How to Choose a Christmas Craft by Age

Christmas Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Choose short, process-focused activities such as finger painting, sponge stamping, paper tearing and supervised handprint crafts. Prepare complicated pieces before the activity and let children do the painting, arranging and sticking.

Christmas Crafts for Kindergarten and Elementary Kids

Children in this age group can usually manage simple cutting, folding, lacing and construction with guidance. Older elementary children may also enjoy beginner sewing, paper quilling and more detailed ornaments.

Classroom Christmas Craft Tips

Choose crafts with five or fewer main steps, place supplies in shared trays and make one sample before class. For large groups, precut difficult shapes while leaving enough cutting, coloring and decorating for children to make each project their own.

10 Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make

Homemade ornaments turn children’s artwork into keepsakes families can enjoy year after year. Explore even more ideas in our collection of DIY Christmas ornaments for kids.

1. Popsicle Stick Snowflake Ornament: Arrange three craft sticks into a snowflake and decorate it with paint, markers or child-safe embellishments.
2. Paper Angel Christmas Ornaments: Accordion-fold patterned paper to create elegant angels for the tree or a classroom display.
3. Cardboard Roll Santa Ornament: Turn a clean cardboard tube into a cheerful Santa using paint, paper and cotton.
4. Paper Quilled Christmas Tree Ornament: Practice beginner quilling shapes while building a miniature Christmas tree.
5. Felt Angel Ornament: An easy felt project for older children learning basic hand sewing, with adult help as needed.
6. Chalkboard CD Ornaments: Upcycle old CDs into reusable ornaments children can decorate with chalk.
7. Felt Gingerbread Man Ornament: Stitch or glue a tiny gingerbread character that also makes a sweet handmade gift.
8. Paper Quilled Wreath Ornament: Combine simple paper coils to create a colorful miniature wreath.
9. Felt Gingerbread House Ornament: Older children can assemble a soft gingerbread house with colorful felt details.
10. Cupcake Liner Tree Ornament: Fold cupcake liners into layered trees for a quick and inexpensive holiday craft.

10 Advent Calendars and Christmas Countdown Crafts

Build excitement throughout December with simple calendars children can help decorate, fill or use each day.

11. Printable Santa Advent Calendar: Add one cotton ball to Santa’s beard each day while counting down to Christmas.
12. Nativity Advent Calendar: Add a star each day as children follow the Nativity story through December.
13. 12 Days of Christmas Craft: Make an interactive paper project inspired by the traditional Christmas song.
14. Advent Calendar Jokes: Share a child-friendly joke every day for a lighthearted classroom or family countdown.
15. Paper City Advent Calendar: Print and assemble a little Christmas street with numbered houses.
16. Paper Bag Advent Calendar: Decorate and number small paper bags, then fill them with notes or simple activities.
17. Cardboard Tube Advent Calendar: Reuse clean cardboard tubes to create a punch-through Christmas countdown.
18. Pegboard Advent Calendar: Older children can help decorate envelopes and arrange them on a reusable pegboard.
19. Customizable Christmas Advent Calendar: Personalize a reusable calendar with family activities, acts of kindness or small surprises.
20. 15 Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas: Choose another child-friendly countdown from this updated ArtsyCraftsyMom collection.

10 Christmas Gifts and Gift-Wrap Crafts Kids Can Make

Children can make the present, the card and even the wrapping with these thoughtful holiday ideas.

21. DIY Pillow Gift Box: Fold cardstock into a small box for candy, jewelry or a handwritten holiday message.
22. Christmas Paper Gift Basket: Make a festive paper basket and fill it with treats or tiny handmade gifts.
23. Paper Quilled Christmas Gift Tags: Add colorful paper coils to plain tags for a polished handmade finish.
24. Sponge-Painted Reindeer Wrapping Paper: Stamp reindeer faces onto plain paper to create one-of-a-kind gift wrap.
25. Sponge-Stamped Snowman Wrapping Paper: Build a family of painted snowmen across wrapped gifts or large sheets of paper.
26. DIY Christmas Gift-Wrapping Ideas: Browse more creative ways children can help decorate holiday packages.
27. Handmade Christmas Cards: Let children create meaningful cards for grandparents, teachers, friends and neighbors.
28. Christmas Keepsake Gifts: Choose a handprint, fingerprint or photo keepsake that families will treasure.
29. Origami Stocking Craft: Fold paper stockings to use as decorations, cards or small gift holders.
30. Printable Christmas Cards: Print, color and personalize a last-minute card that still feels handmade.

10 Adorable Elf Crafts for Kids

These playful elves include puppets, ornaments and recycled crafts for preschool and elementary children.

31. Rocking Elf Papercraft: Use the printable template to create an elf that rocks back and forth.
32. Popsicle Stick Elf Bookmark: Turn a craft stick into a festive elf that can save a child’s place in a book.
33. Jumping Elf Puppet: Combine craft and STEM play with a paper-cup elf that can jump.
34. Felt Elf Christmas Ornament: A beginner-friendly sewing project for older children and preteens.
35. Paper Elf Craft: Build a bright elf character from basic paper shapes.
36. Cardboard Tube Elves: Recycle cardboard tubes into a colorful group of North Pole helpers.
37. Craft Stick Elf: Paint and decorate craft sticks to make a smiling elf.
38. Paper Plate Elf: Turn a paper plate into a cheerful elf face for a classroom wall.
39. Elf Finger Puppet: Make small paper puppets for storytelling and pretend play.
40. 15 Elf Crafts for Kids: Find even more elf cards, ornaments, puppets and printable projects.

10 Simple Snowman Crafts for Kids

No snow is required for these friendly snowmen made from paper, cups, craft sticks, socks and recycled materials.

41. Paper Cup Snowman: Stack and decorate white paper cups to make a whole snowman family.
42. Paper Snowman Craft: Assemble an expressive snowman with simple paper pieces.
43. Paper Plate Snowman: Paint and decorate a paper plate for an easy preschool winter craft.
44. Egg Carton Snowman: Reuse a clean egg carton to make a small standing snowman.
45. Popsicle Stick Snowman: Add a paper face, scarf and buttons to a painted jumbo craft stick.
46. No-Sew Sock Snowman: Make a soft snowman without sewing; adults should supervise filling and tying.
47. Felt Snowman Ornament: Create a soft snowman keepsake with a free template.
48. Cardboard Tube Snowman: Use paint, paper and a clean cardboard tube for an inexpensive recycled craft.
49. Melting Snowman Paper Craft: Make a funny melted snowman while exploring shape and composition.
50. Craft Stick Snowman Bookmark: Create a snowman that doubles as a festive bookmark.

10 Meaningful Nativity Crafts for Kids

Use these projects at home, in Sunday school or in a classroom lesson about the Christmas story.

51. Printable Nativity Activity Pack: Combine storytelling with early math, literacy, sequencing, puzzles and fine-motor activities.
52. Stained-Glass Nativity: Create a translucent Nativity picture to display in a window.
53. Nativity Christmas Cards: Make simple Nativity cards using the printable template.
54. Paper Plate Angel: Turn a paper plate into an angel for a Nativity or Christmas display.
55. Nativity Story Stones: Paint story characters on stones and use them for sequencing and retelling.
56. Graham Cracker Nativity Scene: Assemble an edible scene with close adult supervision and allergy-aware ingredients.
57. Felt Nativity Story: Use soft felt pieces and a free template for hands-on story retelling.
58. Cardboard Tube Nativity: Transform clean cardboard tubes into simple Nativity figures.
59. Nativity Finger Puppets: Print and assemble puppets children can use to act out the Christmas story.
60. Nativity Story Paper Toys: Print, cut and assemble a complete paper Nativity set with adult cutting help.

10 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

This child-friendly collection replaces the adult home-décor projects from the original post with paper, craft-stick and fine-motor activities children can genuinely make.

61. Crumpled-Paper Christmas Tree: Scrunch tissue-paper pieces and glue them to a tree shape for excellent fine-motor practice.
62. White Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree: Twist pipe cleaners into a snowy tree and add beads only when age appropriate.
63. Quilled Paper Christmas Tree: Combine basic paper coils into a miniature tree ornament.
64. Corrugated Paper Christmas Tree: Wrap textured paper around a cone and decorate the finished tabletop tree.
65. Christmas Tree Lacing Card: Lace yarn through prepared holes to build hand strength and coordination.
66. Cupcake Liner Christmas Tree: Fold and layer liners for a quick tree ornament or card decoration.
67. Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree: Twist fuzzy stems into a miniature tree that children can decorate with beads or pompoms.
68. Geometric Paint-Chip Tree: Arrange colorful paper triangles into a modern recycled Christmas tree.
69. Christmas Tree Paper Collage: Use paper scraps to explore shape, layering and color while making a festive tree.
70. 20 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids: Find more tree cards, ornaments, bookmarks, printables and preschool projects.

10 Handprint Christmas Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Capture those little hands in festive artwork and keepsakes. Adults can prepare the shapes while children paint, print and decorate.

71. Handprint Reindeer: Turn a traced hand into a friendly reindeer with antlers and a bright red nose.
72. Handprint Christmas Wreath: Arrange multiple green handprints into a large collaborative wreath.
73. Santa Handprint Craft: Transform a handprint into Santa’s face, hat and fluffy beard.
74. Handprint Santa Keepsake Ornament: Make a personalized tree decoration for parents or grandparents.
75. Christmas Handprint Keepsakes: Choose from ornaments, gifts and decorations designed to preserve children’s prints.
76. Salt Dough Mitten Ornament: Press a hand into salt dough and let an adult handle the oven or other heat source.
77. Handprint Christmas Tree: Layer painted or traced handprints and decorate them with colorful ornaments.
78. Christmas Tree Truck Keepsake: Combine a child’s handprint with craft sticks to create a festive truck scene.
79. Handprint Christmas Fireplace: Add handprint flames to a printable fireplace complete with stockings.
80. Handprint Penguin: Turn a black handprint into a winter penguin with simple paper details.

10 Free Christmas Printables for Kids

These low-prep activities are useful for classroom centers, homeschool lessons, travel and quiet holiday afternoons.

81. Christmas Storytelling and Memory Cards: Use the same printable for matching, sequencing and open-ended storytelling.
82. Christmas Bingo: Print the picture cards for a classroom party or family game night.
83. Printable Christmas Cards: Color and personalize two simple cards at home or in class.
84. Christmas Baking Pretend-Play Set: Encourage imaginative holiday baking without switching on the oven.
85. Printable Letter to Santa: Practice writing while creating a special letter and matching envelope.
86. 20 Christmas Printables for Kids: Find games, crafts, coloring activities and early-learning resources in one updated collection.
87. Santa Advent Calendar and Gift Tags: Print a Christmas countdown plus coordinating tags.
88. Gingerbread Man Puppet: Color, cut and assemble a printable character for pretend play.
89. Santa Dress-Up Paper Doll: Mix and match Santa’s printable outfits and accessories.
90. Printable Christmas Puzzles: Cut and assemble festive picture puzzles for quiet-time play.

10 Christmas Art Projects for Kids

Explore paint, collage, chalk, printmaking and process art with these creative holiday projects.

91. Winter Landscape Collage: Layer paper shapes and textures to create a snowy seasonal scene.
92. Christmas Light Chalk Art: Use stencils and chalk to create glowing strings of colorful lights.
93. Fingerprint Christmas Tree: Stamp painted fingerprints to decorate a simple tree.
94. Snowflake Artist Trading Cards: Combine watercolor and paper-punched snowflakes in a small-format art project.
95. Nativity Silhouette Art: Create a dramatic silhouette project suited to older elementary children.
96. Dish-Brush Christmas Wreath: Use a clean dish brush as a stamp to build a textured painted wreath.
97. Sponge-Painted Shape Tree: Stamp geometric shapes while practicing color and shape recognition.
98. Faux Stained-Glass Christmas Art: Arrange translucent colors to make a bright window-inspired artwork.
99. Christmas Bauble Dot Painting: Follow the project video to fill an ornament shape with colorful painted dots.
100. Sponge-Painted Reindeer: Use sponge painting and paper details to create a friendly reindeer.

More Christmas Craft Collections for Kids

Still looking for the right project? These focused collections make it easier to plan a full classroom theme, holiday camp or week of creative activities.

20 DIY Christmas Cards for Kids

25 Paper Plate Christmas Crafts

25 Popsicle Stick Christmas Crafts

15 DIY Pasta Ornaments for Kids

30 Christmas Paper Collages

5 Christmas Books with Toddler Crafts

21 Fun Christmas Foods for Kids

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Crafts

What are the easiest Christmas crafts for preschoolers?

Paper plate crafts, sponge painting, fingerprint art, cardboard tube characters and crumpled-paper collages are usually easiest for preschoolers. Prepare complicated shapes in advance and let children focus on painting, arranging and gluing.

Which Christmas crafts work well in a classroom?

Choose crafts with inexpensive materials, limited drying time and fewer than five main steps. Paper ornaments, cards, lacing activities, printable puppets and collage projects are easy to prepare for groups and simple for children to personalize.

What supplies should I keep for Christmas crafts?

A useful basic kit includes cardstock, construction paper, washable paint, paintbrushes, glue sticks, child-safe scissors, craft sticks, paper plates, cardboard tubes, yarn, tissue paper and markers. Add small decorations only when they are appropriate for the children’s ages.

How can Christmas crafts support learning?

Cutting, folding, lacing and gluing strengthen fine-motor coordination. Patterned ornaments introduce early math, while cards and letters support writing. Nativity puppets, memory cards and story stones also encourage sequencing, vocabulary and storytelling.