Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids: Ornaments, Cards and Gift Tags

The easiest Christmas crafts for kids use paper, washable paint and glue: handprint cards, paper-chain garlands and hand-lettered gift tags. Painted pasta and salt dough ornaments take more time but last for years. Match the craft to the child’s age, set a time limit and cover the table before you start, and everyone has a better time.

Read this first: craft safety

• Choking hazards. Beads, buttons, dried pasta, pom-poms and small sequins are risky for children under 3. The AAP’s choking prevention guidance lists items to keep away from young children. Choose bigger pieces, or save those crafts for older siblings and put supplies away afterward.
• Art supplies. For children’s crafts, look for products labeled non-toxic and marked as conforming to ASTM D4236, the standard for art-material labeling. Read the label before you buy glue, paint or markers.
• Salt dough and pets. The FDA notes that salt-dough ornaments and homemade play dough can be harmful to pets. Keep unbaked dough and finished ornaments out of reach, and call your veterinarian if a pet eats any.
• Heat and tools. Adults handle the oven, hot glue and scissors for small children.

Quick comparison

Ages 2 to 3: simple and supervised

• Handprint cards. Paint a hand with washable paint and press it onto folded cardstock. An adult turns the print into a reindeer, a tree or a wreath with a marker.
• Sticker trees. Draw a big green triangle and let the child fill it with stickers. Peel stickers off the sheet for them and keep sticker sheets out of reach afterward.
• Torn-paper wreaths. Tear red and green paper and glue it onto a paper-plate ring.

Ages 4 to 6: paper and paint

• Paper-chain garland. Cut strips, loop and tape. Hang across a doorway or a mantel. It also works as a countdown.
• Gift tags from old cards. Cut the fronts of last year’s Christmas cards into rectangles, punch a hole and thread with yarn. Cookies also make good gifts; see easy Christmas cookies kids can help bake.
• Painted pasta ornaments. Paint large pasta shapes such as rigatoni or bow ties, let them dry, then glue them into a star or snowflake shape on cardstock. Ribbon makes the hanger. Adults supervise any child who might put pasta in the mouth.

Ages 7 and up: more detail

• Folded paper stars. Fold long strips of paper into a small pentagon knot and press flat, with the ends tucked in.
• Cards with a pop-up. Cut a slit in folded cardstock and fold a small triangle forward so a tree or snowman pops out.
• Wrapped-paper ornaments. Cut circles from wrapping paper and fold them into a simple accordion fan, then glue the ends to make a round ornament.

Salt dough ornaments, step by step

Salt dough is the classic keepsake craft. Recipes vary, so check your own source, but the basic method looks like this.

1. Mix. Combine flour and salt in a bowl, using roughly two parts flour to one part salt. Add water a little at a time and stir until the dough holds together.
2. Knead. Work it for a few minutes until smooth. Add a bit more flour if it is sticky.
3. Roll and cut. Roll to about a quarter inch thick, then cut shapes with cookie cutters. Poke a hole near the top with a straw.
4. Press handprints. A small handprint or fingerprint makes a keepsake. Mark the year on the back with a toothpick.
5. Bake low and slow. Many recipes call for a low oven, roughly 200 to 250 degrees F, for a few hours. Thicker pieces take longer, so check often and flip once. Some families air-dry the shapes for a day first to reduce puffing.
6. Cool and paint. Once completely cool and hard, decorate with acrylic or washable paint. An adult can add a clear sealer so they last longer.
7. Thread and hang. Tie a ribbon through the hole and hang the ornament on a high branch, away from pets.

Salt dough is not food. Tell children not to taste it, and wash hands after handling.

Keep the mess in check

• Cover the table with brown paper, an old shower curtain or newspaper.
• Use washable paint, and put on old shirts.
• Set out only the supplies for one craft at a time.
• Keep a damp towel at the table and a trash bag nearby.
• End on time. A craft that stops while kids are still having fun usually gets repeated next year.

Turn crafts into gifts and decorations

Handmade ornaments, cards and tags make easy gifts for grandparents and teachers. Our guide to budget Christmas gifts for kids has more low-cost ideas. If you want a daily activity to go with the crafts, see our advent activity calendar ideas. For year-round projects with recycled materials, try easy DIY crafts for kids, or add a craft day to your Christmas bucket list.

Bottom line

Start with paper crafts for younger kids, and save painted pasta and salt dough for children old enough to leave the materials alone. Cover the table, check labels on art supplies, keep small pieces away from children under 3 and keep salt dough away from pets.

FAQ

What Christmas craft is easiest for toddlers?

Handprint cards and sticker trees. They need little setup, and an adult does the fiddly parts.

How long do salt dough ornaments last?

With careful storage, they can last for years, especially if sealed. Keep them dry, because moisture can soften them.

Can we skip the oven for salt dough?

Yes. Some families air-dry thin ornaments for several days, turning them once. They may stay more fragile than baked ones.

Is it okay to use glitter?

Loose glitter spreads everywhere and is hard to clean. Consider glitter glue or sparkly stickers instead, especially with younger children.