22 Christmas Arts and Crafts for Kids: Festive Fun That Won’t Wreck Your Sanity
The holiday season is right around the corner, and honestly, you know what that means—craft supply explosions in the living room and glitter in places you didn’t even know existed. This time of year is a wild excuse to slow down, get creative, and spend quality time letting the kids’ imaginations run wild with holiday magic.
This article is packed with easy and fun Christmas arts and crafts for kids ideas to help keep our little ones happy and busy during the festive chaos.
Whether you’re a seasoned crafting pro or just barely surviving the glue stick mayhem, it doesn’t matter. We’re in this together, making sweet memories (and maybe a big ol’ mess) with our children that we’ll talk about for years.
1) Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments
Salt dough Christmas ornaments don’t just look cute—they make the whole house smell like you tried to bake something (even if you totally didn’t). All you need is flour, salt, and water to mix, shape, and bake your own ornaments using cookie cutters .
No fancy materials, just stuff from the pantry. Kids can go wild painting them or adding glitter. This is the ultimate “messy but worth it” holiday project, making it one of the best ideas for Christmas crafts .
It’s perfect for making keepsakes together. Want more inspo? Here are some easy tutorial salt dough ornament ideas.
2) Paper Plate Santa Faces
Who knew a plain old paper plate could turn into such a cute Santa face? Seriously, just grab some red and white paper, a paper plate, glue, and let the chaos begin.
It’s the perfect craft for kids who love making a mess and for parents who are just rolling with it. We follow a few easy steps—cut, stick, and giggle!
If you want a template or a little hand-holding, check out these free printables for is adorable paper plate Santa craft idea.
3) Candy Cane Reindeer Craft
This one’s a total classic, and honestly, it never gets old. You just need candy canes, brown pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and a cute little pom pom for the nose.
Wrap the pipe cleaner around the curved part to make some epic antlers—wiggles totally encouraged. Then glue on the eyes and, of course, that red pom pom nose.
These candy cane reindeer look adorable hanging out on the tree or as a little gift add-on.
4) Cotton Ball Snowmen
Nothing beats a simple craft that keeps kids busy and your table just a little bit fluffier. Grab some cotton balls, glue, and paper snowflakes, and you’re off making snowmen—even if it’s 70 degrees outside.
These snowmen are soft, cute, and totally mess-friendly. Grab googly eyes for extra personality. Want a quick how-to? Here’s a fun cotton ball snowman craft for inspiration!
5) Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees
Popsicle sticks basically scream “easy holiday craft,” just like building a gingerbread house. Grab a handful, some glue, and maybe a blob of glitter if you’re feeling extra.
Stack and glue the sticks into a triangle, and bam, you’ve got a tree. Kids can decorate with pom poms, stickers, or whatever’s in the craft bin.
Want step-by-step tips? Check out these popsicle stick Christmas trees.
6) Toilet Paper Roll Snowflakes
Honestly, who knew toilet paper rolls could actually look cute hanging on your tree? Just grab a few empty rolls, scissors, glue, and your wild imagination.
Cut the rolls into rings and squish them into petal shapes. Glue the pieces into snowflake patterns and let the kids paint them any color they want.
Add glitter or rhinestones if you’re feeling fancy, and boom! Your toilet paper roll snowflakes are ready to sparkle.
7) Handprint Christmas Tree Art
Tiny handprints turned into Christmas trees? So cute. Get the whole fam (or classroom) in on it and you’ve got next-level homemade decorations.
Grab green paint, paint those little hands, and smoosh them onto paper. Add some fingerprint “ornaments” and a painted star on top. Need ideas? Here’s an adorable handprint Christmas tree craft.
8) Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes
Pipe cleaner snowflakes are the ultimate lazy-day win for all skill levels . All you need are some pipe cleaners, a sprinkle of beads, and you’ve got instant winter magic.
These are perfect for little hands. Honestly, it’s fun seeing all the wild “snowflake” designs kids come up with.
You can check out easy steps for pipe cleaner snowflakes if you don’t want to wing it. Plus, they’re just so fun to hang anywhere.
9) Glittery Pinecone Ornaments
We love a craft that lets us get a little messy, and glittery pinecone ornaments bring the sparkle every time. Grab some pinecones from outside (bonus points if your kids help you hunt for them).
Brush on glue, shake on loads of glitter, and watch the magic happen. It’s an easy way to add some sparkle to the tree and your day. If you need some inspo, check out these DIY glitter pine cone ornaments for extra tips!
10) Felt Gingerbread Men
We all need a “craft you can’t really mess up” day, and felt gingerbread men totally fit the bill. All you need is some brown felt, scissors, and a sprinkle of go-for-it energy.
Add buttons, googly eyes, or even draw on silly faces. No sewing pro skills required—seriously, thread and glue both work! Want more ideas? Here’s an easy felt gingerbread man craft for inspiration.
11) Pom-Pom Garland
Let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a cute pom-pom? Grab some yarn in your favorite holiday colors, make a pile of fluffy poms, and string them up for instant Christmas cheer.
It’s so simple, and the kids feel like crafty rockstars. Our living room gets major festive vibes.
We use thick thread or embroidery floss to string the pom-poms together. Want more tips? Check out this pom pom Christmas garland guide.
Cozy, cheery, and honestly—no glue mess!
12) DIY Holiday Cards with Stickers
Stickers just make everything better, right? Grab a pack (or three) of the cutest holiday stickers around and let the kids go wild creating their own Christmas cards.
No need for fancy art skills—just a stack of paper, a few markers, and all the sticker magic you can handle. Need more ideas? Check out these adorable DIY Christmas card crafts for kids for inspiration.
13) Construction Paper Candy Canes
Anything with glue and construction paper is basically our comfort zone! Candy canes made from construction paper are cute, mess-friendly, and perfect for little hands.
Draw a big candy cane shape, cut it out, and go wild with red stripes. Ripping leftover wrapping paper is totally allowed—sometimes that’s the best part, but double sided tape can make it even easier !
For step-by-step help, check out this easy candy cane craft guide.
14) Sequin Christmas Stars
We love anything that sparkles, and these sequin Christmas stars are total showstoppers. Grab some cardboard, cut out star shapes, and let the kids loose with hot glue, a heap of sequins, and colorful beads.
There’s no such thing as too much glitter! We end up with shiny, colorful stars perfect for hanging on the tree—or honestly, anywhere.
Need more ideas? Check out these fun star crafts for extra inspiration.
15) Pom-Pom Snowman Magnets
Who doesn’t love some cute pom-pom snowman magnets on the fridge? These little guys add instant winter vibes to our kitchen, especially with a touch of red ribbon .
We just need white pom-poms, googly eyes, a little ribbon, and some magnets. Don’t forget the tiny orange nose—because, snowman!
Need a quick guide? Check out this fun pom pom snowman magnet craft for inspo.
It’s quick, no-mess, and everyone can join in—even littles with grabby hands.
16) Reindeer Antler Headbands
Let’s just admit it—kids look ridiculously cute with antlers. Watching them prance around like little holiday reindeer is a highlight.
All you need is a printable template, some paper, and a bit of glue. Let the kids make their own designs or add some red pom-poms for noses.
We love that projects like these double as Christmas dress-up. If you want an easy option, check out this cute printable reindeer antler headband that can be embellished with some extra holiday ribbon for some extra holiday fun.
17) Tissue Paper Wreaths
Messy crafters, grab the tissue paper because we’re making wreaths! All you need is a paper plate, some tissue paper, and glue.
Rip, scrunch, and stick—no perfection needed. We can add pom poms or a dash of glitter for extra sparkle.
These wreaths make cute decorations for doors or even for gifting. See an easy step-by-step tutorial here if you want to follow along.
18) Snow Globe Jars
Let’s talk about Snow Globe Jars—because who doesn’t love a little shake-and-sparkle action? We grab a clean jar, fill it with water, glitter, and a tiny toy or tree to pop inside.
The best part? The messier, the better—if we’re not covered in glitter, are we even crafting? The kids get wild over watching the “snow” swirl, and honestly, so do we.
These are super cute for gifts or just to sit on our shelves making us smile. For more ideas, check out these snow globe crafts for kids!
19) Button Christmas Tree Collage
Grab your stash of random buttons—we’re about to whip up the cutest Christmas tree collage ever. All it takes is a little glue and a whole lot of creativity.
We use all sizes and colors of buttons to make our tree unique. If your kids want to make it wild and rainbow, let them go for it!
Wanna keep things extra easy? Print a tree outline and just start gluing! Check out some cute ideas here.
20) Q-Tip Snowflake Painting
This one’s so easy, it’s almost silly! Grab some Q-tips, dip them in white paint, and start dabbing out snowflake shapes on blue paper.
No snow outside? No problem—our messy kitchen table turns into a winter wonderland in five minutes flat. We love that it’s low-mess and creative.
Everyone’s snowflake is totally unique, just like us! For extra fun, print out snowflake templates for Q-tip painting and add glitter for that frosty sparkle.
21) Paper Snowman Puppets
How cute are paper snowman puppets? Grab some white paper, markers, and a few scraps for scarves and hats.
Boom—instant winter magic for the kids. These are easy enough for all ages, which means less stress for us and more giggles for them.
Want a head start? Check out a printable snowman puppet template and let the crafting chaos begin!
22) Thumbprint Christmas Lights
How stinkin’ cute are thumbprint Christmas lights? We just grab some paper, dip our thumbs in colorful paint, and press away to make our own funky string of lights.
It’s honestly the easiest holiday project—no art skills required, just our fingers and a little mess. The best part? Every “light” is one-of-a-kind, just like us.
Find step-by-step ideas at this thumbprint Christmas lights craft.
Why Christmas Arts And Crafts Rock For Kids
We’re all about squeezing every drop of fun out of the holidays without needing a perfect Pinterest board. Christmas arts and crafts help kids get creative and laugh, bring the whole family together to spend time , and—they might not admit it—make a mess that’s actually great for learning.
Boosting Creativity With A Holiday Twist
Who doesn’t love a bunch of pipe cleaners and pom-poms? Christmas arts and crafts are a playground for our kids’ brains.
Think paper plate Santa faces, gingerbread house egg carton reindeer, and decorating ornaments. There’s no “right” way to make Santa’s beard, and that’s the magic.
Every holiday project is packed with chances to make decisions like, “Should I paint the snowman blue or add three googly eyes?” We’ve seen little ones invent stories about their crafts and try out wild (but adorable) color mashups.
Plus, choosing and using materials like felt, glitter glue, or buttons helps with fine motor skills. Those tiny fingers are getting a workout, too.
If you need inspiration, there are loads of Christmas craft ideas for kids that can turn any ordinary afternoon into an explosion of imagination.
Making Family Memories (Glitter Included)
The best part? We’re making memories while up to our elbows in glue, tinsel, and scraps of gift wrap.
Sitting down for arts and crafts gives us real, silly time with our kids—sharing stories about holidays past, sneaking extra cookies, and maybe even letting grandparents join in (even if grandpa glues his fingers together).
Our favorite keepsakes are rarely bought; they’re those big hit lopsided popsicle stick ornaments and hilariously odd Christmas cards that get pulled out year after year.
There’s something super sweet about a homemade tree ornament that brings a smile (and lots of giggles) every December.
Need more family fun? Try these festive Christmas crafts for kids to keep the tradition going strong.
Messy Play Is Good Play
Let’s be honest: crafts get messy, and that’s why our kids love it!
Glitter storms and splatters of red paint are all part of the package. But this kind of messy play is more than just chaos—it’s hands-on learning.
Our kids get to experience textures, experiment with mixing colors, and figure out how much glue is too much (answer: always more than you think).
Cleaning up the mess can even be part of the fun when we turn it into a silly team project.
Psychologists say stuff like this helps kids build confidence and independence—so that mess? Totally worth it.
If you need ideas for easy crafts that embrace the mess, check out these easy Christmas crafts for kids, like the next strip of creative project that bring the fun without the stress.
Pro Tips For A Stress-Free Craft Day
Let’s be honest—crafting with kids can be a total blast, but also totally wild.
The secret sauce is in getting set up, choosing gift wrap picking the right stuff, and keeping cleanup as chill as possible so nobody loses their mind.
Set Up Like A Craft Queen
If we want sanity to survive the first 10 minutes, we’ve got to think ahead.
Let’s grab an old tablecloth (the uglier, the better) or a dollar store shower curtain and toss it over the table. Bam—instant mess shield.
Next, we put supplies within arm’s reach and group similar things together.
Little baskets or bins for markers, scissors, glue—whatever’s in play. This way, we don’t hear “Mom, where’s the paint?” sixty times before our coffee cools.
We also try a checklist:
Paper towels or wipes
Aprons or old shirts
All supplies divided by type
Snacks and drinks (for us and them)
Have a trash can nearby—or at least a “scraps bowl”—so we can clean as we go and nobody’s tripping over glitter mountains.
If all else fails, we just embrace the chaos and laugh about it.
Safe (But Still Fun) Supplies
Our number one rule: no craft is cute enough to risk a trip to the ER.
We stick with blunt scissors for younger kids, non-toxic glues, and washable markers or paints. Pro tip: test those “washable” items first, because marker stains never lie.
Here’s a quick breakdown of our faves, including mason jar craft :
|
Supply |
Why We Love It |
|---|---|
|
Jumbo craft sticks |
No sharp edges—super safe |
|
Pom poms & pipe cleaners |
Soft with zero stress |
|
Glue sticks |
Easy for tiny hands |
|
Foam shapes |
No scissors required |
We double-check that all supplies are age-friendly.
Anything with small parts stays far, far away if toddlers are around.
If we want to level up, we grab kits designed just for kids that include everything we need, and take the guesswork out of shopping.
For more ideas on keeping crafts stress-free and safe, check out these easy Christmas crafts.
Cleanup Doesn’t Have To Be A Nightmare
This is honestly the part where we want to give up. But let’s not.
We keep a trash bin or just a grocery bag close for all those tiny scraps and packaging from stickers (so. Much. Packaging).
Baby wipes—those magic little cloths—are always in a basket within reach.
We run a quick “ten-minute tidy” with the kids. Everybody gets one job.
Someone puts away markers. Another wipes the table.
Somebody else grabs stray pom poms hiding under the chair. The littles can even help sort their leftover supplies into bins for next time.
We use washable supplies and cover the table. Cleanup feels way less stressful.
And honestly, when the mess is finally gone, we celebrate with hot chocolate. Because hey, we earned it.
