13 Simple Christmas Crafts for Kids to Make During Winter Break
Winter break is the perfect time to slow down and create something special with your kids. These simple, joyful crafts use everyday materials and come together quickly, leaving more time for hot cocoa and storytelling by the fire.
Each project is designed to be easy enough for young hands but unique enough to become a keepsake or thoughtful gift. From sparkly ornaments to handmade cards, these are the kinds of crafts that fill the house with cheer.
1. Pinecone Reindeer Ornaments
Tiny reindeer made from pinecones bring woodland charm to your tree. Each one looks like it just stepped out of a snowy forest.
Materials Needed
- 30 medium pinecones
- 24 black craft foam circles, 1 cm diameter
- 12 red craft foam circles, 0.5 cm diameter
- 12 white craft foam circles, 1 cm diameter
- wooden clothespins, 12
- googly eyes, 24
- brown pipe cleaners, 12, 20 cm long
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- brown acrylic paint
- small paintbrush
How to Make It
- Paint each pinecone with brown acrylic paint using a small brush, then let dry for 20 minutes on newspaper.
- Glue two googly eyes near the top of the pinecone for eyes.
- Glue a red circle below the eyes for the nose and a white circle above for snowflakes if desired.
- Bend a pipe cleaner into antlers and glue to the back of the pinecone.
- Attach a clothespin to the bottom of the pinecone with hot glue so it can hang from a branch or tree.
2. Candy Cane Jingle Bells
These jingling candy cane bells tinkle softly when shaken. They make sweet decorations or fun party favors.
Materials Needed
- 12 large jingle bells
- 24 wide craft sticks, 15 cm long
- red and white acrylic paint
- paintbrush
- ribbon, red and white striped, 1 m
- hot glue gun
- small star stickers, 12
How to Make It
- Paint one craft stick red and one white, alternating stripes along its length, then let dry for 15 minutes.
- Glue the painted sticks together at right angles in the center to form a cross shape.
- Glue a jingle bell where the sticks meet, securing it tightly on both sides.
- Tie a loop of ribbon around the top for hanging and add a star sticker to the top arm of the cross.
3. Handprint Gingerbread People
These gingerbread people show off your childβs handprint as the body. Theyβre funny, festive, and full of personality.
Materials Needed
- A4 tan construction paper
- black, red, and yellow markers
- glitter glue, brown and gold
- scissors
- glue stick
- brown yarn, 30 cm per figure
How to Make It
- Trace your childβs hand onto tan construction paper and cut it out with scissors.
- Draw a face, buttons, and shoes on the hand with markers.
- Squeeze brown glitter glue along the edges to look like icing and let dry for 30 minutes.
- Glue a small piece of yarn at the top for hair and attach arms with red or yellow buttons drawn on paper.
4. Toilet Paper Roll Angels
Soft angels made from toilet paper rolls glow gently on shelves or trees. Their wings shimmer with subtle sparkle.
Materials Needed
- 6 empty toilet paper rolls
- white tissue paper, 30×30 cm per angel
- gold glitter, fine
- white school glue
- cotton balls, 12 per angel
- gold pipe cleaners, 6, 25 cm long
- yellow craft foam stars, 6
- glue stick
- baking tray
How to Make It
- Cut each toilet paper roll in half to make 12 short tubes.
- Wrap a piece of white tissue paper around each tube and secure with a glue stick.
- Dab white glue on the tissue and sprinkle gold glitter over the top half for a halo effect.
- Glue cotton balls around the top edge for hair and attach a pipe cleaner folded into wings at the back.
- Glue a yellow star above the head and let dry flat on a baking tray for 45 minutes.
5. Salt Dough Ornament Shapes
Homemade salt dough lets kids press and shape their own ornaments. These hold up well and can be saved year after year.
Materials Needed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 3/4 cup warm water
- rolling pin
- cookie cutters: star, bell, tree
- straw, plastic
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- acrylic paint: red, green, gold
- clear varnish spray
- red yarn, 10 cm per ornament
How to Make It
- Mix flour, salt, and warm water in a bowl until a smooth dough forms, about 3 minutes of stirring.
- Roll the dough to 0.5 cm thick on a floured surface and cut shapes with cookie cutters.
- Poke a hole at the top of each ornament with a straw for hanging.
- Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 200Β°F for 3 hours until hard.
- Cool completely, then paint with acrylics and spray with varnish. Thread yarn through the hole after drying.
6. Cinnamon-Scented Pom-Pom Wreaths
Fluffy pom-pom wreaths smell like holiday baking and stay soft to the touch. Hang them on doors or walls.
Materials Needed
- green yarn, size 4, 100 g
- cardboard, 15×15 cm squares, 6
- cinnamon sticks, 18, 7 cm long
- hot glue gun
- scissors
- gold ribbon, 1 m
- artificial holly berries, 12 clusters
How to Make It
- Cut cardboard into rings by drawing two concentric circles and cutting out the middle.
- Wrap green yarn around the ring 100 times, then cut loops on one side and tie tightly in the center.
- Fluff pom-poms evenly around the ring until the cardboard is covered.
- Glue cinnamon sticks around the outer edge with hot glue, standing upright.
- Tie a bow with gold ribbon at the top and glue on holly berries around the base.
7. Crayon Wax Melt Ornaments
Broken crayons melt into colorful wax disks that shine like stained glass when hung in windows.
Materials Needed
- assorted broken crayons, peeled and chopped
- mini muffin tin
- aluminum foil
- ornament molds, metal, 5 cm diameter
- oven
- tongs
- ribbon, 30 cm per ornament
How to Make It
- Line a mini muffin tin with foil and pack each cup with chopped crayon pieces in holiday colors.
- Bake at 275Β°F for 12 minutes until fully melted.
- Use tongs to pour melted wax into metal ornament molds and cool for 20 minutes.
- Pop out the wax disks and thread ribbon through the top hole for hanging.
8. Paper Chain Snowflakes
Interlocking paper chains twist into delicate snowflakes that flutter in the breeze. They add quiet magic to any room.
Materials Needed
- A4 blue construction paper, 10 sheets
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
- glue stick
- hole punch
How to Make It
- Cut each sheet into 2 cm wide strips using a ruler and scissors.
- Form the first strip into a circle and glue the ends together.
- Link a new strip through the previous loop and glue to form a chain of six links.
- Join the last link to the first to close the circle, then pinch opposite sides to form a snowflake shape.
- Punch a hole at one point and hang with thread.
9. Felt Stocking Tags
Mini felt stockings hold tiny treats or notes. They double as gifts and place card holders.
Materials Needed
- red felt sheets, 30×30 cm
- white felt sheets, 30×30 cm
- gold embroidery floss
- tapestry needle
- scissors
- fabric marker
- ribbon, 2 mm thick, 60 cm per tag
How to Make It
- Draw a stocking shape 8 cm tall on red felt and cut two pieces.
- Cut a 2 cm wide strip from white felt for the cuff and glue it to the top of one stocking piece.
- Place the pieces together and sew around the edge with a running stitch using gold floss.
- Write a name on the front with fabric marker and tie a ribbon loop at the top for hanging.
10. Cotton Ball Snowmen
Wobbly snowmen with fluffy bodies stand proudly on shelves. Their faces are silly and sweet.
Materials Needed
- large cotton balls, 36
- black, orange, and pink markers
- toothpicks, 12
- scarves, fabric, 5×15 cm, 12
- buttons, 12
- glue stick
- construction paper, black, for hats
How to Make It
- Stack three cotton balls vertically on a toothpick to form a snowman body.
- Draw eyes, mouth, and buttons with markers directly on the cotton balls.
- Wrap a fabric scarf around the middle section and secure with a dot of glue.
- Cut tiny hats from black paper and glue to the top. Add a button to the hat if desired.
11. Popsicle Stick Ladders
Tiny ladders made from popsicle sticks lean against walls holding little notes or photos. They're charming and sturdy.
Materials Needed
- colored popsicle sticks, 72
- white school glue
- ruler
- clips, small, 6
- paint pens, silver
- mini clothespins, 12
How to Make It
- Lay two popsicle sticks parallel, 8 cm apart, on a flat surface.
- Place six more sticks perpendicular across them, spaced 1.5 cm apart, to form rungs.
- Glue each crossing point and clamp with clips for 10 minutes.
- Let dry completely for 1 hour, then write βJoyβ or βNoelβ on one rung with a silver paint pen.
- Clip tiny notes or pictures with mini clothespins.
12. Button Mitten Garland
Colorful mittens strung with mismatched buttons look like they belong to a family of elves. Drape them across mantels.
Materials Needed
- felt sheets, assorted colors, 30×30 cm
- buttons, 60, assorted sizes and colors
- yarn, 2 m
- fabric glue
- scissors
- template: mitten shape, 7 cm tall
How to Make It
- Trace and cut two identical mittens from felt using the template.
- Glue the edges together, leaving the top open, and let dry for 30 minutes.
- Sew three buttons randomly onto each mitten with fabric glue.
- Thread yarn through the top of each mitten and tie knots between them to create a garland of five.
13. Edible Birdseed Ornaments
Ornaments filled with birdseed feed winter birds while adding rustic beauty to bare branches.
Materials Needed
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 cups birdseed
- cardboard, 2 mm thick, 15×15 cm sheets
- string, 15 cm per ornament
- mixing bowl
- spoon
- knife
- hole punch
How to Make It
- Mix peanut butter and birdseed in a bowl until fully combined.
- Press mixture firmly onto cardboard cut into stars or circles, 8 cm wide.
- Push string into the top before it sets to create a hanger.
- Punch a second hole if needed and let harden for 2 hours before hanging outside.
These crafts are meant to be shared, displayed, and enjoyed without stress. Grab a few supplies and start making memories that last longer than the season.
