Between decking the halls and wrapping the gifts, it can be hard to pencil in time to try new kids’ holiday crafts and play ideas. That’s why we’ve curated a jolly list of 24 low-stress, super-simple kids’ crafts, all made from household supplies you probably already have at home.
The hustle and bustle of the holidays have TRULY hit! With all the events and plans and family and prep, the joy of sitting down to make something together can get a bit lost amongst the trimmings & trappings.
For the past few years, my maker-friends and I have celebrated “Craftmas” – a week or two of shared kids’ holiday craft tutorials guaranteed to be fun for the whole family.
In an effort to get back to basics and revisit the joy of taking time to recharge through arts and crafts, we changed our typical plan a bit…
Our theme this year is low-stress SIMPLICITY. This an invitation to gather up a few simple, inexpensive supplies you’ll already have at home, and sit down to share some relaxing creative time with your kiddos.
All of our featured crafts use the household supplies pictured above (along with the common secondary supplies listed below). Save these lists along with the tutorial links to celebrate your very own Craftmas – at YOUR speed!
Simple Kids Holiday Craft Supply List:
Click the supply group to jump to each set of featured kids’ crafts
You can use this as an Advent-style countdown to Christmas, where each day unveils a new crafty adventure, or just grab one, two, or a few ideas to save for the season.
These work wonderfully if you’re looking for simple, easy December activities to keep the kids busy with creative exploration.
We had so much fun exploring these simple supplies, and we’d love to see you how you’ve used them to create your own special kids’ holiday crafts, so grab your glue sticks and let’s make some merry without the mayhem!
Paper and Cereal Box Holiday Kids Crafts
1. Tissue Paper and Cardboard Stained Glass Angels
I could find 101 uses for these beautiful tissue paper and cereal box stained glass angels from Arielle at ART CAMP. And when hung in a window, or placed in front of a candle they have the warmest holiday glow.
2. Upcycled Tissue Paper Stars
And idea from our friend Rebekah of Heart Artlife, these lovely Eric-Carle-style stars are made using the most ingenious upcycling process. As fun for kids to make as they will be to decorate with!
3. Homemade Paper Advent Calendars for Kids
From Shannon, the genius at Oh Creative day, a trio of advent calendar ideas – a holiday garland, a Christmas tree, and a tangram tree. Each of these doesn’t require anything more than tissue paper, paint, and a glue stick. Holiday STEAM learning bonus? You can sneak in a math lesson!
4. Folded Paper Gingerbread Houses
All of the beauty of a gingerbread house with none of the mess? Yes, please! One piece of paper, some drawing supplies, and a few folds are all it takes to create your own (interactive!) storybook paper gingerbread house – from top illustrator, Hazel of Hidden Egg.
Kids Crafts from Pinecones, Sticks, or Leaves
5. Gratitude Forests from Nature Supplies
This gorgeous kids’ art invitation doubles as an opportunity for kids to share their sources of gratitude. Connection and reflection – it’s what this season’s all about. We’re so grateful for Shannon from Hatch Art Studios and her clever ideas!
6. A Twig and Pinecone Holiday Hanger
Form meets function with this minimal winter-styled hanger – to be used for collections or a DIY holiday cardholder. The simplest way to display a small holiday collection of cards and trinkets EVER!
6. A Pinecone Pine Tree Farm Sensory Play Activity
Craft a snowy wonderland with this darling pine tree farm sensory play idea! This holiday small-world play setup doubles as an easy (and incredibly charming!) countdown to Christmas. Sprinkle some festive magic and create your own mini pine tree farm from painted pinecones!
8. Holiday Nature Bundles with 3 Festive Uses
Sticks just got a makeover and good grief – they’re high art! Our friend Lisa of The Art Garden starts with a simple kids’ painting activity that’s transformed into gorgeously festive nature bundles – with 3 ingenious ways to incorporate your kids’ playful work into holiday decor and traditions.
Cardboard or Egg Carton Holiday Crafts
9. A DIY Cardboard Christmas Tree
‘Tis the season for cardboard boxes! Dive into your recycling bin and turn that “blah” cardboard into the jolliest, eco-friendliest, cardboard Christmas tree craft on the block! It’s perfect for kiddos who believe in a little holiday upcycling magic (and a great way to use up wrapping paper scraps!).
10. Christmas Jumper Sewing Cards
The ladies at Little Button Diaries have turned fun sewing practice into the cutest little Christmas sweater place cards you ever did see! From design and threading to assigning sweaters to specific people – it’s a whole afternoon of holiday fun for your kiddos.
11. An Egg Carton Snowman
Do you wanna build a snowman?? Hang on to your egg cartons, because you are DEFINITELY going to want to use them for your own adorable Olaf-styled ornaments! We love this clever egg carton snowman upcycle from hello, Moonpie.
12. A Cute Cardboard Holiday Village
Who needs a trip to the North Pole when you can craft your very own mini easy cardboard Christmas village? Turn yesterday’s cereal box into today’s winter wonderland! Perfect for little architects with big imaginations, scrap supplies to experiment with, and a penchant for eco-friendly holiday glam.
Salt Dough or Clay Kids Holiday Craft Ideas
13. Puffy Paint Snow Angels
Bonnie and her crew from Make It Your Own have created yet another holiday art project classic with these insanely fun puffy paint snow angels! And the DIY puffy paint process is guaranteed to delight sensory-loving kiddos.
14. A DIY Salt Dough Village
Oh, the minimal magic of this gorgeous DIY salt dough village! From Mary-Alice at Brainy Beginnings Network – the absolute queen of salt dough – there’s a full tutorial PLUS tips and tricks on how to ensure this stress-free project is one your kiddos will love building and displaying for years to come.
15. Paint-Dipped Clay Ornaments
Deck the halls with… paint-dipped DIY clay pendant ornaments! Who knew that a splash of color could turn simple clay into the trendiest ornaments on the tree? Try this fun DIY and let the kiddos create ornaments that are as stylish as they are simple. A great Christmas craft for those looking to add a modern twist to their tree without the tinsel tangle!
16. A Salt Dough Snow Ornament Wall Hanging
An ode to handmade beauty, this gorgeous holiday wall hanging has so many bits and pieces to love. From the salt dough impressions to a yarn-wrapped branch, hands-on little kiddos are going to adore putting this one together. Aasta of Mini Makers Studio brings the class!
Holiday Kids Crafts from Felt, Yarn, or String
17. A Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer No-Sew Sleep Mask
Can you EVEN handle the cuteness of this no-sew Rudolph sleep mask from Shelly of Creating Creatives?! A perfect holiday-themed felt kids craft AND a great way to keep those little peepers from catching Santa…tee, hee!
18. Pom Pom Holiday Elves
Handmade holiday-tinted pom poms topped with an egg carton hat = elf ornament PERFECTION. So wonderfully simple, your kiddos can make a jolly bunch to trim the tree in no time! Thanks for this one, Julie!
19. Easy DIY Felt Penguin Ornament
As if this adorably roly-poly penguin ornament wasn’t joy enough, click to see how Maggy of Red Ted Art used this project to create an ingenious low-waste holiday party favor…!
20. Felt Gingerbread Plushies
Ready to whip up some squishy, huggable holiday fun? Take those gingerbread dreams to the next level with these adorably silly DIY gingerbread stuffed toys. Kiddos who’ve always wanted to give their gingerbread man a big ol’ squeeze (without making a lot of crumbs) are going to love them!
21. DIY Gingerbread Dramatic Play Set
Whisking up some holiday fun has never been this sweet (or simple). Prepare for cute and festive holiday pretend play with this DIY gingerbread play set, where cardboard and felt turn into the yummiest (and non-edible) treats in town. A true treat for little bakers who dream of running their own ginger-tastic bakery…without the sugar rush!
22. A Felt Garland Kids Can Make
Unleash your inner holiday elf with the easiest handmade felt garland, a fantastically easy kids’ craft that helps them turn simple strips into a dazzling decor masterpiece.
23. A Felt Winter Clothespin Doll Play Set
Combine scrap felt and wooden clothespins for a simple felt winter clothespin doll set – a winter wonderland of simple sorting, counting, and beginner math fun. With these adorable dolls and their cozy felt homes (don’t miss the free printable tangrams!), counting and sorting become a snowy adventure, and equations are always better with a sprinkle of holiday magic and a dash of DIY delight, right?
24. An Adorable Letter To Santa Softie
Santa’s mailbox is about to get a crafty upgrade in the form of a handsewn letter-to-Santa softie. With some scrap fabrics and a sprinkle of imagination, kids can hand-sew a special pouch for their festive wishes. It’s not just a letter, it’s a holiday keepsake, stitched with love and Christmas magic!
We’ve created so many handmade holiday keepsakes through this annual Craftmas tradition – my talented maker-circle never disappoints! What started as a few friends making fun holiday kids’ crafts, has become a fountain of support & inspiration that extends far beyond a shared art theme.
They are my brain trust of tirelessly helpful & caring, hilariously amusing, endlessly creative confidants, and especially at this time of year, I’m so thankful for them.
From my friends to yours, happy holidays and merry art-making!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
Thank you so much for including us! We had such fun with the different material themes!
Such a great collection and perfect material list!