12 Winter Arts and Crafts for Kids That’ll Save Your Sanity (and Actually Keep Them Busy!)
Okay, so winter is here and our kids are bouncing off the walls. We get it—those cold, dark days can feel loooong when everyone’s stuck inside with nowhere to go, and we need ways to keep the kids busy .
Arts and crafts to the rescue! Creative projects, especially winter crafts for kids, are a lifesaver when we need to keep little hands busy and those winter blues far away.
We’re talking about easy winter crafts that don’t require a Pinterest-perfect workspace or a million supplies.
We’re all about making memories and having a good laugh together with this fun activity —glitter spills and glue globs totally included.
1) DIY Snowflake Window Clings with tissue paper and contact paper
Alright, friends, grab your coffee and let’s make our windows pop! We love making these snowflake window clings with tissue paper and clear contact paper, and it’s one of our favorite winter craft ideas .
It’s about as easy as crafts get and so forgiving—seriously, you can’t mess this up even if your toddlers suddenly decide to sneeze all over the painting supplies.
We cut out snowflake shapes from tissue paper, stick them on contact paper, and then slap them up on the windows. Instant winter vibes!
If you want to try color-changing clings, check out these creative snowflake window clings for extra rainbow magic.
2) Handprint Cardinal Birds using red paint and paper
Okay, let’s grab that red paint and get messy—our tables, our hands, our souls! We really love painting together. We’ll use our kiddos’ hands as the shape for these cute cardinal birds.
Paint their palms and fingers, then press onto paper. Instant bird body!
Decorating time! Add googly eyes, a yellow beak, and draw little feet.
If you want to get fancy, throw in a snowy branch for extra winter vibes. Want a peek at one way to do it? Check out this super simple winter handprint cardinal craft along with ideas for making cute snowmen .
3) Paint Stick Snowmen decoration project
Okay, so this one is super cute—and totally do-able even if we struggle with straight lines (hey, us too). We grab some paint sticks (hello, free from the hardware store!) and give them a snowy makeover.
We slap on some white paint, add faces with markers, and maybe glue on a scarf or a hat. Boom, adorable snowman!
Want to level it up? Turn it into a door hanger or magnet like we saw on this fun Paint Stick Snowman Craft.
4) Marshmallow Snowman Dispenser craft
Okay, can we just say how adorable it is to make a snowman that actually dispenses mini marshmallows? All it takes is a clear container, some craft paper, markers, glue, and a bit of patience because marshmallows have a way of disappearing in this fun winter craft .
We let the kids add goofy faces and buttons for that extra winter sparkle.
The best part? Watching our little ones drop the marshmallows in the top and shake them out the bottom is pure magic.
If you want step-by-step inspiration, check out this snowman marshmallow dispenser craft or other winter art projects .
5) Paper Fan Snowman with folded paper fans
Okay, who else remembers making those fan-folded paper things in school? For this, we grab plain white paper and fold it back and forth like an accordion.
Suddenly, we’re paper fan experts! We connect two or three of these fans together, stack them up, and boom—our snowman starts to take shape.
Add a paper hat, googly eyes, and a scarf cut from leftover craft scraps. This craft is super forgiving.
You really can’t mess it up! For step-by-step pictures and more tips, check out this helpful fan folded paper snowman project.
6) Winter Windsocks made from paper and yarn
Okay, who else is obsessed with how cute windsocks look blowing in the wind? We can make our own with just some paper, yarn, and a little imagination.
All you need is a toilet paper roll, some colored paper, and string—so easy, right?
Let’s wrap the roll, add streamers, and boom—instant winter magic! This winter windsock craft is so doable for even the littlest hands, and the results are adorable.
Need ideas? Check out these creative winter windsock crafts for kids for inspo!
7) Pom Pom Polar Bear puppets
Let’s be real, we’re just here for the fluffy pom poms. Making pom pom polar bear puppets is so easy and honestly, it’s kind of impossible not to smile at those little fuzzy faces.
We grab some white pom poms, glue on felt ears and a cute little nose, then stick them on our fingers or popsicle sticks.
It’s an adorable winter craft that totally gives us cozy vibes and endless bear puppet shows.
If you need ideas, check out these cute polar bear crafts for inspiration!
8) Felt Icicle Garland with glue and glitter
Let’s get a little extra with our winter decor—felt icicle garlands! We just need some felt, scissors, glue, and of course, glitter.
We cut the felt into long, wiggly icicle shapes. Then, we slather on the glue and go wild with the sparkles.
Hang our shiny garland in the window or around the table and suddenly winter feels way more magical.
Check out more ideas for DIY icicle decor using felt if you want to keep the fun rolling!
9) Salt Dough Snowflake Ornaments
Okay, let’s get messy and make some cute salt dough snowflakes! We just need flour, salt, and water—plus some glitter if you love sparkle as much as we do.
Mix up the dough, roll it out, and grab some snowflake cookie cutters. That’s it—easy peasy!
We can let the kids decorate with paint or glitter for extra fun. Check out these cool salt dough snowflake ornaments for more inspo!
10) Pinecone Penguin Crafts with googly eyes
Okay, can we just agree penguins are the absolute cutest? Let’s grab some pinecones, slap on some googly eyes, and make them even more adorable.
We can use felt for a little beak, wings, and maybe even a tiny scarf if we’re feeling extra.
Trust us, these guys make the perfect winter project for when it’s too cold to go outside.
If you want inspo, check out these creative penguin crafts. Let’s get messy, laugh a little, and see whose penguin looks the silliest!
11) Cotton Ball Snowmen with scarves and hats
Okay, who else still loves sticking fluffy cotton balls everywhere? We just can’t resist!
Cotton Ball Snowmen are a winter classic, and honestly, they’re perfect for any age. We grab some cotton balls, glue, construction paper, and get to work making the cutest little snow crew ever.
We go wild with scarves (hello, yarn leftovers!) and tiny hats made from anything we find—felt, paper, or that random sock with no pair.
If you want step-by-step inspo, check out this easy cotton ball snowman craft for kids, which is the perfect way to get started .
12) Paper Plate Arctic Fox Mask
Let’s get real—winter crafts with kids? Sometimes it’s pure chaos, but that’s where the fun lives!
For this one, all we need is a paper plate, some paint, and a little imagination.
We fold and cut the plate to make that classic fox face, then add adorable ears and a nose.
Paint it white (bonus points for glitter). Boom.
Paper plate arctic fox crafts are cute, easy, and nobody cares if you get glue everywhere!
Choosing The Right Supplies (Without Losing Your Mind!)
We all want crafts that spark joy and don’t leave us tearing our hair out, creating an image of happy creativity .
With a little planning, it’s totally possible to pick fun supplies that are easy to manage and gentle on the planet.
Eco-Friendly Craft Options
Let’s get real—crafting doesn’t have to leave us drowning in plastic wrappers and landfill guilt. We can totally make art and feel good about it!
For starters, there are so many eco-friendly craft supplies we can choose instead of the regular stuff, which gives us hope for a better planet .
Think: recycled construction paper, biodegradable glitter, bamboo paintbrushes, or even natural fiber yarn.
Shopping at thrift stores for fabric scraps or buttons is both earth-friendly and budget-friendly, and can also help with math skills when it comes to budgeting .
We can also go on little scavenger hunts with the kiddos for supplies like pinecones, leaves, rocks, or toilet paper tubes. It becomes part of the project and cuts down on waste!
Check if our markers or paints are labeled non-toxic and washable, too, especially if the kids (or let’s be honest, us) tend to get more on ourselves than the actual paper for writing . It’s a small switch that goes a long way—especially if the kids (or let’s be honest, us) tend to get more on ourselves than the actual paper.
Swapping plastic for reusable containers for things like pom-poms and sequins can also help cut down single-use plastic.
Easy Clean-Up Tips For Busy Parents
Nobody signs up for endless glitter in the carpet or glue on the ceiling.
Here’s our go-to list for keeping the chaos contained while still letting creativity run wild:
- Use a shower curtain liner or a dollar store tablecloth under the craft area. Fold it up and shake it out outside—magic!
- Keep old t-shirts or aprons on hand for fast kid-covering.
- Dollop paint and glue into muffin tins—way less mess than dealing with bottles.
- Choose washable everything when you can (markers, glue, paint).
- Have damp towels or baby wipes nearby (and maybe even a mini trash can).
If you want to upgrade your craft situation, consider a basket or small storage bin for all the essentials—scissors, markers, glue.
That way, we’re not searching through junk drawers every time creativity starts calling.
Want more ideas for keeping craft chaos in check? Check out this real-talk guide to how to craft with kids without losing your mind.
Encouraging Creativity And Confidence
Kids grow so much when we give them the freedom to express themselves through art, which also helps develop their fine motor skills .
Helping our little ones try new things, make mistakes, and show off their work helps them feel proud and brave—creativity and confidence are best buddies, allowing kids to explore their artistic abilit .
Letting Kids Take The Lead
We know it can be tempting to step in with all our “adult wisdom” but letting kids choose colors, materials, and even which winter craft they want to do makes such a huge difference.
When we let them take charge, they start to trust their own ideas more and more.
Try laying out supplies and letting them pick whatever grabs their eye.
Maybe today feels like a pinecone bird feeder day, or maybe they’re in the mood to make snowflake decorations or mitten puppets.
We can ask open-ended questions like, “What do you want to try?” or “How could you make that even sillier?”
A simple yes to their wild cupcake blue snowman or glitter explosion is sometimes all they need.
The more we back them up, the more they believe their ideas matter.
Celebrating Messes And Masterpieces
Let’s be real—glitter gets everywhere, paint dries on our table, and glue ends up in hair (sometimes ours). And that is totally fine when we are immersed in art !
Embracing mess is part of the whole creative ride. We cheer for every wild scribble and gluey pinecone because every project is its own kind of awesome.
Showing off their art, even if the snowman looks more like a squiggly blob, means so much to them. We hang it up, snap photos, or just call Grandma to tell her about the chaos.
Even mistakes are worth a high-five. Messes mean our kids are trying, learning, and getting braver.
We want them to feel safe to try something new, even if it gets a little messy.
