Holiday Craft Ideas for Kids

The Ho-Ho-Holidays are fast approaching and that means it’s time to bust out the hot glue gun and googly eyes and get crafting! From wreaths to menorahs, stockings to snowmen, and elves to ornaments, there is plenty of inspiration to get into the spirit of the season. Of course if you’re not feeling crafty, Personal Creations has plenty of traditional Christmas ornaments for kids in all kinds of different styles, shapes, and sizes that are sure to put a smile on the whole family’s face.

Otherwise, if you’re ready to get your hands dirty and use your imagination, what better way to spend a snowy day or share quality family time together than on a fun, festive, Holiday-themed craft project?

Snowy Friends

A fun idea for a Winter Wonderland table display or even an easy Christmas ornament is to craft some fluffy, furry winter friends. Penguins, snowmen and reindeer are our inspiration for these jolly crafts. Requiring only basic art supplies and easy-to-make for kids in kindergarten through elementary school, these projects are sure to make your Holiday season bright.

March of the (Pipe Cleaner) Penguins

Make a flock of penguins, or just one! These adorable creatures are a unique addition to any table display or Christmas tree.

Crafting Supplies:

• Pipe Cleaners – Black, White, Red (Optional)
• Orange construction paper or craft foam
• Googly eyes
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue
• Ruler

How to Craft It:

• Start by cutting the pipe cleaner lengths that you’ll need. Each penguin requires a full 12-inch black pipe cleaner, a 2 ½-inch white pipe cleaner for the belly, and a 4-inch black pipe cleaner for the wings.
• Make the penguin’s body by coiling the 12-inch pipe cleaner tightly around a pencil. Be careful not to overlap the coils. Slide this piece off the pencil.
• Bend one end of the white pipe cleaner and stick the bent end into the coiled black pipe cleaner three to four coils from the top. Now, bend the opposite end to hook underneath the bottom coil.  You now have the penguin’s torso.
• To make the wings, poke the 4-inch black pipe cleaner through the penguin’s body, three coils down to form a T-shape.  Adjust it so that the arms are even on either side of the body.
• Now, bend and crease each arm to form a loop for the wings.
• Cut the beak and feet from your orange craft foam or construction paper.  You can stick these between coils with a dot of glue.  Also, glue on your googly eyes.
• Accessorize your penguin friends with a 4-inch piece of red pipe cleaner. This can be used to make a scarf or hat by coiling it around the penguin’s neck or top of the head. Isn’t that cute?

Frosty the (Cotton) Snowman

Fill out your Winter Wonderland scene with a cotton ball snowman. This is a fun, easy craft that allows kids to get creative with their decorations.

Crafting Supplies:

• Cotton balls
• Construction paper: Black, Brown, White, Orange and Blue
• Googly eyes
• Scissors
• Glue
• White colored pencil and black marker
• Hole punch (optional)
• Glitter or snowflake stickers (optional)
• Green pipe cleaners for hands

How to Craft It:

• Cut a wavy piece of white construction paper about 2 ½ inches wide to make a snowy landscape. Glue it on the bottom third of the blue construction paper.
• Using the white colored pencil, trace three circles (increasing slightly in size from top to bottom) to serve as a template for the body.
• Glue the cotton balls inside the body template, filling up each circle.
• Use the brown construction paper to cut out stick arms for the snowman. Alternatively, use pipe cleaners. Glue these on either side of the body (middle circle).
• Cut out a carrot nose from the orange construction paper and glue this in the middle of the top circle.
• From the black construction paper, cut out a hat for the snowman. Glue this piece on top of its head. Use the hole punch to make a buttons for the body and stick these on with a dot of glue.
• Glue the googly eyes onto the head.
• Get creative with any other decorations to make it your own—perhaps a scarf or mittens for the snowman? You can also fill in the background using glitter or snowflake stickers to make it a starry, snowy night.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Gift Bag

A practical Christmas craft is a Reindeer gift bag. Not only is it a joy to make, this festive gift bag is also a perfect way for your child to share the spirit of giving with friends and teachers.

Crafting Supplies:

• 8 ½ -inch Brown paper bag
• Large googly eyes
• 1-inch Red pom-pom
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black marker

How to Craft It:

• Use the marker to draw a Reindeer antler template on brown construction paper. Cut out the antlers.
• Fold the bag in half about 4 ¼ inches from the top of the bag. Crease it to form a center line, then unfold.
• Starting just above this center line, draw an arch that goes up near the top of the bag. This forms a rounded shape for the head. Cut out this rounded arch.
• Lift the top layer of the rounded arch and fold it back to reveal two diamond-shaped tabs.  Flatten these tabs out to the sides to make ears.
• Fold the top layer of the bag back to its original position. Glue the antlers to the bag just below the center line (pointing up).
• Fold the rounded arch down along the crease. You should see the shape of the head, the antlers and the ears.
• Glue on the googly eyes and red nose. Feel free to let your kids personalize the faces with eyelashes or decorative bows.
• Lift the head and open the bag. Fill it with treats or gifts to share. Fold the head back down. Is that Santa’s sleigh I hear?

The Holidays are a perfect time to get the whole family crafting. Teach your kids that it’s better to give than receive with these unique, homemade gifts that are sure to bring a smile to the faces of loved ones.