Christmas crafts for kids - 10 easy crafts to make at home

1. Snowmen and Santas made of ice lollies

• Ice cream sticks: A classic and simple base for crafts. With a few cotton balls and paint, kids can create cute snowmen or use red paint and some felt to make little elves. Perfect Christmas crafts for children who like to paint and decorate.

1. Paint the popsicles white for snowmen and red for Santas.
2. Stick on cotton wool for the snowman's body and paint the face and details.
3. For the gnomes, glue on a piece of red felt as a hat and cotton as a beard. Let the figures dry and attach a string to the top so they can be hung on the tree.

Tips: Use small beads as buttons on the snowmen for extra charm and paint different facial expressions on the figures for variety.

2. Christmas cones as small fir trees

• Cones: For Christmas pine cone crafts, you and the kids can pick pine cones outdoors and paint them green or white to create mini Christmas trees. Glue on glitter, small beads or cotton to create snow and decorations.

1. Pick some cones and let them dry thoroughly.
2. Paint the cones in green or white for a Christmassy look.
3. Glue on beads, glitter or small pompoms as decorations and attach a hook or wire to the top to hang them.

Tips for extra creativity: Change the colours of the cones for a playful touch. Paint a "hat" at the top and a face to turn them into little Santas.

3. Creative Christmas crafts with Toarullar

• Toarullar: Toilet paper rolls are versatile and perfect for creating different Christmas characters. Turn them into Santas, reindeer or snowmen by painting them and sticking on details like beards, eyes and noses. With a bit of yarn or fabric, you can also make a hat for your Santa.

1. Paint the toilet rolls in colours to match the figure (red for elves, brown for reindeer).
2. Stick on eyes, cotton wool as a beard or nose and pieces of paper as ears or horns.
3. Attach a small piece of felt as a hood to the gnomes or use pipe cleaners for reindeer horns.

Suggested figures: Santas: Roll red felt for a hat and glue on cotton wool for a beard. Reindeer: Glue on pipe cleaner horns and paint on a red nose for a Rudolph look. Snowmen: Paint the rolls white and decorate with small buttons and a paper hat.

4. Popcorn strings for the Christmas tree

• Popcorn strings: Create a Christmas tradition with popcorn strings! Thread the popcorn on a string using a thick needle and let the kids join in. Popcorn strings add a homely feel and make a simple and fun decoration for the tree.

1. Thread a thick needle with strong thread.
2. Thread the popcorn one at a time onto the wire to create a long string.
3. Tie the ends together and hang the string from the tree.

Tips: Mix popcorn with cranberries or small coloured marshmallows for a colourful effect.

5. Handprints as Reindeer and Other Christmas Characters

• Handprints: For the very youngest, this is a wonderful craft. Paint the children's handprints and then let them glue on eyes and a little red nose to create reindeer. The handprints can also be used to create other characters like elves and snowmen.

1. Paint the children's palms brown and print them on a piece of paper.
2. Let dry and glue on eyes and a small red bead as a nose to create reindeer.
3. If you wish, you can also paint other figures, such as snowmen and Santas, using the handprints as a base.

Tips: Cut out the handprints and hang them on the tree as decoration.

6. Christmas Crafts with Paper: Glittery Christmas Cards and Tree Ornaments

• Paper: A versatile material for creating your own Christmas cards, snowflakes and Christmas tree decorations. By cutting, folding and decorating with glitter, children can create beautiful and personalised decorations.

1. Fold sheets of paper like an accordion and shape into stars or other decorations.
2. Glue beads and glitter to cards and hanging ornaments.
3. Cut out snowflakes to hang in the windows.

Tips: Create designs with potato printing for unique wrapping paper.

7. Christmas crafts with yarn: Cosy Santas

• Yarn: Yarn can easily be used to make little Santas. Roll the yarn into a ball for Santa's body and attach a triangular piece of felt as a hat. Add small details like eyes and decorate with glittery beads.

1. Roll the yarn into a ball to serve as Santa's head.
2. Attach a triangular piece of felt as a hood and glue on small details like eyes and a nose.
3. Decorate the gnomes with glittery beads or small buttons if you like.

Tips: Use red yarn for a classic look, or vary the colours to create different characters.

8. Personalised Wrapping Paper with Potato Print

• Potato printing: Let the children design their own wrapping paper by making potato prints. Cut out simple shapes like fir trees and stars from a potato and dip them in paint to print on paper.

1. Cut out simple shapes, such as stars and fir trees, from a potato.
2. Dip the potato prints in paint and print them on brown or white paper.
3. Leave to dry and use the paper as wrapping paper for Christmas presents.

Tips: Use white paper as a background to make the prints stand out.

9. Snow globes made of glass jars

• Snow globes: A magical decoration that children can create themselves. Glue a small figure to the inside of the lid of a glass jar, fill the jar with artificial snow and close the lid tightly.

1. Glue a small figure, such as an animal, to the inside of the lid.
2. Fill the jar with artificial snow or glitter and screw the lid on tightly.
3. Turn the jar upside down to see the snow fall around the figure.

10. Christmas lanterns made of glass jars and sugar

• Lanterns: With a simple glass jar and some sugar, you can make pretty lanterns. Paint the surface of the jar with glue or egg white and roll in powdered sugar for a frosty effect. Place a tea light inside to spread a cosy glow.

1. Paint the surface of the glass jar with glue or egg white.
2. Roll the jar in granulated sugar to create a frosty effect.
3. Place a tealight inside the jar and let it spread a warm and cosy light.

Tips: Use coloured sugar to give the lantern a personal touch.