✨ Introduction
Christmas is the perfect time to slow down, gather the kids, and get a little crafty. The twinkling lights, cozy nights, and holiday music in the background make crafting even more magical. DIY Christmas crafts aren’t just about glitter and glue—they’re about creating memories, laughing at the messes, and treasuring handmade keepsakes that last for years.
The best part? You don’t need expensive supplies or advanced skills. Most of these projects can be made with everyday items you already have at home—like paper plates, toilet paper rolls, and popsicle sticks. Whether you’re making ornaments for the tree, little gifts for grandparents, or just looking for a fun snow-day activity, these crafts are simple, affordable, and packed with holiday cheer.
Get ready to roll up your sleeves, spread some sparkle, and enjoy these 10 fun and easy DIY Christmas crafts for kids!
📝 Disclosure
This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some content in this post was created with the help of AI.
🎄 1. Paper Plate Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are one of the most magical parts of the holiday season. The twinkling lights, colorful ornaments, and sparkling tinsel always make a room feel cozy and bright. But what if you could make your very own mini tree—one that you get to design from top to bottom? With just a simple paper plate, some paint, and a few decorations, you can create a Christmas tree that’s totally unique and 100% you. The best part? You don’t need to buy anything fancy. This craft is quick, easy, and fun enough to keep kids busy on a snowy afternoon. Plus, when you’re done, you’ll have adorable little trees to decorate your room, give as gifts, or even use as table decorations for Christmas dinner.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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Green paint, crayons, or markers
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Scissors (ask an adult for help)
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Glue or tape
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Decorations: pom-poms, sequins, buttons, stickers, glitter—whatever you have at home
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Yellow paper or a star sticker for the top
✨ How to Make It:
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Cut your plate: Fold the paper plate in half, then cut it into three “pie slice” shapes. Each slice will be one Christmas tree.
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Paint it green: Color your tree with green paint, markers, or crayons. Let it dry if you used paint.
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Decorate: Glue on pom-poms for ornaments, sprinkle glitter for sparkle, or stick on buttons and sequins for shine.
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Add the star: Cut a star out of yellow paper (or use a sticker) and glue it to the top of your tree.
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Show it off: Once it’s dry, you can stand your tree up by taping it to cardboard, hang it on the wall, or line up a whole forest of them on a shelf.
💡 Fun Tip:
Make a set of different-sized trees and use them as decorations for your Christmas table. You could even write names on each one and turn them into personalized place cards!
❄️ 2. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
Snowflakes are one of the prettiest parts of winter—no two are ever the same! With this craft, you get to make your own snowflakes using popsicle sticks, paint, and a little imagination. The best part? These snowflakes won’t melt, and you can decorate them any way you like. Hang them on the tree, tape them to the windows, or string them together to make a frosty garland. It’s a simple, colorful project that brings a little bit of winter wonder right into your home.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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White or light blue paint (markers or crayons also work)
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Glue (hot glue if an adult is helping, regular school glue if kids are making them)
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Glitter, sequins, or rhinestones for sparkle
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String or ribbon if you want to hang them up
✨ How to Make It:
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Make the snowflake shape: Glue 3 or 4 popsicle sticks together in the middle to make a star or “snowflake” shape. Let it dry.
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Paint your snowflake: Cover your sticks with white, silver, or blue paint. Add extra coats if you want it bright.
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Decorate: Sprinkle glitter on while the paint is still wet, or glue on sequins, rhinestones, or stickers to make your snowflake shine.
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Add a hanger: Tie a piece of ribbon or string around one end so you can hang it up.
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Display: Hang it on your Christmas tree, in the window, or make a bunch to decorate your room!
💡 Fun Tip:
No two snowflakes in nature are alike, so don’t be afraid to get creative! Try different numbers of sticks, mix up the colors, or even paint rainbow snowflakes.
🦌 3. Handprint Reindeer Cards
Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a homemade card, and this one comes with a special touch—your very own handprint! By tracing your hand, you can turn it into a reindeer with antlers, a shiny red nose, and a big holiday smile. These cards are perfect for giving to family, teachers, or friends, and they’ll treasure the fact that you made it yourself. Plus, you’ll love looking back at how small your hand was in years to come—it’s like a holiday keepsake and a card all in one.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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Construction paper or cardstock (brown, red, and any other festive colors)
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Pencil
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Scissors (ask an adult for help)
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Glue stick
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Googly eyes (or you can draw them)
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Red pom-pom or marker for the nose
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Markers, crayons, or stickers for decorating
✨ How to Make It:
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Trace your hand: Place your hand on brown construction paper and trace around it with a pencil. This will be the reindeer’s antlers.
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Cut it out: Carefully cut out the handprint shape.
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Make the reindeer’s face: Cut an oval or circle from another piece of brown paper for the head.
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Assemble the reindeer: Glue your handprint (antlers) to the top of the oval (head). Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom (or color in a red nose).
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Make it a card: Fold a piece of cardstock or construction paper in half. Glue your reindeer to the front.
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Add your message: Write a holiday greeting inside like “Merry Christmas!” or “You’re ‘deer’ to me!”
💡 Fun Tip:
Make a whole herd! Use different family members’ handprints for antlers—big ones for dad, medium for mom, small for kids—and line them up to make a reindeer family card.
⛄ 4. Mason Jar Snow Globes
Snow globes are like little worlds you can hold in your hands—shake them up, and suddenly it’s snowing inside! With this craft, you can make your very own snow globe using a mason jar, some glitter, and a tiny holiday figurine. It’s a magical project that kids love because every shake feels like winter wonderland magic. These snow globes make adorable decorations, and they’re also wonderful handmade gifts for grandparents, teachers, or friends.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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A mason jar with a lid (plastic jars work too if you want a safer option for kids)
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Small waterproof figurines (like a tiny Santa, snowman, or Christmas tree)
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Glitter (white, silver, or even rainbow)
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Water
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Glycerin (optional, makes the glitter fall more slowly—you can find it in most pharmacies or craft stores)
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Strong glue (hot glue or super glue with adult help)
✨ How to Make It:
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Pick your figurine: Choose a small holiday toy or decoration that will fit inside the jar when it’s closed.
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Glue it down: With an adult’s help, glue your figurine to the inside of the jar lid. Let it dry completely.
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Fill the jar: Pour water into the jar until it’s almost full. Add a spoonful of glitter and a few drops of glycerin if you have it (this makes the glitter “snow” more slowly).
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Close it up: Screw the lid on tightly with your figurine inside the jar. You might want to add extra glue around the edge to prevent leaks.
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Shake and enjoy: Turn it over, give it a shake, and watch the snow swirl around your little holiday scene!
💡 Fun Tip:
Try making a whole set of snow globes with different themes—like one with a tree, one with a snowman, and one with Santa. Line them up on a windowsill or shelf for a magical snowy display.
🎅 5. Toilet Paper Roll Santas
Who knew something as simple as an empty toilet paper roll could turn into Santa Claus himself? This craft is super fun because you get to build Santa’s red suit, fluffy beard, and cheerful face all from scratch. Kids love this project because every Santa turns out a little different—some with silly beards, some with tall hats, and some with extra sparkly outfits. Once finished, these Santas can be lined up on a shelf, used as decorations for the Christmas table, or even made into a whole army of little paper roll Santas to spread holiday cheer around the house.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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Empty toilet paper rolls (or cut paper towel rolls)
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Red construction paper or paint
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White cotton balls (for Santa’s beard and trim)
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Black marker or strip of black paper (for Santa’s belt)
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Yellow or gold paper (for the belt buckle)
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Scissors
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Glue
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Googly eyes (optional)
✨ How to Make It:
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Make Santa’s suit: Wrap the toilet paper roll in red construction paper or paint it red. Let it dry if painted.
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Add the belt: Cut a thin strip of black paper and glue it around the middle of the roll. Cut out a small square of yellow or gold paper and glue it in the center as the belt buckle.
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Give him a beard: Stretch out some cotton balls and glue them to the bottom of the roll for Santa’s fluffy beard.
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Make his hat: Roll a triangle of red paper into a cone shape and glue it to the top of the roll for Santa’s hat. Add a cotton ball at the tip and a strip of cotton along the bottom for trim.
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Add the face: Draw eyes and a smile with a marker, or glue on googly eyes. You can also add a tiny red pom-pom for his nose!
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Show him off: Stand your Santa up on a table, shelf, or windowsill and enjoy your very own jolly holiday friend.
💡 Fun Tip:
Make a whole collection of Santas with different colored suits—green, blue, or even rainbow—and turn them into a festive holiday parade!
🌲 6. Pinecone Christmas Ornaments
Pinecones are like nature’s little Christmas decorations—they’re already shaped like mini trees! With just a bit of paint, ribbon, and sparkle, you can turn plain pinecones into beautiful ornaments for your Christmas tree or to hang around the house. This craft is great for kids because it starts with a little adventure: going outside to collect pinecones. Once you’ve gathered them, the fun really begins as you paint, decorate, and make each one look different. The result? A set of rustic, handmade ornaments that bring the outdoors right into your holiday home.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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Acrylic paint (white, green, gold, or silver are great choices)
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Glitter (optional, but extra sparkly!)
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Small paintbrush
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Ribbon or string
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Glue
✨ How to Make It:
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Collect and clean: If you gathered pinecones outside, shake them out or leave them to dry before using.
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Paint the edges: Use a small paintbrush to dab paint on the tips of each pinecone scale. White makes them look “snowy,” while gold and silver make them look extra festive.
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Add sparkle: While the paint is still wet, sprinkle on glitter so it sticks.
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Attach the ribbon: Cut a piece of ribbon or string and glue it to the top of the pinecone to make a loop for hanging.
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Hang it up: Once dry, hang your ornament on the tree, in a window, or even on a doorknob for a touch of Christmas cheer.
💡 Fun Tip:
Make a bunch of these pinecones in different colors and give them as gifts. You can even place one on each plate at the holiday dinner table as a special decoration for guests to take home.
