5 easy at-home Christmas crafts to do with your kids
Keeping the kiddos entertained in the run up to Christmas can be tricky as the days get shorter and the temperature begins to drop. All that excitement that builds in anticipation of Santa’s arrival can mean keeping the little hands busy is a real challenge. So, whilst the weather is often frightful outside, quick and easy kids' festive crafts could be the answer you’re looking for.
We’ve gathered a selection of our favourite easy Christmas crafts to keep the little ones entertained, which are not only low cost but simultaneously keep sustainability in mind. That’s because you can make all these crafts from things you’ve already got in the house!
And remember, crafting isn’t just a way to pass the time – it's full of loads of benefits that can keep your kids learning during the holidays. That’s everything from developing fine motor skills, to recognising colours and shapes, boosting creativity or even brushing up on some numbers and literacy skills. It’s a great way for kids to learn through play in the school holidays.
So, in the spirit of Christmas, whilst the elves are busy making their decorations, we’ve come up with a few creative Christmas crafts for kids that you can do at home. Grab your tinsel, put the carols on and let’s get crafting!
Spare Cardboard Recycling
🎄 Magical Winter Scene 🎄
Is the recycling bin filling up quicker than usual with incoming delivery boxes? Put that cardboard to use and make your very own Christmas Village. Not only will you be getting crafty and away from the screens, but you’ll also be giving those boxes another lease of life as well as getting some cute new décor!
All you’ll need is a good pair of scissors, some glue, white paint of your choice, a sprinkle of glitter, those pesky cardboard boxes and your endless imagination.
How To:
- To start you’ll want to break down the boxes so they’re flat and easy to cut. Then simply cut building-fronts of varying shapes and sizes from the flat cardboard (if your little ones are a bit younger, you can draw the buildings on or pre-cut for them).
- Once all your buildings are cut out, grab the paint and decorate your village! For extra precision, you may want to use paint that comes in a squeezy bottle so you can pipe the paint straight onto the cardboard, much like decorating a cake.
- Allow the paint to fully dry (we know it can be hard to be patient!). You may have some cardboard offcuts left - you can cut these into triangles and stick them to the back of your buildings to prop them up. Alternatively, layer and stick the buildings together side-by-side so they can be displayed on a sideboard or even on top of the kitchen cupboards if you’ve got an awkward space.
Card/Paper Offcuts
⭐️ Star Garlands ⭐️
Garlands, stars and Christmas are three things that truly belong together, but why buy something so simple to make? If you’re a household that loves to draw, craft and make, you’ll likely have an abundance of spare paper you can’t bear to just throw away. It’s time for those offcuts to shine!
Grab your scissors, glue and twine! We’re ready to get started…
How To:
- Gather your stash of paper and a small piece of cardboard. Draw a star and cut it out from the cardboard - you can then use this first star as your template to keep the rest relatively uniform. Once you’ve got your template, simply get cutting those stars!
- Depending on how long you want your garland and how large you cut your stars, the number of stars you need will vary. We recommend planning for one star every 2-3cm, with the knowledge you’ll need two cut-outs per star.
- Once you’ve cut all your stars, you’ll need to measure your twine and cut off the length you need. Leaving 10cm or so on either end of the twine for hanging, start at one end and begin attaching your stars. For each star you’ll need two cut outs, glue the backs of both and stick them together sandwiching the twine.
- Repeat until all your stars are attached to the twine. Then you’re ready to drape your new DIY star garland in your home! Maybe even pair with a set of fairy lights to truly add some magic to your space.
✂️ Paper Chains ✂️
A festive classic, accessible to almost all ages, Paper Chains are a simple yet effective DIY décor craft. Your imagination truly is the limit when creating paper chains, get creative with colour choices, cut your paper strips at varying thicknesses and maybe even with a fun edge!
How To:
- Start by gathering your supplies. You’ll need your paper of choice (A4 is a good place to start), scissors and glue.
- Cut your paper into even strips lengthways. Jazz up your chain by cutting wavy edges, either freehand or with decorative craft scissors. The number of lengths you cut will rely on how long you wish your chain to be.
- Once all your lengths are cut, create your first ring by gently looping the strip into a circle and gluing (or stapling) the two ends together.
- Now take your second strip and feed it through the first ring and glue in the same way as the first. From here, repeat this process until your chain is at the desired length. All that’s left to do now is find a home for your festive paper chain.
- Or if you’ve got fabric scraps lying around the house, why not use those to make your decorative chain – reusable and a fun, festive way to use up what you have at home!
Loo Roll Tubes & Yarn
🧶 Mini Bobble Hat Ornaments 🧶
Making your own ornaments in the run-up to Christmas is a wholesomely fun tradition but can get messy quickly if any form of paint is involved. These mini bobble hat ornaments require nothing messy and just three ingredients: scissors, yarn and a loo roll tube.
How To:
- Take your loo roll tube and cut it into 1cm wide rings. Then cut your yarn into 30cm lengths – you could use one colour throughout or mix it up and add a few together.
- Start tying the lengths of yarn around the cardboard ring by folding a piece of yarn in half, feeding the folded end through the ring, then bringing the loose ends over the ring and through the loop and pull tight.
- Repeat this step until your cardboard ring is completely covered in yarn. Now, push the loose ends of yarn through the ring and pull them securely. Gather the loose ends around halfway, take a spare length of yarn and tie it around the bunch tightly to create a pinch-point. Leave a few centimetres on each end of the knotted piece – this will become the loop with which to hang your ornament from the tree.
- Trim down the loose ends to create a pom-pom shape, brushing out this section slightly to create a fluffy, cosy look. For added squish, you can pop a cotton ball or similar inside the little hat to help it look full.
Doodle Pillowcase
🎅 Message to Santa 🎅
Add bespoke Christmas vibes to any cosy space with a customisable colour in pillowcase and washable doodle pens. Let the kids go wild with Christmas Eve messages for Santa to read whilst he delivers their presents, sips his milk and snacks on cookies.
How To:
- You’ll need a cotton pillowcase, some magic doodle pens and your choice of beverage and snacks for Santa and his reindeer.
- Start by giving the pillowcase a quick iron to create the optimum canvas, then crack open the pens and get creative. Write a little note for Santa to thank him for your gifts, draw some festive doodles and invite him to take a moment for a drink and a snack.
- Once the masterpiece is complete, pop it in a cosy spot with the tasty offerings on Christmas Eve and wait and see if he stops for a snack! Reuse the pillow for different occasions, maybe for the Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny, washing the pillow between events to remove all the ink and start again.
Which project will you be trying out first? We would LOVE to see your creations, follow us on Instagram, post your masterpieces and tag us! If you’re looking for more inspiration for creative crafting, take a look at our full range of reusable colouring-in products.