Paper is an easy crafting material that kids can use in many ways. These ideas are perfect for last-minute craft sessions, whether they want to make their advent calendar or ornaments.
Kirigami is a great way to work on scissor-cutting skills, and this Christmas tree version is a cute idea for kids. You could even add some extra glitter for a special touch!
Paper Bag Grinch Craft
Paper bag puppets are simple, fun crafts for kids this Christmas. Through this imaginative play, they can make their characters and tell stories, which also helps with speech and communication skills. All you need is a paper bag, markers, and a little imagination to start!
To make this craft, use a plain brown paper bag, like the kind you might find at your grocery store. Lay it flat on your work surface and draw a prominent figure, such as a human head or a creature. Let your child decorate the body with color, then add details such as eyes, ears, and a nose.
You can also make the hat for this character out of red paper or a yellow one to represent the Grinch’s hat. Add cotton for the hat fluff, and draw the eyebrows and mouth with a black marker. This is a great activity for toddlers and preschoolers alike.
Christmas Tree Paper Bag Puppet
This paper craft for kids is super fun and can be a great activity for a classroom party or family project. It prints on one page to help keep the number of photocopies low and is quick and easy to assemble with little preparation.
Creating this puppet will allow kids to explore their creativity and practice their fine motor skills. They must draw a face on the bottom of a paper lunch bag and add details with markers. They can cut out the face and glue on ears, legs, and a tail.
Kids will love using this Christmas tree puppet to retell stories, give speeches, or talk with friends. They can also put on a puppet show with different characters to entertain their friends and family.
Snowman Gingerbread Man Disguise
Kids can let their imaginations run wild with this fun gingerbread man craft. They can use pom poms, construction paper, and gift bows to create an outfit their gingerbread man can wear on his journey to Christmas Eve.
Encourage students to tell a story about their gingerbread man and how his disguise helps him escape or go on an adventure. This creative project is the perfect addition to your classroom Christmas lesson plans.
Kids of all ages can enjoy this simple paper ornament craft. Kids can personalize it by writing their names on the snowman’s hat or other accessories. Alternatively, they can turn this into a festive tree decoration by adding a red bow to the top of the head.
Another easy way to spruce up the holiday decor is with these festive paper chain crafts. Kids can easily make these with help from a parent or even themselves! This is a great way to burn off energy while completing mess-free crafts.
Nutcracker Paper Cup
Watching The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas tradition, and this adorable paper bag puppet craft brings some of the magic home. It’s a great way to encourage little ones to be creative, work on their fine motor skills and scissors skills, and follow instructions.
You probably already have most of the supplies at home, too—just grab some everyday brown paper bags, glue, and this Nutcracker template from Gathered to get started.
Paper crowns are one of the best messy play ideas for kids, helping them transform everyday materials into creations they can be proud of. This easy but effective project from Arty Crafty Kids uses a standard paper plate, some patterned or glittery scraps of card, and a handful of lollypop sticks.
There’s nothing quite like the pride kids feel when they see their handmade decorations around the house. This collection of paper crafts includes super simple options for toddlers, preschoolers, and young children to work on and a couple that parents can enjoy.
Santa Paper Plate Craft
For many kids, Santa is the most important part of Christmas, so he deserves to be represented in every way possible. This adorable Santa paper plate craft is a fun and festive way to do that. Plus, it’s an easy craft for toddlers and preschoolers.
Start by painting a paper plate with skin-tone paint and letting it dry. Add the details to Santa’s face by drawing eyes, eyebrows, and a smile with a black marker.
Cut and glue a tall triangle from red paper for Santa’s hat to the plate. Add cotton balls to the hat’s brim, then glue on googly eyes to finish the look.
Simple and budget-friendly, this Santa paper plate craft is perfect for families to enjoy together over the holidays. It can also make a great handmade gift for loved ones! Pair it with a favorite book about Santa for an extra special experience. Then, hang it in a window or around the tree to show off its festive flair!
Santa in a Chimney Card
Kids can make a fun Santa in a chimney card to send to friends and family. It’s easy to make with paper plates, cotton balls, glue, and googly eyes. This cute card will bring a smile to the recipient’s faces this holiday season.
Hone teens’ drawing skills with Gathered’s simple how-to-draw Santa tutorial. It’s a great way for them to personalize their Christmas gifts.
If your kiddo isn’t a fan of coloring, they can try this DIY from Fun EZ Crafts. It’s an easy-name snowman craft that will add a sweet touch to their gift wrap.
Nothing beats junk modeling when it comes to creative crafting. Stock up on twigs, paper strips, and glue to help your kids create their own fun Christmas tree decorations. Check out this cool tutorial from One Little Project to learn how to make these adorable decorations.
You can even turn them into flameless candles if you want. Alternatively, check out this tutorial from Creative Family Fun to learn how to turn paper plates into moving parts penguins that will delight any recipient.
Unicorn Christmas Craft
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Kids will love decorating their Christmas tree with this out-of-this-world unicorn ornament. They will also be practicing scissor skills, following directions, and fine motor skills. Plus, they can use their creativity to decorate the unicorn with a Santa hat or any other decoration they want.
The kids can make this unicorn ornament for their tree or as a gift for someone else. If they want to give it as a gift, they can write the recipient’s name on the back of the ornament.
This adorable unicorn card is the perfect way to tell Mom how magical she is this year. You can embellish it with flowers, rhinestones, or sequins for a more decorative look.
Stocking Name Craft
Try this paper swan craft for an adorable take on the “Seven Swans a Swimming” from the 12 Days of Christmas. Kids will practice fine motor skills by lacing ribbons around the mini pinecone to connect all the swans.
This colorful stocking name craft is a fun Christmas craft that helps kids spell their names and work on scissor skills. It is easy enough for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy and makes a wonderful addition to any holiday bulletin board. It also makes a cute gift tag or can be kept as a keepsake to be used year after year.
If you’re looking for more Christmas paper crafts to do with your kids this year, check out this list of simple projects from Arty Crafty Kids. Or try this easy paper plate tree craft, which requires just a few supplies and is sure to please.
Finally, this junk modeling craft is a great way to fire up kids’ imaginations with an easy make that requires only paper strips and glue.