School is out, and parents are looking for ways to keep their kids busy while they're out of school. We're here with dozens of Christmas crafts for kids to keep them entertained and allow them to exercise their creativity. (Bonus: They'll stay off the electronics for a bit!). Rather than sitting the kids down in front of holiday movie (although we love doing that, too!), spread your love of DIY Christmas craft ideas by making a Christmas crafts with their help.
The best part about these projects? They make for fun holiday decor that you can use anywhere in the house and are also perfect for gifting. And heading to the craft closet every year will also help cement long lasting Christmas traditions! If you're looking to add a few more decorates to your Christmas tree, bookmark the many DIY Christmas ornaments ahead. Want an adorable item to put up on your wall or hang from the ceiling? We've got you covered. And these ideas are guaranteed to keep them busy during the hours you're making the holiday feast. I mean what kid isn't going to have a blast making slime.
Whatever you and your little ones choose to create, the most important thing is that you'll be spending quality time together! So go grab some glue sticks and paint, and get started making one of on our favorite Christmas crafts for kids.
1
School Paper Gift Bags
Have the kids transform plain white paper bags into school paper with nothing but a few pens and a standard hole punch. Once done they can use the bags to give gifts to their teachers or classmates.
To make: Use a ruler to draw blue lines side to side on a white paper gift bag. Draw a red line perpendicular to the red line. Use a standard size hole punch to punch three holes to the left of the red line. Fill with a gift, then tissue paper.
2
Apple Mason Jar
A craft the kids can make for their favorite teacher as a holiday present or to set on their own desk and fill with colored pencils and pens!
To make: Paint the inside of a Mason jar with red craft paint. Cut an apple leaf from green craft paper and punch a small hole in one end. Write a note to teacher on the leaf and attach to the jar with a length of twine. Fill jar with pencils, colored pencils, or pens
3
Sugar Cookie Mason Jar
Kids will love helping to assemble these gifts for your friends and neighbors. Mix up the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie (We love a good sugar cookie.) Attach a cookie cutter, a light shaped ornament filled with cookie decor, and baking instructions.
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4
Grinch Cookies
Bring on the sprinkles! These cookies are so much fun for kids and adults to make.
Get the recipe.
5
Cross-Stitch Chicken
We have dozens of free cross-stitch patterns, from kid-friendly chickens and dogs to Christmas-themed trees, wreaths, and ornaments. Find them all here. For younger kids learning the craft, try a 10-count Aida fabric.
6
Baseball Mason Jar
For your sporty kids, let them try their hand at a baseball-themed mason jar.
To make: Paint the outside of a Mason jar with flat white craft paint. Once dry use a fine grit sandpaper to gently scuff up the paint. Use a fine-tipped paint brush and red craft paint to paint on the stitches of the baseball. Use brown spray paint to paint the metal lid and band of the jar; allow to dry completely. Cut a baseball bat from a piece of brown craft paper and use markers to add details, such as wood grain. Punch a tiny hole in one end of the bat and attach to the jar with a piece of baker’s twine. Fill jar with Cracker Jack and attach lid.
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7
Sheet Music Trees
These Christmas tree cones look impressive, but they're easy enough for kids who are comfortable with scissors or who have supervision from an adult.
How to make sheet music trees.
8
Snowmen Cupcakes
Kids will love decorating, with a generous sprinkle of coconut and icing faces and of course eating, these cute snowman vanilla-flavored cupcakes.
Get the recipe.
9
Santa Mason Jar
After crafting a Santa mason jar, kids can use it to store their favorite holiday treats and candy.
To make: Paint the inside of a Mason jar with red craft paint. Cut a piece of red felt into cone shape and glue to the metal ring; shape into a hat. Cut a thin strip of white felt and hot glue to the bottom of the hat. Attach a small white pom pom or marble to the tip of the hat with hot glue (adults should help with hot glue use). Wrap a length of black ribbon around the lower part of the jar to create a belt. Top with a piece of yellow felt that’s fashioned into a buckle with hot glue. Attach two white buttons with hot glue.
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10
Hot Chocolate Gift Mugs
Besides setting out just cookies have the kids put together a mug or two of cocoa mix for Santa to sip on while he delivery their holiday haul.
To make: Place hot cocoa mix in the bottom of small mug Mason jars. Top with mini marshmallow, chocolate chips, and crushed starlight mints. Attach lid. Attach a tag with red baker’s twine
11
Reindeer Brownies
Once an adult has baked up a batch of brownies invite the kids to help decorate them like Dancer, Dasher, Prancer, and Rudolph.
Get the recipe.
12
Reindeer Food Cones
In the lead up to the visit from the big guy in red enlist the kids to craft reindeer cones that they can use to sprinkle a snack for Donner, Dasher, Dancer, and Comet (really for the birds but the fantasy is the fun!) when they come to drop off presents.
To make: Cut a piece of brown kraft paper into a shape that can be rolled into a cone shape. Draw reindeer antlers, eyes, and a large red nose in the middle of the paper. Roll the shape into a cone and tape together. Fill cone with birdseed.
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13
Advent Paper Bag Houses
Recruit the kids to help make their advent calendar or one for a little brother or sister. Made from paper bags and a few different colored markers, it'll be so fun to see what house styles they dream up!
To make: Draw windows, a door, and a roof on 24 small paper bags using a white paint pen. Write the numbers, one through 24, on the bags with a red pen. Use a small hole punch to punch two holes through the bags. Fill bags with treats then tie closed with red and white baker’s twine, adding a holly leaf, if desired.
14
Yarn Ball Ornaments
Sweet and soft these ornaments just might peak your kids interested in learning to knit or crochet. Get ready for an ugly sweater gift next year!
To make: Wrap yarn around a clear plastic Christmas ornament, holding the beginning of the yarn in place with a dab of hot glue, until the ornament is completely covered. Thread bamboo co*cktail picks through the yarn to mimic knitting needles. Hang as desired.
15
Craft Bead and Button Snowman
These cute as a button snowman are great for hanging on the tree or adorning presents.
To make: Draw snowmen faces on wooden craft beads with markers. Thread a length of baker’s twine through a brown button. Thread both ends of the thread twine through two plain buttons then through the button with the face. Thread twine through 5 to 6 black button to creating a hat. Tie twine close to the top button to hold everything together, then tie again about 2-inches up to create a loop for hanging. Cut a thin piece of red felt and tie between the top to buttons for a scarf.
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16
Yarn Stars
So simple to make you made find that the kids have gone wild and there are yarn stars in every room of your house!
To make: Cut a star shape from a piece of cardboard using an X-acto knife (adults should help kids with this). Wrap the star in yarn, using dabs of hot glue to help hold the yarn in place near the points of the star, until fully covered. Glue the ends of a length of yarn to the back on one point to create a loop for hanging.
17
Cookie Cutter Candy Corral
Have the littles help you package up a candy assortment using cookie cutters to stylishly separate each sweet. Or, lay them out on a tray and fill with snacks at a holiday gathering.
18
Twine-Wrapped Toppers
Kids will love helping wrap cookies cutters with bakers twine that will add a playful touch to presents.
To make: Wrap baker's twine (if your twine is thin, wrap two strands at a time) around cookie cutters, holding the ends in place with glue. Secure to presents with extra twine.
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19
Cookie Cutter Ornaments
A handmade ornament will bring back sweet memories every year when you hang it on the tree and what's sweeter than the memory of a craft days with the kids.
To make: Hot-glue tinsel and mini Christmas notions in solid-backed aluminum cutters. Tie or glue a piece of thin ribbon to the back for hanging.
20
Oversized Pom Poms
When it's time to head outside for a little skiing and skating, kids will love showing off the oversized pom poms they made for their skates!
Charlyne Mattox
Food and Crafts Director
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.
