Christmas Crafts for Kids

Use old Christmas cards to make a festive Christmas card panorama! Below you will find out how to create this festive scene in a box.

What You'll Need:

Shoe box

Construction paper

Glue

Crayons

Scissors

Old Christmas cards

Decorate the shoe box by gluing squares of construction paper onto the sides and drawing and gluing shapes onto that. Cut out pictures from Christmas cards to make a scene inside one box. It can be a realistic setting with trees and stars or a fantastic scene where toys float through the sky and a tiny Santa looks up at a giant child. Use your imagination!

For a three-dimensional panoramic scene, cut out a tab on the bottom of some pictures to make them stand. Save this year's cards to make a new panorama next year. Make one each year, and stack them together to make a really spectacular Christmas display.

Continue to the next page to find out how to make a cool indoor snowperson.

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You can make a jolly indoor snowperson for Christmas -- and yes, this snow creature can actually live inside the house!

What You'll Need:

Old newspaper

Black marker

Scissors

Stapler

Old plastic bags

White paint

Paintbrush

Construction paper

Glue

Old hat and scarf

Step 1: Fold 6 double sheets of newspaper in half. With a black marker, draw the outline of a large half circle on the paper.

Step 2: Cut out the circle, and unfold the papers. Do the same for a smaller circle, then another circle smaller than that one. You now have the snowperson's base, body, and head.

Step 3: For each stack of circles, staple the sides together a 1/4 inch in from the sides. Leave about 3 inches of the circle unstapled so you can stuff the circle.

Step 4: Stick your hand inside the circle -- there should be 3 sheets of paper above your hand and 3 below. Stuff the inside of the circles with old plastic bags. Staple the openings closed, and staple the circles on top of each other.

Step 5: Paint the snowperson white, and let it dry. From brown construction paper, cut out "branches" for arms, and staple them to the body. Glue on black paper "coal" eyes and mouth and an orange paper "carrot" nose. Place an old hat on its head, and wind a scarf around its neck.

In the next section, get ready to shake a tail feather. Go to the next page to learn how to make dancing sugar plum fairies.

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Make your own tiny dancing sugar plum fairies for Christmas and watch them dance all by themselves!

What You'll Need:

Colored tissue paper

Scissors

Comb

Cut out tiny sugar plum fairy shapes from tissue paper -- use your imagination about how you think they look! Charge a comb with static electricity by running it through your hair or rubbing it against your clothing for a few minutes.

Lay the sugar plum fairies on a table. When the comb is held near the fairies, they will wiggle and move around. Do you know the tune to the "Nutcracker Suite"? Hum it for your fairies while they dance!

If you're tired from all of the dancing, the next project will help prepare you for a little R&R. On the next page, learn how to make sugar plum fairy pillowcases.

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These enchanting sugar plum fairy pillowcases will bring happy Christmas dreams while everyone sleeps.

What You'll Need:

White pillowcases

Cardboard the size of pillowcase

Pencil

Fabric paints

Paintbrushes

What does a sugar plum fairy look like? Is she wearing a long silver gown? A short blue tunic? Does she have wings or a wand? What color is her hair? Perhaps she is balancing a big sugar plum on the top of her head! However you want her to look, paint her in pretty colors so that any head resting on her will be full of sweet dreams.

Wash and dry a spare white pillowcase. Place a piece of cardboard inside so the paint won't bleed through. With a pencil, lightly draw a picture of a sugar plum fairy on the front of the pillowcase. When you finish, color in your outline with fabric paint. After the paint dries, you may want to turn your pillowcase over and paint another sugar plum fairy on the back -- for double the dreaming pleasure!

Hold onto your seat for the next project. On the next page, learn how to make "exploding" party favors.

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Play tug-of-war with these exploding party favors on Christmas, and watch them explode with delicious candy!

What You'll Need:

Gold and silver wrapping paper

Tape

Scissors

Ruler

Small wrapped candies

Colored ribbons

These party favors were popular in France before the mid-1800s! The size of the snapper you want to make will determine how big your paper should be and how much candy you will need. For starters, you might want to use a sheet of wrapping paper that is 6x10 inches.

Overlap the paper 1/2 inch on the long sides to form a tube, and tape the edges together. Put 12 to 15 candies into the middle of the tube. Twist the ends of the paper, about 3 inches from the end. Tie each twist with a piece of ribbon, making a bow with streamers.

Open each end of the paper so that it flares outward, and push ends together so the center puffs up. To make your snapper explode candy, hold one end while a friend holds the other. Tug and shake the snapper until the paper breaks.

In the next section, learn how to make cute little elf-friend pins in a few simple steps.

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Do you know anyone who is nuts about Christmas elves? All of your friends will want an elf-friend when they see these elf-friend pins!

What You'll Need:

Walnut shells

Scrap fabric

Cotton

Rubber band

Glue

Small safety pin

Needle and thread

Paint

Paintbrushes

Yarn

Felt

Offer to crack some walnuts for your mom. Pick out the walnut shells that cracked neatly in half. Dig out the nut meat. Wrap a piece of cotton in a small square of fabric. Gather the edges and wrap with a rubber band to make a ball. The fabric and cotton ball should just fill the hollow space in the nutshell. Pour a puddle of glue into the nutshell.

Set the fabric ball in the glue, rubber band side down. When the glue is dry, stitch the back of a small safety pin to the fabric. You should be able to open and close the pin. Use paint and fine-tipped paintbrushes to paint an elf face on the front of the walnut. Glue on yarn or cotton for hair and beards. Cut out red or green felt elf hats, and glue them on.

Now that you have dancing fairies and elf-friends, it's time to make some things for the home. On the next page, learn how to make frankincense jars.

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These frankincense jars will make your whole room smell sweet on Christmas, and they're pretty enough to present to a king!

What You'll Need:

Small jars (baby food jars are fine, but jars of all shapes are good)

Glue

Uncooked rice

Paintbrush

Fabric brush

Potpourri

Make Christmas stars or other shapes on your jar with glue. Stick rice to the glue. Let glue dry. Measure around the outside of your jar. Cut a piece of aluminum foil long enough to fit around your jar plus an overlap of 1/2 inch; there should also be a little extra at the top and bottom of the jar. Crush the foil into a ball, then smooth it out again on the tabletop.

Using the paintbrush, spread glue evenly on one side of the foil. Carefully place the jar on the edge of the foil. Roll the jar like a rolling pin, so that it wraps itself in foil. Carefully fold the top of the foil into the mouth of the jar, making sure it sticks in place. Fold the bottom of the foil under the jar.

Press gently around the jar with your fingers, making sure that the glue sticks everywhere. Tap the foil with the bristles of the fabric brush to bring out the texture of your rice pattern. Fill the jar with sweet potpourri.

If you want to give your frankincense jar to someone for a gift, you must wrap it first. In the next section, learn how to create a wrapping paper maker.

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Wrapping gifts for Christmas is fun, but creating your own paper with the wrapping paper maker is even more fun.

What You'll Need:

Thin cardboard

Ruler

Scissors

Rolling pin

Masking tape

Rubber weather stripping (from hardware store)

Craft glue

Tempera paints

Cookie sheet

Large pieces of white paper

Cut a piece of cardboard so that it is the same length as the rolling pin. Tape one end of the cardboard to the rolling pin, all the way across. Roll the rolling pin so that the cardboard wraps around it, making a tight cardboard cover. When you reach the end of the cardboard, tape it in place. (It may wrap around more than once.)

Cut 1-inch Christmas shapes, such as bells, stars, and angels, from the weather stripping. Coat the cardboard rolling pin cover with glue. This is easier if you set each handle on a thick cookbook, so that the rolling pin is hanging between the books.

Press the shapes in place, turning the rolling pin as you go, so that your pattern goes all the way around the rolling pin. Let the glue dry. Pour a thin coat of paint on the cookie sheet, roll your wrapping paper maker through it, then roll out a pattern on plain white paper.

Continue to the next page for even more wrapping fun. Learn how to make a gift-wrapped door.

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Make a gift-wrapped door for Christmas and turn your house into a big present!

What You'll Need:

Measuring tape

Wide colored ribbon

Scissors

Tape

One or several large bows

Christmas greenery

Cardboard

Marker

Hole punch

Yarn

Measure the height and width of your front door. Double the measurements and add 2 inches so you can wind the ribbon around to the inside of the door. Tie the ribbon around the door to look like a gift package, and tape the ends of the ribbon together. Glue one or more large bows onto the ribbon in the center of the door.

Add Christmas greenery around the bow(s) with tape. Cut a large gift tag shape out of cardboard, and a write a holiday message on it. Punch a hole at the top of the gift tag, and attach it to the ribbon with a colorful piece of yarn.

In the next section, learn how to create a 'Take-One' plate decoration for Christmas.

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The Take-One Plate Decoration is by far one of the prettiest decorations for Christmas and it makes a tasty welcome when hung on the front door of your house.

What You'll Need:

2 aluminum-foil pie plates

Heavy scissors

Colored tape

Glue or stapler

Hole punch

Ribbon

Christmas greenery

Candy canes

Licorice sticks

Pretzel rods

Ribbon

Construction paper

Markers

Ask an adult to help you cut one pie plate in half. Cover the cut edge with colored tape to make it smooth. Glue it onto the whole pie plate to make a pocket. Punch a hole at the top of the whole plate and thread it with ribbon to make a hanging loop. Fill the pocket with Christmas greenery, candy canes, licorice sticks, pretzel rods, and other candies.

Make a pretty label that says, "Take One." Glue it onto the front of the pocket. Hang the decoration on your front door so that guests will have a welcome treat before they even get inside the house! (Remember to refill the pocket as the treats start to run out.)

Go to the next page to learn how to make another pretty (and pleasing to the ears) Christmas creation -- water glass carols.

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Kids can make colorful water glass carols for Christmas and serenade the family's party guests with some tinkly tunes!

What You'll Need:

8 water glasses

Food coloring

Teaspoons

Simple sheet music

The best sounds are made with the thinnest glass, but check with an adult to see which glasses you can use for this project. Do this inside a large plastic tub in case of breakage. Fill the first glass 1/8 full of water, the second glass 1/4 full, the third glass 3/8 full, and so on until the eighth glass is full. (You are adding 1/8 of a cup of water to each glass).

Use a teaspoon to tap on each glass. Add or pour out water to make the musical scale as you sing do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. You can add a few drops of food coloring to each glass after your glasses are tuned. Practice tapping out songs such as "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and other Christmas favorites. Give a holiday concert for family and friends.

On the next page, learn how to make a Christmas pocket pixie to carry with you throughout the holidays.

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Create a Christmas pocket pixie and everyone will ask, "Who's that peeking out of your pocket?"

What You'll Need:

Self-hardening clay

Large paper clip

Markers

Make a Pocket Pixie for everyone to wear at your next Christmas party. Roll a 1/2-inch ball of self-hardening clay to make the pixie's head. Press it onto one end of the paper clip. Roll a small cone shape out of clay and press it on top of the head to make the pixie's hat. Put a tiny clay ball on top of the cone to make the hat's pom-pom.

Color the hat and pom-pom with markers when the clay dries. Draw on a cheerful pixie face. Try to draw a different face on each pixie. Give one pixie big blue eyes, another a long pointy nose, another a missing tooth in his smile. You could write the name of each party guest along the front of each pixie's hat. Invite your guests to clip them onto their pockets or collars.

The page in this article will teach you how to make things that sparkle -- not for the Christmas tree -- but to wear! Go to the next page to learn how to make glittering gift jewelry.

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Help someone sparkle this Christmas with beautiful homemade glittering gift jewelry.

What You'll Need:

Corrugated cardboard

Pencil

Scissors

String

Glue

Gold and silver foil

Flat-backed colored glass gems

Jewelry pin backings

Tape

Thin wire

Gold cord

Draw and cut circles, hearts, Christmas trees, and star shapes out of cardboard. Drizzle glue on the shapes, and lay string in tight spirals or circles on the glue. Let the glue dry for several hours. Cover each shape with silver or gold foil, and glue it down in the back. Rub the foil so the string pattern shows through.

Glue on jewels in attractive designs. If you are making pins, glue a pin backing onto the back of each shape. If you want to make a medallion, tape a loop of thin wire onto the back of the shape. Thread gold cord through the loop to make a necklace.

Settle in front of the Christmas tree because it's time to write a story. Continue to the next page to learn how to write Santa's Story.

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Christmas crafts are fun, and so is writing Santa's Story! Invite a group of friends over to write a silly story about Santa.

What You'll Need:

Paper

Pencil

On the top of a piece of paper, write "On the night before Christmas, Santa ..." The first person adds a few sentences to the story about Santa. That person folds the paper over so that the words are hidden.

The story is passed to the next person, who continues the story without reading what the first person wrote. Continue folding, writing, and passing until everyone has had a chance. Then read the story aloud to hear about Santa's silly adventures.

Feeling like you're ready for more Christmas crafts? In the next section, learn how to make a 'Peek Inside' Christmas tree!

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This Peek Inside Christmas Tree has gifts inside instead of under!

What You'll Need:

Half-gallon milk carton,

Colored felt, glue,

Ribbons,

Thin cardboard,

Scissors,

Masking tape,

Gold foil,

Treats or small gifts for inside the tree base

Make the base of your tree from the bottom half of a milk carton. Glue squares of felt onto it, and trim the edges with ribbons. Cut 4 triangles from thin cardboard that fit over the base. Cover them with green felt. Attach the sides of the triangles, underneath, with masking tape.

Fold edges into a Christmas tree shape. This will be the lid for the base. Glue small colored felt circles on the tree to look like Christmas ornaments. Cut a star from cardboard, and cover it with gold foil. Glue the star to the top of your tree. Fill the base with treats or small gifts.

Get ready to switch on some fun! Continue to the next page to learn how to make a Santa Switchplate.

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Do you know why kids like to make a Santa Switchplate for Christmas? Because Santa always shows up to switch on some fun!

What You'll Need:

Sturdy cardboard

Pencil

Scissors

Felt

Glue

Cotton balls

Screwdriver

Heavy-duty tape

Draw a jolly Santa on a piece of sturdy cardboard. Make your Santa at least 6 inches tall and about 4 inches wide. Have an adult remove the wall switchplate. Ask the adult to use it for a guide to mark off the hole for the light switch in the middle of Santa's belly. Have the adult replace the switchplate.

Cut out pieces of felt to glue onto your drawing. Make sure to leave the hole open for the light switch. Glue on cotton balls for Santa's beard and moustache. When your Santa is dry, have an adult tape him in place on your light switch. Every time you give Santa's tummy a tickle, the lights will turn on and off!

In the next section, learn how to create a colorful Christmas Tree Shirt.

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Ever wonder how the talented individuals at the Christmas shirt shop create those cute sweatshirts covered in Christmas trees, or sparkling snowflakes? Well, you can stop wondering -- the steps below will show you how it's done. Continue reading to learn how to make a Christmas Tree Shirt.

Note: Adult help is needed.

What You'll Need:

Step 1: Using the stencil in the back of the book, trace and cut out the tree from the green felt. Cut a small tree trunk out of the brown felt.

Step 2: For the tree garland, use the glue gun to attach one end of the lace to the top left of the tree. Drape the lace back and forth across the tree, folding over and gluing the lace each time it changes direction.

When needed, add a spot of glue to any curves to keep the lace flat against the felt. Use the glue gun to randomly attach the gems to the tree. Glue the star gem at the top. Glue the edge of the trunk under the bottom center of the tree so the tree overlaps the trunk about 1/2 inch.

Step 3: Turn the tree over and apply 2 or 3 coats of the repositionable glue according to the manufacturer's instructions. Let the glue dry for 24 hours, then attach the tree to the front of the sweatshirt. Remove the tree before washing.

Try This!

Don't want a Christmas tree shirt? No problem! Just make a different shape out of felt and follow the instructions above to attach it to your sweatshirt.

Ready to make a new friend? Continue to the next section to learn how to make a snow buddy.

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For Christmas, kids can transform an ordinary pencil into a Snow Buddy Pencil Topper by following the simple steps below.

What You'll Need:

Step 1: To make the body of the snow buddy, roll a 1-inch ball of clay. Insert the end of the pencil halfway into the body. Break a wood toothpick in half, and insert half of it into the center top of the body.

Step 2: Make the head by rolling a 7/8-inch ball of clay. Insert this into the toothpick on top of the snow buddy's body. Slightly flatten the top of the

head.

Step 3: To make the hat, flatten a 5/8-inch ball of clay into a 1-1/8-inch circle. Roll a 7/8-inch ball, and slightly flatten the top and bottom of it (the sides should stay rounded). Place the flattened ball on the brim to complete the hat.

Step 4: Flatten a 2-inch ball of clay, and cut out 2 holly leaves with a toothpick. Make lines in the center of the leaves with the end of the toothpick. Roll a small ball of clay, then roll a 1/8-inch ball into a carrot shape. Let the body, hat, leaves, small ball, and carrot shape dry for 24 hours.

Step 5: When the pieces have dried, paint the hat black, the holly leaves green, the small ball red, and the carrot nose orange. Use the ball-head of the pin and the black paint to dot eyes and a mouth on the snow buddy's face. Let the paint dry completely.

Step 6: Glue the holly leaves and the red ball to the top of the hat. Glue the hat to the top of the snow buddy's head and the carrot nose to the snow buddy's face. Tie the piece of blue felt around the snow buddy's neck, and glue the ends down.

On the next page, learn how to create some body jewelry that will be music to your ears. Continue reading to make your very own band jingle bells.

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Turn your body into a musical instrument this Christmas with band jingle bells you can wear as a bracelet!

What You'll Need:

16 inches of grosgrain ribbon or bias tape

6 jingle bells

Blunt scissors

Needle and thread

2 sets of snaps

Cut the ribbon or bias tape in half. Sew on 3 jingle bells, evenly spaced apart, on 1 piece of ribbon or bias tape. Sew a snap on each end. Snap the ends together around your wrist to form a jingle bell bracelet.

Use the other piece of ribbon to make a second bracelet. Once you put the bracelets on, shake your arms to make some music. If you want, make jingle bell bracelets for your ankles, too. Listen to them jingle when you march with the band.

Would you like to surprise your family and friends this Christmas? Continue to the next section to learn how to make a pop-up holiday card.

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Nothing says "You're special" this Christmas better than a pop-up holiday card with wishes from the heart -- especially since the "pop-up" is always a delightful surprise!

What You'll Need:

Construction paper

Ruler

Pencil

Blunt scissors

Craft glue

Markers

Step 1: Fold a piece of construction paper in half, making a strong crease. Draw half of a heart shape at the fold. Halfway down the heart shape, make 2 pencil marks about 1 inch apart.

Step 2: Cut from the top of the heart to the top mark. Then cut from the bottom of the heart to the bottom mark.

Step 3: Fold the cut flap back and forth several times to crease it well. Bring the flap back to center. Unfold the page almost completely, and gently push the flap through to the other side. You should have a heart that pops out of the paper.

Step 4: To make a pop-up holiday card, fold another piece of construction paper in half. Trim the pop-up piece of paper so that it is slightly smaller than the folded construction paper.

Glue the back of the pop-up paper to the inside of the larger paper. Decorate the front of your greeting card, and write a Christmas message inside.

Now that you've completed your pop-up holiday card, the next project will be a piece of cake. Continue to the next page to learn how to create curly paper art.

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You can use curly paper art this Christmas to decorate just about anything, but it looks especially elegant hanging on a Christmas tree.

What You'll Need:

Construction paper

Scissors

Transparent tape

To make a curly paper ornament, cut two 10x1-inch strips and two 9x1-inch strips from a piece of construction paper.

Tape all 4 strips together at the top and the bottom, with the 2 shorter strips inside the 2 longer strips. Next, cut two 4x1-inch strips of paper, and tape the ends of each one together to make 2 rings.

Tape both rings in place between the 2 middle strips of paper. Cut three 3x1-inch strips of paper, fan fold them, and tape them in place between the 4 longest strips of paper.

Next, cut three 1-inch-wide strips of paper between 4 and 6 inches long. Curl these strips over the edge of a closed pair of scissors, then tape these curls to the bottom of the ornament.

To make a hanger for the ornament, cut a 5x1-inch strip of paper and make a loop out of it, then tape it to the top of the ornament. Once you have perfected this technique, feel free to experiment with other designs and colors.

In the next section, push your art skills to the limit. Learn how to make a soft reindeer toy.

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A soft reindeer toy makes a cuddly Christmas gift for your favorite reindeer-lover.

What You'll Need:

Heavy, soft brown knee sock

Cotton balls, batting, or foam

Small jingle bells

Pencil

Scraps of brown, black, pink, and white felt

Scissors

Thin cardboard

Craft glue

Ribbon

Stuff an old sock with cotton or foam and several jingle bells until it is full. It should be loose enough so that the bells have room to move around.

Draw and cut out 4 antler shapes from brown felt and 2 antlers from thin cardboard. Glue the felt antlers to both sides of the thin cardboard, then glue the antlers to the reindeer's head.

Next, draw and cut out eyes, nose, and a mouth from scraps of black, white, and pink felt. Glue them onto the face. As a finishing touch, tie a pretty ribbon around the reindeer's neck.

Continue to the next and final page of this article to learn how to create your very own St. Nick storybook.

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For Christmas, make your very own St. Nick Storybook. You can even write about friends and family in your story about St. Nick!

What You'll Need:

Construction paper

Pencil

Ruler

Scissors

Stapler

Thin cardboard

Colored tape

Markers

To make a homemade book, measure and cut 6 to 10 pieces of light-colored construction paper into 8x6-inch rectangles. Fold the sheets in half.

Staple the sheets together in the fold. Cut out 2 pieces of cardboard, 4x3 inches each, for the front and back covers. Use a strip of colored tape for the spine of the book.

Place the tape sticky side up, and press the cardboard covers down on it, leaving a gap for the pages of the book. Then open the stapled pages flat on top of the covers, and press them onto the tape. Add another thin strip of tape down the center fold of the pages, and press the tape around to the spine to fasten the pages.

You are ready to write the story of St. Nick! Use real places and people in the words and illustrations. Decorate the cover, and make up a title for your story. Read it at a holiday party, and watch the happy faces of the audience as they find out they are characters in a book!

Learn how to make a festive tree decoration in our next project.

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Tissue paper and tubes make a totally terrific tubular tree.

What You'll Need:

Paper towel tube

Green acrylic paint

Red satin cord, 12 inches

2 sheets green tissue paper

Sequins

Ruler

Pencil

Craft knife

Paintbrush

Paper punch

Craft glue

Clothespins

Scissors

Note: Adult help needed.

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ABOUT THE CRAFT DESIGNERSThe following crafts were designed by Lisa Lerner and Kersten Hamilton:

Christmas Card Panorama

Indoor Snowperson

Dancing Sugar Plum Fairies

"Exploding" Party Favors

Elf-Friend Pins

Frankincense Jars

Wrapping Paper Maker

Gift-Wrapped Door

Take-One Plate Decoration

Water Glass Carols

Christmas Pocket Pixie

Glittering Gift Jewelry

Santa's Story

Peek Inside Christmas Tree

Santa Switchplate