All activities should be supervised by an adult. Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
The holiday season is the perfect time to slow down, get creative, and make magical memories with your kids. What better way to count down to Christmas than with 25 simple and fun crafts? These Christmas-themed crafts are designed with parents and kids in mind—minimal materials, easy instructions, and lots of festive cheer. Plus, crafting every day in December is a wonderful way to build excitement for the big day.
You don’t need a craft store haul to get started. All these crafts use just a few basic supplies you probably already have: paper plates, paper cups, pom-poms, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, construction paper, googly eyes, scissors, paint, markers, and glue.
Here’s your countdown calendar of holiday crafts. Pick a craft a day starting December 1st, and by Christmas, you’ll have a gallery of handmade holiday treasures!
1. Construction Paper Snow globe
What you'll need: Construction paper, markers, scissors, and glue
Bring the magic of a snow globe to life using construction paper, glue, and a sprinkle of glitter. Kids can draw their favorite winter scenes inside. Follow our Construction Paper Snow Globe Tutorial here.
2. Paper Plate Elf
What you'll need: Paper plate, construction paper, cotton balls, glue, scissors, googly eyes, and markers.
Turn your paper plate into a cheerful elf with rosy cheeks and a festive hat! This craft is an exciting way to introduce kids to Santa’s helpers while giving them a creative outlet. Learn how to make your own festive elf in our Paper Plate Elf Craft post here.
3. Paper Bag Reindeer
What you'll need: Paper bags, scissors, glue, construction paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and markers.
Transform an ordinary brown paper bag into a fun puppet with googly eyes and pipe cleaner antlers. Kids will love putting on a festive puppet show with their new reindeer friends. See the full instructions in our Paper Bag Reindeer Craft Tutorial here.
4. Winter Pom Pom Tree
What you'll need: Construction paper, paint, pom poms, and glue.
This craft uses a mix of winter-colored pom-poms to create a frosty winter wonderland tree. Add a little sparkle with glitter glue or rhinestones to make it extra magical. Display it as a centerpiece or in your child’s bedroom to add a cozy, wintry touch. Check out the full tutorial in our Winter-Themed Pom Pom Tree Guide here.
5. Pipe Cleaner Candy Cane
What you'll need: Pipe cleaners
This classic craft is as easy as twisting red and white pipe cleaners together to form a candy cane shape. They make great tree ornaments or gift toppers and are really easy to make.
6. Paper Bag Elf
What you'll need: Paper bag, construction paper, cotton balls, glue, markers, googly eyes, and scissors.
This cheerful companion to Santa is crafted with bright paper and a sprinkle of imagination. Kids can customize their elves with different colors and details. For detailed steps, check out our Paper Bag Elf Craft Tutorial here.
7. Paper Bag Santa Clause
What you'll need: Paper bag, construction paper, cotton balls, markers, scissors, googly eyes, and glue.
Create a jolly Santa puppet from a paper bag, construction paper, and cotton balls for his beard. This craft is not only fun to make but also doubles as a holiday decoration. The complete guide can be found in our Paper Bag Santa Tutorial here.
8. Pom Pom Christmas Tree
What you'll need: Pom poms, construction paper, glue.
Using green pom-poms and construction paper, kids can craft a mini Christmas tree that’s too cute to resist. Add it to your holiday decor for an extra pop of charm. Follow the steps in our Pom Pom Christmas Tree Tutorial here.
9. Paper Plate Snowman
What you'll need: Paper plate, scissors, glue, markers, and construction paper.
Bring Frosty to life with this fun snowman craft! Kids will enjoy assembling three paper plates for the snowman’s body and decorating it with markers, pom-poms, and construction paper. Add a top hat or scarf for extra flair! Learn how to create your own in our Paper Plate Snowman Craft post here.
10. Paper Plate Christmas Wreath
What you'll need: Construction paper, pom poms, a paper plate, glue, and scissors.
Make a festive Christmas wreath using a paper plate, green construction paper strips, and colorful pom-poms. This craft is a great way to get kids excited about decorating for the holidays, and they’ll love customizing their wreaths with their favorite colors. To see how to make this cheerful decoration, visit our Paper Plate Christmas Wreath Craft post here.
11. Pipe Cleaner Christmas Wreath
What you'll need: Pipe cleaners, pom poms, and hot glue gun
Using green pipe cleaners and a few pom poms, kids can twist and bend their way to a mini Christmas wreath. Hang it on the tree or use it as a festive napkin ring. Learn how to make one in our Pipe Cleaner Christmas Wreath Tutorial here.
12. Paper Plate Reindeer
What you'll need: A paper plate, pom poms, popsicle sticks, googly eyes, paint, markers, and glue
Create Rudolph or one of his reindeer friends with this simple and fun craft. With just a paper plate, brown paint, googly eyes, and a red pom-pom, your kids can bring these iconic holiday characters to life. For full details, visit our Paper Plate Reindeer Craft post here.
13. Pipe cleaner Snowman
What you'll need: Pipe cleaners, pom poms, hot glue gun.
Create a tiny snowman using white pipe cleaners, pom poms, and a little imagination. This cute craft is perfect for decorating windowsills or play areas. Follow the step-by-step guide in our Pipe Cleaner Snowman Tutorial here.
Paper Cup Reindeer
What you'll need: Paper cups, paint, pom poms, glue, and pipe cleaners
Turn a plain paper cup into an adorable reindeer! With googly eyes, a red pom-pom for the nose, and pipe cleaner antlers, this craft is both simple and charming. It’s the perfect table decoration or addition to your mantel. Find step-by-step instructions in our Paper Cup Reindeer Tutorial here.
Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
What you'll need: Popsicle sticks, markers, glue, and other decorations.
These simple yet elegant snowflakes come together with craft sticks, glue, and a bit of glitter. Hang them in windows or on the Christmas tree for a magical touch. Find the full guide in our Popsicle Stick Snowflakes Tutorial here.
Construction paper Snowman
What you'll need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers.
With construction paper, glue, and markers, kids can create a cheerful snowman to display on the fridge. Personalize it with hats, scarves, and mittens for extra fun! See our Construction Paper Snowman Tutorial here.
Pipe cleaner Christmas Tree
What you'll need: Pipe cleaners, beads
Kids will love twisting green pipe cleaners into a tree shape and decorating it with beads as ornaments. This tree is really easy to make, just wrap green pipe cleaners (branches) around a brown pipe cleaner (trunk), fanning them out like branches and cutting them into smaller pieces as you move up the tree. Add beads to the branches as ornaments, and now you have a quick and easy pipe-cleaner Christmas tree. These trees make adorable tabletop decorations or personalized gifts.
Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree
What you'll need: Popsicle sticks, markers, glue, pom poms, and pipe cleaners
Turn simple craft sticks into delightful mini Christmas trees with markers, glitter, and pom poms. These are perfect for ornaments or tabletop decorations. Learn how to make them in our Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Tutorial here.
Pipe cleaner Polar Bear Face
What you'll need: Pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, and a hot glue gun.
Using white pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and a black pom pom for the nose, kids can create a cute polar bear face that’s perfect for winter-themed decorations or even as a tree ornament. This craft is really easy all you have to do is roll a white pipe cleaner into a pinwheel shape and use hot glue to hold it together, add googly eyes and a pom pom nose, and fold up a red pipe cleaner for the hat and you have a polar bear face. Add a ribbon loop, and it becomes a keepsake ornament!
Paper Plate Santa
What you'll need: A paper plate, construction paper, cotton balls, googly eyes, scissors, glue, markers
Get jolly with a paper plate Santa craft that’s full of character! Kids will love creating Santa’s beard with cotton balls and decorating his bright red hat. This craft is a wonderful addition to your holiday décor. Follow the step-by-step guide in our Paper Plate Santa Claus Craft post here.
Paper Plate Polar Bear
What you'll need: A paper plate, construction paper, cotton balls, googly eyes, scissors, glue, markers
Create a cozy polar bear using a paper plate, cotton balls, and construction paper. This craft is perfect for introducing kids to arctic animals while having fun with textures. The soft, fluffy fur made from cotton balls is a hit with little ones! For step-by-step instructions, check out the full tutorial in our Paper Plate Polar Bear Craft post here.
Construction Paper Candy Cane
What you'll need: Construction paper, scissors, and glue
This simple craft lets kids cut and glue red and white construction paper strips into a classic candy cane shape. It’s an easy, mess-free activity that’s great for younger children and makes for festive fridge art or ornaments. Find detailed instructions in our Construction Paper Candy Cane Tutorial here.
Construction Paper Stocking
What you'll need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers.
Let kids design their own stockings out of construction paper and decorate them with markers, glitter, or stickers. This craft is great for hanging on the wall or giving as holiday cards. Check out the full tutorial in our Construction Paper Stocking Guide here.
Construction Paper Santa
What you'll need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers.
Create a jolly Santa figure with just construction paper and plenty of creativity. It’s a fun way to celebrate the holiday spirit! Full details can be found in our Construction Paper Santa Tutorial here.
Construction Paper Christmas Tree
What you'll need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers.
Kids can cut and layer green construction paper to create their own festive tree. Decorate it with sequins, stickers, or pom-poms to make it uniquely theirs. Follow the instructions in our Construction Paper Christmas Tree Guide here.
Crafting Moments to Cherish This Holiday Season
With these 25 Christmas-themed crafts, your family can enjoy a month of creativity and holiday cheer. Each project is simple, fun, and perfect for kids, making it easy to fill your home with festive handmade decorations. Ready to get started? Gather your materials and let the crafting countdown begin!
For detailed tutorials on each craft, check out our full collection here. Happy holidays and happy crafting!
Comments