Spread the Love
Looking for simple, mess-free Christmas crafts that will keep the kids entertained without creating a major clean-up project? Here are 36 fun, festive crafts that will bring holiday joy to your home with minimal mess.
Each craft includes a clear supplies list and easy instructions. Want a complete list of supplies? Get a link to the list below!
- Paper Plate Gingerbread/Fairy House
- Supplies Needed: Paper plate, crayons or markers, foam stickers, festive stickers
- Instructions: Give each child a paper plate with part of the plate cut off for the bottom of the house. Let them color it with crayons or markers to look like a gingerbread or fairy house. They can add foam or festive stickers for windows, doors, and other decorations—no glue necessary!
- Toilet Paper Roll Snowglobe
- Supplies Needed: Empty toilet paper or half a paper towel roll, festive stickers, glitter paint pens, middle of paper plate or circle cut construction paper.
- Instructions: Cut a slit in the TP roll for the top of the snow globe to sit in. Decorate the circle paper with small holiday-themed stickers and glitter pens. Put the two pieces together with the TP roll as the base.
- Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree
- Supplies Needed: Empty toilet paper rolls, Green Marker, festive stickers, Glitter Paint Pens
- Instructions: Color the roll with the green marker and cut diagonal slits to make the shape of the tree. Decorate with Christmas stickers to make ornaments and glitter pens for garland.
- Paper Winter Hat
- Supplies Needed: Construction paper, crayons or markers, cotton balls, glue stick
- Instructions: Cut out a winter hat shape from the construction paper. Let the kids color it with crayons or markers, then glue cotton balls along the bottom for the trim and add one on top as a pom-pom.
- Seashell Snowman Ornament
- Supplies Needed: White Seashells, markers, hot glue gun, yarn/string/ribbon
- Use markers to add a face and details to turn each seashell into a cute snowman. Glue three shells together to create a full snowman. Glue ribbon to the back of the top shell to hang the ornament.
- Pipe Cleaner and Beaded Christmas Tree
- Supplies Needed: Pipe cleaners, small wood slice or large Flat Button, pony beads, hot glue gun
- Instructions: Twist the pipe cleaners together into a small tree shape. Glue one end onto the wood slice or button base. Let kids decorate with beads as ornaments.
- Popsicle Stick Gingerbread House
- Supplies Needed: Popsicle sticks, markers, foam stickers, pom poms, hot glue gun, craft glue
- Instructions: Arrange and hot glue popsicle sticks into the shape of a house, then let kids decorate it like a gingerbread house with markers, stickers and pom poms. Optional: Glue on string to hang as an ornament.
- Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees, Snowflakes or Stars
- Supplies Needed: Popsicle sticks, hot glue gun, craft glue, stickers, buttons, beads, pipe cleaners, markers
- Instructions: Form a triangle by gluing three popsicle sticks together for a christmas tree, four for a snowflake, or five for a star. Decorate with markers, stickers, buttons, beads, or wrap with pipe cleaners.
- Piper Cleaner Wreaths
- Supplies Needed: Pipe cleaners, pony beads, letter beads and ribbon(optional)
- Instructions: Twist two pipe cleaners together or just use one pipe cleaner in a circle shape, adding beads as you go. If desired, use letter beads to spell kid’s names. Leave excess pipe cleaner, or use ribbon, to hang on the tree.
- Pom Pom Photo Ornament
- Supplies Needed: Construction paper, small kid’s photo, mini pom-poms, hot glue/craft glue/glue stick, ribbon
- Instructions: Glue a small photo to a piece of paper in the shape you desire. Glue mini pom-poms around the edge to create a festive frame, then add a ribbon for hanging.
- Felt Chain Garland
- Supplies Needed: Felt sheets in various colors, scissors, hot glue/stapler/velcro dots/snaps
- Instructions: Cut the felt into 6 inch strips, then loop them together like a paper chain, securing each link with glue or stapler for a permanent chain, or velcro/snaps for christmas countdown. This garland is colorful, fun, and reusable!
- Pinecone and Terracotta Pot Christmas Tree
- Supplies Needed: Small terracotta pot, medium pinecone, mini pom-poms, pony beads, hot glue, craft glue
- Instructions: Place or hot glue a pinecone upright in a small terracotta pot to serve as the tree. Let kids decorate with pom poms and beads.
- Pinecone Christmas Tree Ornament
- Supplies Needed: Pinecone, mini pom-poms, beads, ribbon/string/yarn, hot glue, craft glue
- Instructions: Glue mini pom-poms and beads onto the pinecone to decorate it. Attach a ribbon, string, or yarn at the top for hanging, creating a simple and colorful tree ornament.
- Pipe Cleaner and Bead Snowflakes
- Supplies Needed: Pipe cleaners, pony beads
- Instructions: Twist a few pipe cleaners together in the middle to form a snowflake shape. Kids can slide beads onto the ends of each arm, creating a sparkling snowflake.
- Tin Can Christmas Tree
- Supplies Needed: 2-3 Different Sized Tin Cans, green construction paper, glue stick/scotch tape, craft glue, hot glue, mini pom poms, ribbon/string/yarn, sparkle pipe cleaner, festive stickers
- Instructions: Cover tin cans with green paper by gluing or taping the ends together. Then hot glue the cans on top of each other to form a tree shape. Have kids decorate with various elements. A pipe cleaner can be shaped into a star and glued to the top.
- TP Roll Santa Searcher Binoculars
- Supplies Needed: Two toilet paper rolls or one paper towel roll cut in half, hot glue/craft glue, festive stickers, markers, mini pom poms, string/ribbon/yarn
- Instructions: Glue two toilet paper rolls together side by side to create “binoculars.” Kids can decorate them how they like to make “Santa Searchers” for Christmas Eve. Add string or ribbon for a neck strap.
- Christmas Gnomes
- Supplies Needed: Small terracotta pots or paper cups, yarn, mini pom poms, glue, markers, festive stickers
- Instructions: Wrap yarn around your hand many times to desired thickness. Loop another piece of yarn through the loop and tie tightly. Cut the opposite side to serve as the gnome’s beard. Make a loop with the tied piece of yarn and feed through the bottom of the pot or poked hole in the cup.The beard should be handing out the bottom. Glue on a pom pom to act as a nose. Use markers and other items to decorate the “hat”.
- Paper Chain Garlands
- Supplies Needed: Construction paper in various colors, scissors, glue stick or stapler, markers/crayons, stickers
- Instructions: Cut construction paper into strips and let kids decorate. Loop each one through the last, securing with glue or a staple to create a classic paper chain garland.
- Paper Plate Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: Paper plate, construction paper, scissors, markers/crayons, stickers, pom-poms, glitter paint pens, craft glue
- Instructions: Cut a paper plate into thirds and glue them to form a tree shape. Cut a stump out of construction paper and glue to the bottom. Color and decorate.
- Ziploc Painted Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: Large ziploc bags, construction paper, different color green acrylic paint(or dark green and white to make your own shades), mini pom poms, buttons, festive stickers, craft glue, string/ribbon/yarn
- Instructions: Place a piece of paper with a few small dabs of paint in a Ziploc bag. Let kids move the paint around with their hands without any mess! Allow the paint to dry and cut into tree shapes, large or small depending on if you want to use them as ornaments. Allow kids to decorate and add a string to make an ornament if desired.
- Pipe Cleaner Chain Garland
- Supplies Needed: Pipe cleaners, beads, small jingle bells
- Instructions: Thread a few beads and/or small bells onto pipe cleaners, then twist them in circles together to create a jingly holiday garland.
- Giant Body Traced Gingerbread Man
- Supplies Needed: Brown butcher/kraft paper, markers, stickers
- Instructions: Have the child lie on the brown paper and trace their outline. Decorate the “gingerbread person” with markers and stickers to create a life-sized gingerbread kid!
- Button Wreaths
- Supplies Needed: Buttons, Thin Wire/Pipe Cleaner
- Instructions: Feed wire or pipe cleaner through buttons and bend into a wreath shape. Twist a loop at the end to hang on the tree. Get creative with the pattern of the buttons to include wreath “decorations”.
- Paper Plate Mask
- Supplies Needed: Paper plates, markers or crayons, cotton balls, construction paper, craft glue, gluestick, popsicle sticks (optional for holding)
- Instructions: Cut out half the inside of a paper plate for an opening for eyes. Have kids color and decorate the paper plate to resemble different Christmas characters like Santa, Mrs. Claus, a snowman, Rudolph, or an elf. Add cotton balls for beards, and use construction paper for details like antlers, a hat, or a carrot nose. Glue a craft stick to the bottom as a handle for easy holding and play.
- Stick and Ribbon Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: A small stick, assorted green ribbons, scissors, hot glue
- Instructions: Tie ribbons or yarn around the stick, cut lengths starting wider at the base and narrowing as you move up to form a tree shape. Glue a looped ribbon to the top to hang on the tree. Simple, rustic, and adorable!
- Wood Skewer Paper Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: Wooden skewer, green construction paper, small wood slice/large flat button, markers/crayons, hole punch, hot glue, drill(needed if using wood round)
- Instructions: Cut construction paper into a triangle. Allow kids to decorate with crayons/markers. Then fold in an accordion style. Punch a hole through the middle of the paper and feed the skewer through. If using a wood round, drill a hole in the middle. Glue the skewer in the hole of the wood or button.
- Stacked Button Trees
- Supplies Needed: Various sized buttons, String/Thread, Plastic or Regular Sewing Needle
- Instruction: Feed string through one hole of the buttons then back up through the opposite hole to form a tree shape. Tie off in a loop to hang as an ornament.
- Paper Plate and Yarn Wreaths
- Supplies Needed: Paper plate, green yarn, buttons, beads, Kraft glue, ribbon
- Instructions: Cut the center out of the paper plate to create a ring. Let kids wrap green yarn around the ring and tie off the ends to form a wreath. Glue on buttons, beads, and a ribbon bow to decorate.
- Felt Tree or Wreath Ornaments
- Supplies Needed: Felt, String/Ribbon/Yarn, Thread, Needle
- Instructions: Cut felt into little squares or circles(make them small to large for a tree shape). “Sew” the pieces together in desired shape and use string or ribbon to make a loop to hang on the tree. This is a great project for little hands learning to sew!
- Felt and Button Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: Felt, Buttons, Thread, Needle
- Instructions: Cut felt into Christmas tree shape(Optional: Sew or glue on a felt tree stump and star). Sew buttons on as ornaments. This is another great sewing practice project!
- Cup Christmas Trees
- Supplies Needed: Paper/styrofoam cups, green markers, festive stickers, craft glue, mini pom-poms, buttons, beads
- Instructions: Color the cups green and turn them upside down to resemble small Christmas trees. Decorate with stickers or glue on mini pom-poms, buttons, or beads as ornaments.
- Fill a Clear Ornament
- Supplies Needed: Clear fillable plastic ornaments, pom-poms, mini bells, beads, cut tissue paper
- Instructions: Provide clear ornaments that can be filled with holiday-themed items such as mini pom-poms or beads. Snap the top back on, and they’re ready to hang on the tree with no mess.
- Popsicle Stick Santa/Elf Hats
- Supplies Needed: Popsicle sticks, red or green markers, mini pom-poms or cotton balls, construction paper, glue
- Instructions: Arrange and glue popsicle sticks into a triangular hat shape. Color them red for Santa or green for an elf hat. Cut construction paper the size of the hat and glue to the back. Then add cotton balls at the top and bottom for a finishing touch.
- Suncatcher Tissue Paper Hangers
- Supplies Needed: Construction paper, tissue paper in various colors, ziploc bag, hot glue, glue stick, ribbon/string/yarn
- Instructions: Cut construction paper and ziploc bag in desired shape such as snow globe, present, or Christmas tree. Cut the center of the paper out and hot glue the edges of the ziploc bag to the paper. Tear or cut tissue paper into small pieces. Use a glue stick to patch them together to the ziploc bag for a stained-glass effect. Attach a ribbon, string or yarn to hang the globe in a window as a beautiful suncatcher.
- Tissue Paper Ornaments
- Supplies Needed: Construction paper, colorful tissue paper, glue stick, ribbon/string/yarn
- Instructions: Cut construction paper into desired shape. Cut small pieces of tissue paper and glue them onto construction paper. Glue a square piece of construction paper to the top and punch a hole. Thread through a ribbon, and hang these colorful, mess-free ornaments.
- Paper Plate Snowman
- Supplies Needed: Two or three paper plates, markers or crayons, construction paper, large googly eyes, craft glue, glue stick
- Instructions: Use one paper plate as the snowman’s head and the other one or two as its body glued together. Color with markers or decorate each part with cut out construction paper.
These 36 easy, low-mess Christmas crafts are designed to bring holiday cheer with minimal clean-up. Perfect for kids of all ages, these creative projects allow families to enjoy crafting together and make fun holiday memories. Happy crafting!
