Need a distraction ahead of Santa arriving? It’s easy to get your little ones into the spirit of Christmas by making some simple, colourful, homemade decorations. Whether you put them on the tree, use them as table toppings or give them as gifts, these Christmas crafts for kids are lovely ways to pass the time whilst tapping into some common household (and garden) items. Here are four guaranteed to please children young and old.
1. Stacked toy decorations
Don’t throw away discarded toy blocks and other bits and bobs. Instead, repurpose them into these Christmas crafts for kids and make some fun tree trimmings.
What you need
- Cord or ribbon
- Old toy blocks, wooden bits and bobs like old door knobs
- Hot glue gun and glue stick
- Scissors
- Large wooden beads
- Paints and brushes
- Markers or paint pens (optional)
- Varnish or clear glue
Instructions
- Experiment with stacking toys until you are happy with your arrangements. Glue together with hot glue.
- Cut a loop of cord and glue it into a large wooden bead, then attach this to your stacked decoration.
- Paint with your favourite Christmas colours.
- Add some special details with a smaller brush, markers, or paint pens.
- Coat in varnish or clear glue to seal
2. Curtain ring wreaths
Use these Christmas crafts for kids to add to the tree, to doors or use as tabletoppings!
What you need
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Glue
- Curtain rings
- Paints and brushes
- String
Instructions
1. Cut out lots of very small leaves from your cardboard. Depending on the size of the curtain ring you will need about 50. If you want berries on your ring, cut out some small berry-shaped spots as well.
2. Glue leaves to your ring in sets of two, working from the bottom (opposite the metal hook) and fanning all the way around in both directions.
3. Add some berries to the centrepiece or scatter them around the wreath.
4. Paint your leaves and berries.
5. Attach a string for hanging.
You can create a simple version with bigger leaves or a smaller arrangement.
Try pom poms instead of cardboard berries.
For easier cutting, use a cereal box instead of thick cardboard.
Tips
3. Egg carton treat holders
Egg cartons are the gift that keep on giving…
What you need
- Scissors
- Egg carton
- Paints and brushes
- Single hole punch
- String
- Small bells (optional)
- Treats (for the treat holder version)
- Cotton thread (for the tassel version)
Instructions
- Cut out the cone shapes from inside the egg carton. There should be five of these in a standard dozen egg carton. Trim them so their edges are straight.
- Paint and decorate.
- Punch a hole in each side of each of the cones.
- Poke a small hole in the top of one cone using a skewer or similar and thread through a loop of string (with a bell attached, if you like). Tie a knot underneath so that it doesn’t pull through the cone.
- Add a small treat inside one cone.
- Using a piece of thread, lace up the two sides of the cone and tie with a ribbon on the front.
- To make the tassel version, use one cone per decoration. Loop through several lengths of string through each hole and tie off to make a tassel. Alternatively, make one big tassel and tie onto the loop of string you have added to the top of the cone.
Use paint pens and markers instead of paint, if you like.
Instead of a treat, you can put in a Christmas wish for the new year.
Tips
4. Gumnut fairies
Make a family set of gumnut fairies, or create as gifts for loved ones and friends.
What you need
- Large gumnuts
- Scissors
- Acrylic paints and brushes
- Cardboard or cereal box
- Gold pen (optional)
- Coloured felt
- Large and small wooden beads
- Black felt tip pen
- String or gold cord
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Instructions
1. Paint your gumnuts.
2. Draw a wing shape on cardboard; cut out, then trace onto a larger piece of card until you have enough for two wings for each fairy. Cut wings out; decorate with gold pen or paint.
3. Draw a collar shape and a small flower on your felt and cut out a pairof each per fairy.
4. Take the large bead and draw a simple face using the black felt tip pen. Use your finger and some acrylic paint to make a small round spot for each cheek.
5. Cut a length of string and hot glue it in a loop through the top of the small bead to make a loop.
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