornament
Reindeer ornaments are an adorable kid’s craft that you can hang on your tree year after year. To make this ornament craft, purchase clear, plastic ornament balls. You can fill the ball with crinkly brown paper, sparkly pom-poms, or any other material of your choice. Then, use googly eyes, a red foam shape, and a pipe cleaner of choice to create antlers. Learn how to make your own ornaments, here.
17. Edible Dreidels
Marshmallows, Hershey Kisses, and Pretzel sticks are the main ingredients needed to create this hands-on holiday craft. Use a bit of frosting to attach the Hershey Kiss to the bottom of the marshmallow and gently insert a pretzel stick in the top. If you wish to extend the craft using melting chocolate to coat the entire bottom portion of the treat, roll in sprinkles or edible glitter.
18. Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree
Popsicle sticks or craft sticks are easy peasy craft supplies that you can use in various ways. For example, one pack of craft sticks and some glue can make numerous popsicle stick Christmas trees. Plus, decorating the trees is an excellent way to work on your child’s fine motor skills as they add tiny sequins, bells, and pom-poms to decorate it. See how to make this craft on your own, here.
19. Jingle Bell Snowmen
Jingle bells glued together are the start of a snowman ornament! You can paint them white or use silver bells, then add ribbon, pom poms, sequins, etc. You can use two small pom poms and a small strip of ribbon to create ear muffs for your snowman! Start making your own bell ornament by following these instructions.
20. Grinch Popcorn
Who doesn’t love a tasty Christmas treat? Grinch popcorn is a yummy little project you and your kids can make and enjoy eating together. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this delicious treat in a matter of minutes. Grinch popcorn makes an excellent gift! Get the recipe for this green-colored popcorn snack, here. You’ll have a Christmas snack in less than fifteen minutes!
21. Toilet Paper Carolers
Toilet paper rolls are a staple of kids’ crafts, and few are more adorable than making little carolers. In addition, you will need colored paper, stickers, tiny hats, skin tone paper to make faces, and cut-up magazines to look like songbooks. Learn how to construct your own adorable carolers with these instructions.
22. Pinecone Bird Feeder
Pinecone bird feeders are an easy art project you can make all winter long. All you need are pinecones, soy or nut butter, and birdseed. Gently cover the pinecone in nut butter and then roll it in birdseed. Your backyard birds will thank you! Learn how to make a pinecone bird feeder with these simple instructions.
23. Paper Plate Christmas Tree
If you need a simple Christmas craft idea, then a paper plate Christmas tree is the way to go! This fun Christmas craft only requires paper plates, paint, glue, and sequins or pom poms as decorations. Teach your kids to make these Christmas trees with step-by-step instructions.
24. Planter Bell Ornaments
25. Edible Christmas Trees
One little project your children are sure to enjoy is making edible Christmas trees! Use ice cream cones and cover them in green frosting. Then use red and green M&Ms to decorate your tree. You can choose to eat it or let the frosting harden and keep it out as a decoration! Get the recipe for this delicious Christmas treat, here.
26. Christmas Tree Photo Frame
If you have a relative who lives by the hashtag “I Heart Crafty Things,” making an adorable Christmas tree photo frame might be the way to go! Any 4x6 picture of your little one will do. To create a Christmas tree photo frame, use three green craft sticks to make the triangle shape of a Christmas tree. Add a message to decorate as you wish. See how to create craft stick picture frames, here.
27. Craft Stick Star of David
Using six craft sticks, string, and some tiny jewels, you can make a simple, beautiful Star of David craft to hang up during Hanukkah or give as a gift. See how to make this beautiful craft for the Jewish holiday, here.
28. Kwanzaa Paper Chain
Using red, green, and black paper strips, your child can create a Kwanzaa paper chain to decorate your home. You can write the seven principles of Kwanzaa throughout the chain and decorate it with stickers, glitter, and markers. See how to create construction paper chains with your kids, here.
29. Snowflake Ornament
Snowflake ornaments can remain out all winter long. All you need is craft sticks, white paint, silver glitter, and glue. Wavy wooden sticks will give your snowflakes a more realistic look. Get step-by-step instructions for this craft, here.
30. Beaded Candy Canes
Making beaded candy canes is not only fun but is an excellent way to work on your child’s fine motor skills. You can purchase ready-made kits or purchase supplies separately at your local craft store; you will need pipe cleaners, red, white, silver, and green beads.
