7 DIY Holiday Crafts for Kids & Adults

This time of year is especially busy with holiday shopping, school fundraisers, festive decorating, and Kitsap County’s many great events. It’s important to carve out family time amid all these activities. What better way to do that than to get creative with a fun craft project? Many crafts work well as decorations or gifts, so you’ll be able to cross even more items off your to-do list. We’ve compiled a few fun DIY holiday crafts for families.

Easy Painting Projects

Christmas Tree Thumbprint Art: For this fun craft, all you need is standard white printer paper, colored paper (black works well for contrast), scissors, tape, and festive holiday paint colors such as green, red, gold, or silver. To start, cut a tree shape from the colored paper you’ve chosen. Then tape the tree to the white paper. (It’s easier if you use Scotch Magic tape, for simple removal later.) 

Once the tree is secured, dip a finger into the paint and start making fingerprints. For the craft to turn out well, make sure to place fingerprints all along the edges of the tree shape. Keep placing fingerprints in a variety of colors all around the tree to make the background extra colorful. After you’re done, carefully peel off the taped tree to reveal your fabulous art! The tree makes a lovely decoration or Christmas card if you write on the back. And, this craft works well with a variety of shapes. So, you can use it for other holidays throughout the year.

Tape Resist Christmas Trees: This clever craft is great for all ages! Similar to the project above, this one uses negative space to create a design, but in a much different way. To start, gather the supplies including cardboard, painter’s tape, washable paint (it doesn’t have to be washable, but this makes clean up easier), scissors, large paint brushes, and something to hold the paint such as a muffin tin. Begin by cutting a large tree shape from the cardboard. Then place painter’s tape on the tree in various patterns. You can place the tape diagonally and/or straight to create a nice design. After the tape is set, paint the remaining open areas on the cardboard in shades of green. Or, be bold by using bright colors. Once this step is complete, let the paint dry for 24 hours. 

The next day, peel off the tape and your crafty tree will be revealed! To make it extra merry and bright you can glue on pom poms for ornaments and add a tree topper. If making a large tree feels like too much, this craft can easily be adapted to a smaller cardboard tree. Alternatively, you can try out this great Hanukkah tape resist design.

DIY Ornaments Your Family Will Treasure

Swirled Paint Ornament: Make decorating your tree more fun each year as you ooh and ah over the ornaments you’ve made. For this simple craft, all you need is clear glass ball ornaments, a marble, and paint. Get started by taking the top off the ornament. Next, place the marble inside with one or two drops of paint. Put your thumb or other hand over the opening and start swirling the marble around inside to create a lovely design. Once you’re satisfied, carefully roll the marble out into a bowl. You can let the paint dry and add another color or stick with one. There are also glitter options available. After the paint dries, put the top back on, and the ornament is ready to hang! Make one or a whole set. These ornaments also make great gifts!

Walnut Rudolph Ornament: These cute ornaments will bring a smile to your face! Gather together walnuts (with the shell), mini googly eyes, mini red poms poms, brown felt, and twine. Start by drilling a hole at the top of the walnut. Cut out two little triangles for the ears from the brown felt. Then use a hot glue gun to attach the googly eyes, red pom pom, and the ears on top. Preferably, use a low-temperature hot glue gun that is safe for children. After the glue dries, run a piece of twine through the hole and tie it. Now walnut Rudolph is ready for the tree! Make one or a whole herd for your tree, or as gifts.

DIY Holiday Decor

Candy Cane Garland: Brighten up your place with candy cane garland! This craft is extra easy, all you need is candy canes (small or large), hot glue, and red twine. Using a hot glue gun (preferably a kid-safe one), glue two candy canes together to make a heart shape. Tie red twine around the candy canes where the hot glue was used. Take a large piece of red twine and hang it strategically in your home. After the twine is secure, hang the candy cane pairs from the twine. The room will instantly feel more festive!

Sand Art Menorah: This beautiful craft will help you celebrate Hanukkah for years to come! To begin, gather the necessary materials including eight small glass jars and one large glass jar (spice jars work well), a funnel, colored sand, scissors, silver straws, and yellow grosgrain ribbon. Using a funnel, pour colored sand into each jar. A young child may need help with this part. Layer several colors in. You can repeat colors or use all different colors, it’s up to you. Cut the straws into four-inch length pieces to represent the candles. Then cut three-inch pieces of ribbon, tie a knot in the middle, and push one ribbon into each straw. For an extra effect, trim the ribbon to look like a candle flame as much as possible. As you celebrate Hanukkah, “light” the menorah by pressing a straw candle into the colorful sand. To make things easier for the next holiday, keep the lids for the jars on hand. This will prevent sand from spilling during storage.

Paper Plate Noise Maker: Ring in the New Year with this fun and colorful noisemaker! All you need are paper plates, paint (markers or crayons work too), ribbon, dried beans, tape, and a hot glue gun. Kids can paint or color the back of the paper plate in whatever way they like. After coloring the plate, flip it over and tape curled ribbon around the edge. Then add some beans to the middle of the plate and fold it in half. Use a hot glue gun to stick the edges of the plate together. Once it’s dry, the noise maker is ready to shake! Make enough for everyone so your celebration is extra fun.