3 Christmas kids craft ideas, plus activities for even more easy holiday fun

A trio of kids Christmas crafts, including Christmas card display stands made of air-dry modeling clay; a mini Christmas tree made from a painted pinecone and decorated with glitter and mini pompoms; and DIY mini photo frames made of wooden popsicle sticks shaped and decorated to look like houses at Christmas time.

From decorating the house to baking cookies, the Christmas season gives us so many opportunities to get creative and make merry memories. But there’s nothing quite as sweet as seeing the holidays through kids’ eyes. Their joy is contagious, turning the simplest moments into holiday magic.

If you’re looking for festive fun to let your little one’s imagination run wild, these easy (and adorable!) kids Christmas crafts don’t disappoint. With minimal supplies and endless opportunities to express their creativity, our DIY art ideas are perfect for a holiday break “crafternoon” with the whole family. The best part? You’ll have darling new décor for your home—or personalized gifts for Grandma! Let’s get started.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.

Merry mini Christmas card stands  

A trio of Christmas card display stands made of air-dried clay, shaped and painted to look like wrapped Christmas gifts, sits on a pastel green surface; each display stand holds a different Christmas card.

 

This kids Christmas craft is our gift to you—sweet, simple and oh-so adorable! Plus, it’s a fun way to deliver your annual holiday card to family members who love to display them.

Supplies:

A woman's hands form a clump of white Crayola Model Magic air-dry modeling clay into a cube measuring approximately two inches on all sides.

1. First, take the white Model Magic and shape it into cubes and rectangles. Each shape should look like a box or mini present.

2. Next, push a popsicle stick into the top of the present to make a slot to hold the Christmas cards.

A woman paints a piece of white air-dry modeling clay with a bright, Christmassy red color of acrylic craft paint.

3. Shape your bows. Using more Model Magic, roll out a long, thin rope. Use the rope to shape a classic bow. You can also shape ribbons, layered bows or any other 3D accessories you want to add to your gifts…after they’re dry!

4. Set everything aside and let it dry overnight.

5. Once dry, paint your mini presents and bows.

A woman hot glues a bow made from air-dry modeling clay and painted gold onto a base of similarly painted clay.

6. Once the paint is dry, hot glue the bows onto the top of the presents in front of the slot.

A woman paints her finished Christmas card display stand made of air-dry modeling clay with a layer of glossy Mod Podge.

7. Finish with a layer of craft varnish to add some shine. Voila! You now have an adorable stand for Christmas cards, artwork or favorite photos.

Pretty pinecone Christmas trees  

Three mini Christmas trees made from painted pine cones and decorated with miniature craft pompoms and gold glitter stars sit on a pastel pink surface.

 

Looking for inexpensive Christmas crafts for kids with supplies you have on hand? Skip a trip to the craft store and send your little merrymakers outside to get started!

Supplies:

  • Pinecones
  • White acrylic craft paint
  • Crayola® school glue
  • Glitter
  • Scrap cardboard or paperboard, like a cereal box
  • Pom-poms
  • Toilet paper roll or scrap paper
A woman's hands paint a pine cone with white craft paint.

1. First, paint the entire pinecone white. Make sure to get in all the nooks and crannies! If you’re feeling fancy, you can also add glue to the edges and sprinkle on some white glitter to make it look like shimmery snow.

A woman's hands apply craft glue and gold glitter to a star-shaped piece of paperboard..

2. Next, draw a small star on a piece of scrap cardboard or paperboard, and cut it out. You could also use precut stars from a craft store. Cover your star in glue and gold glitter to make it sparkle. Let it dry, then glue it to the top of the pinecone.

A woman's hands glue tiny, fuzzy craft pompoms to a pine cone that's been painted white; a paper star covered in gold glitter has been glued to the top of the pine cone, with the overall effect of making the pine cone look like a miniature Christmas tree.

3. Now it’s time to decorate! Parents, you’re on glue duty while kiddos place all the pom-poms. Remember, when it comes to festive vibes…more is more!

A woman's hands paint a piece of cardboard that has been cut from an empty toilet paper roll tube; she is painting it a pastel pink color.

4. Finally, to make the tree skirt, cut a piece from the end of a toilet paper roll to create a small ring, then let the kids paint it whatever color they choose. If you don’t have a toilet paper roll, you can cut a strip of paperboard, shape it into a ring and glue the ends together. Decorate the tree skirt with more glitter, fun drawings or paint a simple scalloped pattern like we did.

5. Place your pinecone on top of the tree skirt and stand back to admire your tree-rific new art piece. You could also glue a ribbon on top to make a tree ornament!

Festive Christmas village photo frames  

Three DIY photo frames made of wooden popsicle sticks, shaped and painted like houses decorated for Christmas, display photos of children and family.

 

Who knew popsicle sticks could be so cute? Us, actually! This adorable DIY transforms your favorite photos into a sweet little scene straight out of a Hallmark Channel movie.

Supplies:

  • Popsicle sticks (regular, jumbo or both)
  • Crayola® school glue or hot glue
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Decorations like pom-poms, mini trees, pipe cleaners, ribbons, glitter or cut-out paper shapes
  • Family photos
A woman's hands glue wooden popsicle sticks into a house shape.

1. Gather your popsicle sticks and lay them out in the shape of a house. Make your house tall and skinny, square, rectangular—you’re the architect here! Then, using Crayola® glue or hot glue, stick everything together.

A woman and a child paint a house shape made of glued popsicle sticks with a pastel green paint.

2. Next, it’s time to give it some personality. Paint your house, then let it dry.

A child reaches into frame to press a fuzzy green pompom onto a dot of glue that her mother has applied to a wooden popsicle stick Christmas house facade.

3. Now it’s time to start adding all the delightful details—find some adorable add-ons at the craft store or make your own!

A child presses a photo of herself onto a DIY Christmas photo frame shaped like a house made of wooden popsicle sticks and decorated with paint and red and green embellishments.

4. Choose the photos you want to display, print them out, then cut them to size and glue them onto their festive new frame.

A woman holds up three different DIY photo frames made of wooden popsicle sticks, shaped and decorated to look like houses at Christmas time.

5. Display your new photo frames around your home, add magnets and put them on the fridge, line them up across the mantel or gift them to your family members!

If you’re looking for more inspiration to keep the kids occupied this holiday break or make the countdown to Christmas extra fun, might we suggest:

  • Have a merry movie night with themed snacks and this cozy Christmas tree hooded blanket.
  • Crank up your favorite holiday tunes and channel your inner Prancer & Dancer with a living room dance party. This holly jolly hippo plush would love to join in!
  • Count down the days with our Here Comes Santa Claus Countdown Calendar. For extra fun, hide the calendar numbers around the house each day and give the kids clues to find them. The one who finds it first gets to add it to the calendar that day!
  • If you’re looking for a ready-to-go craft that requires no prep or supplies, our Christmas Magic Tree Skirt Handprint Kit is just the thing. Use the included non-toxic paint to help your kids add their handprints to the skirt. Let it dry, and it’s ready to go under the tree! Parents and pets can also get in on the fun.

 

We hope these Christmas kids craft ideas help you and your kids make merry memories this holiday. Whether you decide to keep the final results and deck the halls or share them as gifts, they’re sure to spread joy to all.

Who knows? Maybe a Christmas “crafternoon” will even become your family’s favorite new tradition.