12 Days of Christmas Crafts for Kids to Enjoy
I sure hope you are as excited for the holiday season as I am! Christmas is such a magical time, and nothing brings that magic to life like spending time with our kids, creating together. I’ve put together this craft list that’s perfect for the kiddos. Whether you’re home with toddlers or have a crew of older kids, these crafts will be fun, easy, and a great way to make some memories together!
So grab some cocoa, pop on some Christmas music (We listen to Mariah Carey in this household😉), and let’s dive into these adorable crafts!
Day 1: Paper Plate Snowman
Kick things off with a classic snowman! 🎩
- Materials: paper plates, cotton balls, glue, markers, and anything extra to decorate (like buttons or sequins!).
- Instructions: Glue cotton balls all over the plate to create the “snow.” Draw on a face, add a carrot nose, and maybe a hat if you’re feeling fancy!
- Bonus Tip: Use pom-poms or even marshmallows to add dimension. This is a super fun one for little hands since there’s no “right” way to make a snowman!
Day 2: Christmas Tree Handprint Art
This one is sweet and makes for a precious keepsake.
- Materials: green paint, paper, glitter glue, star stickers, and markers.
- Instructions: Paint your child’s hand with green paint and stamp it onto paper in a pyramid shape to make the branches of a tree. Let them add “ornaments” with glitter glue or stickers!
- Parent Hack: Use these for homemade holiday cards. Grandparents and family members will adore them!
Day 3: Pom-Pom Garland
Decorate your home or tree with a homemade garland that’s super festive.
- Materials: yarn or string, pom-poms, and a plastic needle (optional).
- Instructions: Thread pom-poms onto the string to create a colorful garland. The kids can choose their favorite colors or go with a holiday theme (red, green, white).
- Bonus Tip: If you’re short on pom-poms, use cotton balls or large beads instead.
Day 4: Mason Jar Snow Globes
A mini winter wonderland, right in your home!
- Materials: small mason jars, mini Christmas figurines, glitter, water, and a few drops of glycerin.
- Instructions: Let the kids place mini figurines inside the lid of the jar, glue them down, and fill the jar with water, glitter, and glycerin. Screw on the lid, shake, and enjoy!
- Bonus Tip: Use small plastic toys your kids already have, like little animals or trees, for a fun, customized snow globe.
Day 5: Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments
Create a tiny forest to hang on your real tree!
- Materials: green felt, scissors, glue, ribbon, and little decorations (like sequins or buttons).
- Instructions: Cut out tree shapes from felt, and let the kids decorate them with “ornaments.” Add ribbon at the top to hang them.
- Parent Hack: Felt is forgiving! Perfect for younger kids who are still developing those fine motor skills.
Day 6: Pinecone Reindeer
Nature meets Christmas in this adorable craft!
- Materials: pinecones, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, mini pom-poms, glue.
- Instructions: Glue on googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose to the pinecone. Use pipe cleaners to make little antlers.
- Bonus Tip: If you don’t have pinecones, you can do this with empty toilet paper rolls too!
Day 7: Salt Dough Ornaments
Let’s bake up some Christmas magic with this classic craft.
- Materials: flour, salt, water, cookie cutters, and paint.
- Instructions: Mix 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of salt, and ½ cup of water to make salt dough. Roll out, cut shapes, and bake at 200°F for about 2 hours. Let cool, then paint!
- Parent Hack: Make sure to poke a hole at the top before baking if you plan to hang these as ornaments.
Day 8: Jingle Bell Bracelets
Simple, festive, and something they can wear all season long!
- Materials: jingle bells, elastic string, and beads (optional).
- Instructions: Thread the bells onto the elastic string along with any beads to make a fun, jingly bracelet.
- Bonus Tip: These also make great little gifts for friends and teachers!
Day 9: Stained Glass Paper Ornaments
These look beautiful in windows with the light shining through.
- Materials: tissue paper, wax paper, glue, and scissors.
- Instructions: Cut out holiday shapes from wax paper, layer tissue paper with glue, and let dry.
- Parent Hack: Laminate with clear contact paper to make them a little more durable.
Day 10: Cupcake Liner Christmas Trees
A fun twist using a common household item!
- Materials: green cupcake liners, glue, stickers, and markers.
- Instructions: Stack and glue the liners to make a tree shape. Decorate with stickers, markers, or glitter.
- Bonus Tip: Use these as decorations on your holiday table!
Day 11: Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
These snowflakes can be whatever color your kids dream up!
- Materials: popsicle sticks, glue, paint, glitter, and yarn or string.
- Instructions: Glue three sticks together in a snowflake shape. Paint, sprinkle with glitter, and add string to hang them.
- Parent Hack: If you make enough, these can double as unique gift toppers!
Day 12: Christmas Countdown Chain
Get the kids involved in the countdown excitement with this simple chain craft!
- Materials: red and green construction paper, glue or tape, markers.
- Instructions: Cut strips of paper and make interlocking loops to form a chain. Each day, tear off a loop to get closer to Christmas!
- Bonus Tip: Write fun activities or acts of kindness on each link for added holiday cheer!
I hope you and your kids have a blast with these crafts! Embrace the mess, take a lot of pictures, and remember that it’s all about making memories. 🎅🎨 If you try any of these crafts, I’d love to see how they turn out, so feel free to share in the comments or tag us online.
Happy crafting, and wishing you a warm, festive, and joy-filled holiday season!
