8 Creative Christmas Ornament Crafts for Kids: Easy DIY Fun for the Holidays

The holiday season is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than by creating unique Christmas ornaments with your little ones? We've put together a delightful collection of craft ideas that are perfect for kids of all ages. These fun and easy projects will not only keep your children entertained but also result in beautiful decorations for your tree or to give as heartfelt gifts.

Crafting ornaments together is a wonderful way to bond as a family and create lasting memories. From simple paper crafts to more intricate designs using everyday materials, our list has something for everyone. Get ready to unleash your creativity and spread some holiday cheer with these charming DIY ornaments that your kids will love making.

1) Pinecone Elves

We love creating adorable pinecone elves with our little ones during the holiday season. These charming ornaments bring a touch of whimsy to any Christmas tree.

To start, we gather pinecones from our backyard or local park. It's a fun outdoor activity that gets the kids excited about the craft.

Next, we paint the pinecones with festive colors like red and green. For a sparkly touch, we sometimes add glitter while the paint is still wet.

For the elf's face, we use small wooden beads or pom-poms. We glue these onto the top of the pinecone, creating a cute little head for our elf.

To make the hat, we cut triangles from felt or construction paper. We attach these to the top of the elf's head with a dab of glue.

For finishing touches, we add tiny pom-poms for the nose and buttons. Some of us even use pipe cleaners to create arms for our elves.

Finally, we tie a loop of ribbon to the top of the pinecone. This allows us to hang our adorable elf creations on the Christmas tree.

2) Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a classic Christmas craft that kids absolutely love. We adore how easy and inexpensive they are to make, using just three simple ingredients from our kitchen.

To start, we mix flour, salt, and water to create a pliable dough. The kids have a blast kneading and rolling it out. Then comes the fun part - cutting out festive shapes!

We use cookie cutters to create stars, trees, and reindeer. For a personal touch, we press handprints or fingerprints into the dough. The little ones beam with pride seeing their tiny imprints.

After baking and cooling, it's time to decorate. We break out the paint, glitter, and ribbons. Each child's creativity shines as they embellish their ornaments.

These homemade treasures make wonderful gifts for grandparents and teachers. We love hanging them on our tree, creating lasting memories with each ornament.

3) Bottle Cap Snowmen

We love this adorable and eco-friendly craft that turns bottle caps into cute little snowmen. It's a perfect way to upcycle those plastic caps we often toss in the trash.

To start, we'll need clean white bottle caps, some paint, and a few craft supplies. Let's gather small buttons, tiny twigs, and colorful ribbon too.

First, we'll paint the bottle caps white for the snowman's body. While they dry, we can cut small circles from black felt for the eyes and buttons.

Once the paint is dry, we'll glue on the eyes and buttons. For the nose, a tiny orange triangle works great. We can use thin twigs for the arms and add a colorful ribbon scarf.

These bottle cap snowmen make fantastic ornaments or gift toppers. We can even turn them into magnets for the fridge. Kids will have a blast creating their own unique snowman family.

4) Paper Plate Reindeer

We love this adorable paper plate reindeer craft for kids! It's simple, inexpensive, and perfect for getting little ones into the Christmas spirit.

To start, we gather our materials: paper plates, brown paint, googly eyes, red pom-poms, and brown pipe cleaners. We also need scissors and glue.

First, we paint the paper plate brown and let it dry. While waiting, we cut antlers from the pipe cleaners. Once the plate is ready, we glue on the googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose.

Next, we attach the antlers to the back of the plate. For extra flair, we can add a festive ribbon bow at the reindeer's neck.

This craft is great for developing fine motor skills and creativity. Kids can personalize their reindeer with different expressions or decorations.

We find this activity works well for children ages 3 and up with adult supervision. It's a fun way to spend a cozy afternoon and create lasting Christmas memories together.

5) Button Christmas Tree

We love this charming Christmas craft that turns ordinary buttons into a festive masterpiece. It's perfect for little hands and encourages creativity.

To start, gather green buttons of various sizes and shades. You'll also need cardstock, glue, and some decorative elements like a small yellow button or star for the top.

Cut out a triangle shape from the cardstock to form the tree base. Then, let your kids arrange the buttons from largest to smallest, creating a tree shape on the cardstock.

Once they're happy with the layout, help them glue each button in place. For added flair, we suggest using different button shapes or adding tiny red buttons as ornaments.

The finishing touch is placing a yellow button or star at the top of the tree. This craft not only results in a cute decoration but also helps develop fine motor skills and pattern recognition.

When complete, these button trees make adorable ornaments or gift tags. They're a great way to use up spare buttons and create lasting memories with your little ones.

6) Cinnamon Stick Stars

We love the warm, spicy scent of cinnamon during the holiday season. These cinnamon stick stars bring that cozy aroma right to our Christmas trees!

To make these ornaments, we'll need cinnamon sticks, hot glue, ribbon, and some festive decorations. First, we arrange five cinnamon sticks in a star shape and secure them with hot glue.

Once our star is formed, we can get creative with embellishments. Small pinecones, holly berries, or tiny ornaments look adorable glued to the center. We can also wrap thin ribbon or twine around the points for extra flair.

To finish, we attach a loop of ribbon to the back for hanging. These ornaments not only look charming but fill our homes with a delightful holiday scent.

Kids will enjoy arranging the sticks and choosing decorations. It's a simple yet rewarding craft that engages their senses and creativity. Plus, these cinnamon stars make lovely gifts for teachers or grandparents.

7) Handprint Ornament

Let's create a cherished keepsake with handprint ornaments! This craft is perfect for capturing your little one's growth year after year.

We'll start by mixing salt dough. Combine 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of water in a bowl. Knead the dough until it's smooth and pliable.

Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Help your child press their hand firmly into the dough to create an impression. Use a circular cookie cutter or a glass to cut around the handprint.

Don't forget to make a small hole at the top for hanging! A straw works great for this. Bake the ornament at 250°F for 2-3 hours or until completely dry.

Once cooled, it's time to decorate! Paint the ornament with acrylic paints or use markers to add color. Encourage your kids to get creative with designs and patterns.

Finish by threading a ribbon through the hole. Add the year on the back to create a lasting memory. These ornaments make wonderful gifts for grandparents too!

8) Popsicle Stick Sleds

Let's create adorable miniature sleds using popsicle sticks! This craft is perfect for little hands and brings a touch of winter magic to our Christmas trees.

We'll start by gathering our supplies: popsicle sticks, glue, paint, and ribbons. First, we'll form the base of our sled by gluing three popsicle sticks side by side.

Next, we'll add two more sticks perpendicular to the base for the sled's runners. A dab of glue at each end will hold them in place. We can paint our sleds in festive colors like red, green, or gold.

For a finishing touch, we'll tie a small ribbon at the front of the sled. This adds a pop of color and provides a loop for hanging. We can even personalize each sled by writing names or the year with a fine-tipped marker.

These popsicle stick sleds are not only charming ornaments but also make wonderful gifts. Our kids will love creating these miniature winter wonders, bringing smiles to everyone who sees them on the tree.

Making Safe and Kid-Friendly Ornaments

Safety is paramount when crafting with children. We'll explore how to choose non-toxic materials and supervise craft time to ensure a fun, worry-free experience.

Choosing Non-Toxic Materials

When selecting materials for our Christmas ornament crafts, we always opt for non-toxic options. Water-based paints and glues are excellent choices. These products are safe if accidentally ingested and easy to clean up.

We love using natural materials like pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and dried orange slices. They're not only safe but also add a festive scent to our creations.

For glittery ornaments, we choose eco-friendly glitter made from plant cellulose. It's biodegradable and won't harm little ones if swallowed.

Felt, yarn, and fabric scraps are other kid-friendly options. They're soft, colorful, and pose no risk of cuts or scratches.

Supervising Craft Time

We always make crafting a family activity, keeping a watchful eye on our little ones. Setting clear ground rules before starting helps everyone stay safe and have fun.

We designate a specific crafting area, preferably with a washable surface. This contains the mess and makes cleanup easier.

For younger children, we pre-cut any necessary shapes or pieces. This eliminates the need for scissors and reduces the risk of accidents.

We encourage proper tool use, teaching kids to hold paintbrushes and glue sticks correctly. This not only ensures safety but also develops fine motor skills.

Regular breaks are essential. We use this time to wash hands, preventing accidental ingestion of craft materials.

Enhancing Creativity Through Ornament Crafts

Christmas ornament crafts offer a wonderful opportunity for kids to express themselves and develop their artistic skills. These projects encourage imagination while providing a festive learning experience.

Encouraging Unique Designs

We love seeing children's creativity shine through their ornament designs. To spark their imagination, we can provide a variety of materials like colorful beads, glitter, ribbons, and paint. Letting kids choose their own color schemes and patterns helps them develop confidence in their artistic choices.

We've found that offering gentle guidance without being too prescriptive works wonders. For example, we might suggest a theme like "winter wonderland" or "Santa's workshop" to get their creative juices flowing. This approach allows children to put their own spin on traditional holiday motifs.

It's also fun to introduce unconventional materials like recycled items or natural elements. Pinecones, twigs, and dried flowers can add a unique touch to ornaments. This not only promotes creativity but also teaches kids about sustainability.

Incorporating Educational Elements

Ornament crafts can be a sneaky way to slip in some learning. We like to incorporate counting exercises by having kids string a specific number of beads or add a certain amount of decorations. This reinforces basic math skills in a fun, hands-on way.

For older children, we can introduce simple geometry concepts. Creating shapes like stars or snowflakes from popsicle sticks helps them understand angles and symmetry. We might even challenge them to design 3D ornaments, fostering spatial reasoning skills.

Language arts get a boost too. We encourage kids to write short holiday messages or their names on ornaments. This improves penmanship and spelling while adding a personal touch to their creations.

Lastly, we love using ornament crafts to teach cultural awareness. We introduce traditions from around the world, inspiring kids to create ornaments that reflect different holiday customs. It's a great way to broaden their perspectives and celebrate diversity.

Display and Preservation Tips

Showcasing and preserving handmade Christmas ornaments keeps the holiday magic alive year-round. We've got some practical ideas to help you display these precious keepsakes and keep them safe for years to come.

Storing Ornaments Safely

We recommend using divided storage boxes with soft padding to protect delicate ornaments. Wrap each piece individually in tissue paper or bubble wrap before placing them in their compartments. For oddly shaped or oversized ornaments, we suggest custom-made boxes lined with acid-free paper.

Keep the storage containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid attics or basements, as temperature fluctuations can damage ornaments over time. Label boxes clearly with contents and dates to make finding specific pieces easier next holiday season.

Creating Memorable Displays

We love showcasing handmade ornaments beyond the Christmas tree. Try hanging them on a decorative ladder or repurposed wooden pallet for a rustic touch. Create a festive garland by stringing ornaments along ribbon or twine to drape across mantels or windows.

For a year-round display, consider a shadow box frame. Arrange smaller ornaments inside, creating a 3D collage of holiday memories. Another option is to use clear glass jars or vases filled with ornaments as colorful centerpieces.

Don't forget to rotate displays to prevent fading and wear. We suggest taking photos of your favorite arrangements to recreate them easily each year.