Hold on to your sleigh, we're off to a winter wonderland of kids craft ideas. From sparkly Santas to homemade snow globes, there are so many ways to get mini-makers involved in crafts over the holiday season.
When it comes to easy Christmas crafts for kids, we've found lots of brilliant ideas that any child is guaranteed to love.
This post includes plenty of easy Christmas crafts for kids, to suit all ages from toddlers to teens.
Turn handprints into wreaths, whip up recycled reindeer, cut paper snowflakes or find inspiration for DIY gifts and kits to keep the whole family busy.
We've got loads of kids Christmas craft decorations to try too – from garlands to DIY tree ornaments.
All the ideas in this guide can be made with basic craft supplies (best stock up on your glitter now) or using recycled household objects from lollipop sticks to loo rolls.
Looking for DIY elf hats? Handmade snowmen? Handmade gifts and stocking fillers that you can get the kids involved with? Read on to discover the best Christmas craft ideas for kids.
77 best Christmas crafts for kids for all ages
Jump to:
- Christmas crafts for preschoolers
- Christmas crafts for pre-teens
- Christmas crafts for teenagers
Easy Christmas crafts for kids for kids under 5
These festive crafts are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. They're easy activities that are ideal for the littlest crafters – with plenty of adult supervision, of course!
1. Fake snow
This one is a great sensory activity for kids! Add a few toys and it'll be a snow scene for them to play with.
We've created three fake snow recipes which can all be made using easy-to-find ingredients – you may have all of them at home already! Learn how to make fake snow with Gathered.
2. Handprint wreath
We've intentionally included ideas for all ages in this article and this is the first of many toddler Christmas craft ideas that we're bringing you. Turn simple handprints into a DIY paper wreath with The Best Ideas for Kids' how to make a handprint wreath tutorial.
If you're feeling brave (and your little ones aren't still in the phase of wanting to eat or lick everything they touch), you could even reach for the PVA glue and let them decorate with ribbon bows, sticky gems or mini pom poms.
3. Paper plate baubles
This lovely messy play idea lets children design their very own baubles using paper plates and few small scraps of tissue paper, felt or whatever other supplies you have lying around at home.
Try it with magazine pages or crisp packets if you don't have suitable art papers to hand. Thanks Arty Crafty Kids for the idea!
Get crafting and learn how to make paper plate baubles.
4. Easy paper plate angel
Another idea we remember fondly from our own childhoods was making mini angels from paper circles to place on top of the tree. Crafty Morning recreates this classic Christmas craft idea with their guide to How to make paper plate angels.
5. Salt dough handprint ornaments
This one's for all those of you looking for Christmas crafts for toddlers - The Best Ideas for Kids brings you this easy tutorial for how to make salt dough ornaments.
If you want to learn the basics of making salt dough, we've also got a video guide in our tutorial for how to make salt dough.
6. Reindeer headband
All you need for this oh-so-fun DIY from Simple Everyday Mom is some Kraft Paper, card and basic craft supplies. Kids will love it twice over – first for the crafting session and secondly for the dress-up potential!
Get the free reindeer headband printable and DIY.
7. Elf hat printable
You don't have to watch Elf the movie to make these DIY printable papercraft elf hat templates from Kids' Craft Room, but we can't think of a better excuse to watch Buddy the Elf on TV!
Dressing up has to be one of our favourite types of projects when it comes to Christmas crafts for kids - try it tonight with this free elf hat printable.
8. Christmas bauble colouring page
Trail of Colours has got a set of free printable festive colouring sheets which will keep kids entertained for hours, including these fun baubles!
Download the free Christmas bauble colouring page
Start feeling festive with our easy Christmas drawing ideas
Get arty with Gathered's Christmas drawing ideas! Draw adorable reindeer, colour in a gingerbread house, sketch Santa and much more.
9. Paper ball reindeer
Oh ho ho this is one of our favourites in this collection – grab a few pieces of paper and cut them into strips to make your very own DIY Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
Easy, Peasy and Fun shows you how to make paper ball reindeers.
10. Sun catcher ornaments banner
DIY decorations double up as a fun way to keep kids busy while also letting them show off their work proudly when you use it to decorate the house!
Playground Park Bench has got a lovely twist on hand-crafted kids ornaments with this tutorial for How to make a suncatcher ornaments banner.
11. Moveable penguin
Crafty Morning brings you the ultimate in simple Christmas crafts for kids – snip simple paper shapes then combine them with pin hinges to make a happy penguin!
Find out how to make your own moving part penguin.
12. Paper plate Christmas trees
Another lovely project if you're on the hunt for Christmas crafts for toddlers.
Creative Family Fun show you how to make paper plates, add some glue and pom-poms. Show your kids how to make paper plate Christmas trees.
13. Reindeer gift bags
Get children involved in making your own gift wrapping as well as decorations with this fun DIY from Happy Go Lucky blog for how to turn Kraft gift bags into jolly reindeer!
Make your own adorable reindeer gift bags.
14. Paper chain advent calendar
Why have we never thought of this before?! Modge Podge Rocks takes paper chains up a level with this guide to how to make a paper chain advent countdown
15. Make jumping elf puppets
Dive into this fun DIY project that kids can play with for hours after they've finished making it! Kids Craft Room bring you this guide to how to make elf puppets
16. Air-drying fingerprint decorations
Another lovely toddler crafts idea but it would work well with older kids too!
Make their fingerprints centre stage of me-made tree ornaments with Mum in the Mad House's tutorial for how to make clay fingerprint decorations
17. Preschool craft idea – name a snowman
A lovely nursery-friendly make from Fun a Day – younger kids who are learning to write their names will love this guide for how to make easy named snowmen.
18. Turn circles into candy canes
If you're short of time, why let that put you off when there are quick and easy kids' craft ideas out there like Fun EZ Crafts' DIY for how to make simple candy cane ornaments from simple punched circles?
19. Paper plate Santa Claus
Arty Crafty Kids are the complete pros when it comes to Christmas arts and crafts for kids – this how to make a Paper plate Santa Claus brings back memories of our own pre-school craft early memories.
The beauty of this one is that all you need is a paper plate, some paints, cotton wool and glue to make your on Father Christmas and your mini makers will love showing it off as they get excited about Christmas Eve.
20. Make lollipop stick snowflakes
Our second lollipop stick upcycling idea in this article (because they're both so cute we couldn't pick one over the other) – Toddler Approved shows you how to make sparkly snowflake decorations
21. Decorate fingerprint Christmas trees
There are a few different ways you can use fingerprints as a central part of your kid's crafts this Christmas, but we really like the way A Dab of Glue Will Do adds the unique element of masking to turn negative space into an easy hand-painted Christmas art project.
Make these into cards, gift wrap or tags! Find out how to do this clever Christmas tree fingerprint craft.
21. Santa binoculars
Looking for Santa? Get little ones to help find him with these lovely Santa binoculars! Simple to make and you'll likely have the materials in your cupboard already!
22. Christmas tree card
This Christmas tree card is a great activity for younger children and can be given to teachers or grandparents as a thoughtful gesture! Small children might need help with the shape of the card, but then allow them free rein to decorate it.
23. Christmas art
This is a messy craft but the mess is contained! The kids will have lots of fun using a salad spinner to make unique Christmas artwork.
24. Lollipop stick ornaments
These gingerbread decorations are super simple to make and will look fabulous on the tree!
25. Chrsitmas sun catchers
Suncatchers are a cute classic craft, make them festive with this fun tutorial. Get free templates and choose from a stocking, a star a candy cane or a tree.
Christmas crafts for kids under 12
These wonderful Christmas crafts are aimed at kids ages 5-12.
26. Turn old buttons into Christmas trees
We always knew that button jar would come in handy! Turn buttons from pre-loved garments into DIY Christmas tree decorations (or if you like this idea for your kids you can also buy some pretty inexpensive button packs online too!).
Learn how to make button Christmas tree decorations.
27. Popsicle stick Christmas tree decorations
Nothing beats recycled junk modelling Christmas crafts for kids – not only are the supplies cheap but it fires their imagination about how to convert everyday objects into creations to be proud of.
One Little Project has this lovely tutorial for how to make lollypop stick tree decorations.
28. Easy paper tree decorations
Thanks to The Link Site for bringing this clever idea for inexpensive, simple but effective paper strip Christmas tree decorations – they're so cute and colourful!
29. Paper crowns
Get in the mood for a festive celebration by making crowns for everyone! Once you've made the crown base, it can be covered with glitter, stickers or pom poms.
Head over to Gathered's how to make paper crowns guide to get started.
30. Decorate Christmas jumpers
This is a lovely example of simple Christmas crafts for kids where young crafters get to be in charge of what they do with it and you can sit back and leave them to it (if you can resist joining in too!).
Fun Learning With Kids have shared this DIY ugly Christmas sweaters idea to make a DIY collage kit – fill a tray with different accessories, cut out some Christmas Sweater shapes and leave them to do the rest!
31. Paint chip Christmas garland
Why buy expensive Christmas craft supplies when you can refashion DIY decorations using everyday items? Girl and a Glue Gun have come up with this nifty way to upcycle paint chip samples into colourful Christmas garlands.
Discover how to make a paint chip garland with their simple guide.
32. Thread beaded ornaments
Grab a handful of beads and some pipe cleaners and you've got all you need to thread and twist mini Christmas wreaths with these fabulous Christmas crafts for kids!
Makes and Takes shows you how in their tutorial for how to bead your own ornaments.
33. Snow slime in a jar
It's a fact of life that all kids love slime, right? No Time for Flash Cards shows you how to add a festive touch with their Snow Slime in a jar tutorial!
Find out how to make snow slime.
34. Loo roll Christmas elves
We've included a couple of their ideas in this round-up as we have a bit of a craft crush on Arty Crafty Kids (can we come round and play with you please?).
Here they show to rescue loo rolls from the recycling bin with their guide to how to make cardboard tube elf craft.
35. Turn paper straws into wreaths
We do love a Christmas craft idea which uses every day items rather than expensive stash! Turn paper straws into mini wreaths with Projects With Kids' how to make paper straw wreaths guide.
36. Yarn-wrapped tree ornaments
A lovely simple idea this one, cut cardboard triangles and reach for your yarn scraps to wrap them in wool to make mini Christmas trees! Decorate with pom poms, sequins or beads!
Easy, Peasy and Fun brings you this guide to How to make yarn tree ornaments
37. Penguin skittles
Make a fun festive game that the whole family can enjoy with this penguin skittles tutorial. Children will love making the penguin characters before trying to knock them down!
38. How to cut paper snowflakes
We've included a lot of our own personal favourite Christmas crafts for kids that we remember fondly from our own childhood in this article, and It's Always Autumn have got a lovely DIY on their website for one of our all-time favourite festive makes.
Snip and cut paper snowflakes with kaleidoscope effects with this guide to DIY Paper Snowflakes – free templates and tutorial.
39. Rudolph Christmas craft
One of a few reindeer ideas in this round-up (we may even have enough to pull Santa's sleigh), The Inspiration Edit bring you this cute DIY for how to make wooden Rudolf ornaments.
Their version uses wood slices for the basic reindeer's face but you could also easily swap this out for a circle cut from a cardboard box.
40. Gingerbread house card
One for all you card making fans – a scrumptious tutorial from i Heart Crafty Things for DIY gingerbread house cards.
Get cutting and sticking to make your own gingerbread house card.
41. Waterless snow globes
Who says easy Christmas crafts for kids can't also be magical and pretty impressive? We love this tutorial from Tidy Mum for how to make waterless snow globes.
42. Easy beaded candy cane ornaments
If you've found this post because you're searching for Christmas Crafts for Kids online, chances are candy canes will be topping your must-make list. We've found this cute tutorial from Foundation Avenue Kitchen for how to make beaded candy canes.
43. Paper chains
Paper chains are one of the easiest Christmas crafts for kids to make, as they're mess-free and simple to assemble.
Younger children will need a little assistance and you may need to cut out the paper strips for them, but older children can happily make paper chains for hours. This is a brilliant way to use up leftover wrapping paper too.
Go to Gathered's how to make paper chains guide to make your own fabulous decorations.
44. Snowflake drawing tutorial
Every snowflake is different and your children can use this drawing guide as a starting point for their own original designs.
Learn how to draw a snowflake with this beautiful step-by-step guide.
45. Pine cone crafts
Kids love to collect pine cones on their winter walks, so save them up to make these wonderful Christmas pine cone crafts.
If you don't have pine cones in your area, you can buy bags of them from craft shops so you can try these fun ideas with your kids.
46. Mason jar decorating
Decorate your own mason jars with this fun tutorial. Paint your designs straight onto the glass and create fun vessels for a gift, or pop an electric candle inside to see it glow.
47. Make pencil toppers
These cute pencil toppers are great for pre-teens to have a go at. they are only small and they can be whipped up quickly.
48. Make bath bombs with toys
You'll have to help little ones out with the making party, but this is so fun for kids to help with. They can help to shape the bath bombs and choose what little toy will go inside! These also make great gifts.
49. No-bake Christmas ornaments
Make beautifully scented Christmas spice ornaments to hang around your home this season.
50. Gnome ornaments
Gnomes are so in at the moment. Pre-teens will love making these gnome decorations, they're cute and simple.
Christmas crafts for teenagers
This countdown of Christmas crafts is perfect for slightly older family members, or even big kids! Even humbug teens won't be able to resist!
51. Instant-print sloth Christmas cards
Slow down and beat the Christmas rush with our fun printable sheets of Christmas sloths! Let teens go to town making their own fun animal Christmas cards.
Download the free Christmas sloths printables.
52. Christmas mason jars
Get your teens making sweet treats for their friends and family to store in these DIY Christmas jars.
53. Mix pom poms and pine cones
Any Christmas craft idea that's an excuse to go for a wonder in the woods before you get cosy at the craft table gets our vote!
One Little Project has combined both with this easy DIY for how to make pine cone ornaments.
Your ultimate Christmas craft guide
Learn how to make show-stoppping decorations, handmade gifts and more with Gathered's complete Christmas craft ideas round-up.
54. Build a no-sew sock snowman
When we think about Christmas craft ideas for kids, snowmen are one of the first things we think of.
Try this lovely tutorial from Easy, Peasy and Fun for how to make a sock snowman – no sewing required!
55. Make your own Christmas rubber stamps
This idea is one for older kids – or for children to ask a grown-up to help with as it involves a blade!
Get teens involved in designing their own Christmas stamps! Perfect for turning their designs into DIY festive wrapping paper, cards and tags.
Learn how to make a rubber stamp with Gathered.
56. Free Buddy the Elf printable
A personalised kids Christmas craft idea that the kids will adore, turn your family photos into a merry band of happy elves with Every Day Mom's Free Buddy The Elf Printable
57. Santa drawing tutorial
Hone your teen's drawing skills with Gathered's easy how to draw Santa tutorial. This is a fun creative activity for older kids to enjoy and they could use the guide to make their own hand-drawn Christmas cards.
58. Sew easy-felt gingerbread houses
Teenagers who are ready to have fun with needle and thread will love our DIY gingerbread houses made from felt and simple shapes!
Get stitching and learn how to make gingerbread tree decorations with Gathered.
59. Marbled wrapping paper
Older children will love making their own beautiful swirled wrapping paper using this traditional Japanese technique.
Any leftover marbled paper could be used for collages or even folded into pretty origami stars.
Try the Suminagashi gift wrap tutorial.
60. Easy Christmas decorations to sew
If your teen wants to learn how to sew, these easy sew Christmas decorations are the perfect project for them to attempt.
You can introduce them to basic sewing techniques, and then display their finished decorations on the Christmas tree.
61. How to draw a reindeer
Teens who love art and nature will love this fabulous reindeer drawing tutorial. The drawing guide is broken down into simple steps to help your teen draw with confidence.
Learn how to draw a reindeer with Gathered's simple guide.
62. Festive felt crafts
Felt is fabric that's perfect for crafting with teens – it's soft and easy to work with.
Explore these felt Christmas decoration ideas to find the ideal project for teens to make.
63. Make fabric paper chains
Paper chains have to be the ultimate in Christmas craft ideas for kids but why not add fabric into the mix with our step-by-step tutorial? Not only will they make decorations that you can keep for years and years, but you'll get to teach them to sew too!
Find out how to make fabric paper chains with Gathered's easy step-by-step guide.
64. Melted bead ornaments
How massively cute is this tutorial from One Little Project? (We're officially hooked on this website). Check out their beautiful but straightforward DIY melted bead ornaments tutorial.
65. How to make a snowglobe
Find out how to make a snow globe with our easy-to-follow video tutorial. Using supplies you'll be able to find around your home you can make these magical Christmas scenes!
Find out how to make a snow globe with Gathered.
66. How to make Christmas crackers
Add a bang to your Christmas DIY this year with our super quick and easy Christmas crackers. You'll only need a few materials, and you can use up any old wrapping paper while you are at it!
Find out how to make Christmas crackers.
67. How to make paper snowflakes
Learn how to make paper snowflakes in this step-by-step tutorial. Making snowflakes out of paper is a fun activity for any age and only requires basic supplies that you will have around the house.
To make 3D paper snowflakes, all you need is some white paper (copy paper is ideal), scissors, tape and a stapler. And for 2D paper snowflakes, you need even less! Just white paper and some scissors. Follow along with our video tutorial.
Find out how to make paper snowflakes the easy way.
68. Pom pom wreath
Teens can learn how to make pom poms and assemble this stunning pom pom wreath.
Show them this how to make a pom pom wreath tutorial and let them come up with their own colour scheme.
69. Macrame Christmas star
Introduce your teenagers to macrame with this gorgeous macrame Christmas star project. This star can be made using just one knot, so once they've mastered that they'll be able to make the whole wreath!
Have a handmade holiday this year
Make your own unique decorations, gifts and more! Embrace the season with Gathered's pick of the best Christmas craft ideas.
70. Origami penguins
These cute little origami penguins are much easier to make than they look! Follow Holly Spanner's easy tutorial to fold an entire paper penguin family.
71. Christmas tree drawing
Make some hot chocolate, put on a Christmas movie and settle in for a fun festive drawing session. Learn how to draw this fantastic retro tree with Charlotte Kinson's stunning how to draw a Christmas tree masterclass.
72. DIY Christmas wreath
Enjoy some quality time with your teen and make a DIY Christmas wreath for your door. They'll love assembling all the branches and decorations to make their own impressive decoration.
Learn how to make a Christmas wreath with Gathered.
73. Make dried orange slices
Fill your home with the smell of oranges with this dried orange tutorial. The guide will show you how to dry oranges, and how to use them to decorate for Christmas.
74. Make gift boxes
These lovely gingerbread gift boxes are ideal for keeping older kids busy. They are simple to make and look fantastic.
75. Embroider a Christmas t-shirt
Get teens started with embroidery with our simple t-shirt embroidery designs. They are mini in size and look so lovely stitched on a stripy tee.
76. Make decorations for the tree
Felt is a great craft for teens, it's easy, fun and looks really cool. Try these felt decorations by Heather Nugent.
77. Make an origami Santa
Origami is a great hobby and our Santa origami is a great way to get teens interested. It's cute, bright and fun to fold!
Keep little hands busy with easy Christmas crafts for kids
It can be challenging to keep children entertained over the holidays, so festive craft activities can be a great way to prevent boredom – and keep them away from screens for a little while.
Children will love making dazzling decorations to hang on the tree, crafting their own gifts or getting stuck into some colouring.
There's something for children of all ages to enjoy, from younger kids to pre-teens. Grown-ups can even get involved too!
Fun Christmas crafts for toddlers
Looking for something easy to make with a toddler? We have lots of wonderful craft ideas for two and three-year-olds to try, from salt dough decorations to confetti baubles.
Get making with Gathered's exciting Christmas crafts for toddlers.
