December brings that special chaos when everyone’s home and the holiday spirit runs high. These family Christmas craft night ideas transform ordinary evenings into memory-making sessions that bring generations together around the kitchen table.
Simple supplies like construction paper, glue sticks, and ribbon become the foundation for hours of creative fun. Kids get to express their artistic side while adults rediscover the joy of making something with their hands.
The best part is watching each family member’s personality shine through their unique creations.
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Toilet Paper Roll Characters Add Festive Fun
Toilet paper rolls transform into an entire Christmas cast with just paint, felt, and paper scraps. This lineup from @liddierowl includes an elf in green felt with a tiny pom-pom hat, a snowman sporting a purple scarf, Santa with his signature red coat, a reindeer with brown antlers and pink nose, and a penguin with a white belly.
The beauty here is how simple materials create distinct personalities through color blocking and facial expressions. Kids can mix up the characters by swapping colors or adding their own twist, like a gingerbread man or a Christmas tree.
These sturdy little figures double as decorations once the glue dries, lining windowsills or mantels with handmade charm.
Curate Painted Salt Dough Ornaments With Festive Shapes
Salt dough ornaments bring that old-school charm back to your table, and these candy canes, mittens, and stockings prove how versatile the medium really is. The pink, red, and mint palette feels playful without being too traditional, and those turquoise ribbons add a pop that ties everything together nicely.
Mix flour, salt, and water to create your dough, then cut out shapes with cookie cutters before baking until firm. Once cooled, let everyone paint their designs with acrylics, stripes, dots, or whatever comes to mind, and finish with a clear sealant for durability.
Check out Positively Splendid for the full recipe and hanging tips that’ll keep these beauties intact for years.
Layer Glitter On Miniature Winter Village Houses
These miniature houses bring a nostalgic charm that feels both vintage and approachable for all skill levels. The pink glittered house catches the eye instantly, but the blue and gray options show how versatile this winter village kit can be when you switch up colors and finishes.
Cardboard provides the base structure, while glitter, paint, and tiny bottle brush trees create that magical snowy village vibe. AgedWithThyme offers this kit with pre-cut pieces that make assembly surprisingly easy, even if your hands aren’t super steady.
Experiment with metallic paints, pastel glitters, or even leave some houses unglittered for a mixed-texture display that looks intentional rather than matchy-matchy.
Introduce Patterned Paper Tree Cards for Cheerful Greetings
These handmade cards transform kraft cardstock and colorful patterned paper into miniature Christmas trees that pop off the page. Each tree cutout showcases a different design, pink polka dots, watercolor stripes in blue and yellow, rainbow waves, and minty green geometric shapes that kids can mix and match however they like.
The beauty here is in the simplicity, since you’re just cutting triangles and gluing them onto folded card bases. @recyclemeplay shows how scrapbook paper scraps or even wrapping paper work perfectly for this project, and younger crafters can practice their scissor skills while creating something they’ll actually want to give away.
Stack the finished cards in a basket so everyone can admire the variety before they head out to friends and neighbors.
Wooden Bead Snowmen Brighten Your Holiday Decor Fun
These wooden bead snowmen ornaments are perfect when you need something simple but charming. Grab some natural wooden beads in different sizes, string them on twine, and add tiny painted faces with a fine-tip marker, the imperfect dots and smiles make them even better.
The natural wood tones paired with white painted beads create that cozy, rustic vibe that looks amazing on any tree. @leahdamon shows how easy it is to make a whole set in one sitting, and kids love personalizing each little snowman face with their own quirky expressions.
Try adding tiny fabric scraps as scarves or swap in colorful beads for hats.
Style Vibrant Printed Wreaths With Kids
These cheerful green wreaths bring a playful twist to traditional holiday decorating. The bright lime green base is made by printing with a chopped cardboard roll dipped in paint, creating texture that catches the light beautifully.
Kids love adding the tiny red pom-poms as berries, and the whole project requires minimal supplies you probably already have. Check out this clever approach from @4plusmama for inspiration on making multiples in one sitting.
Try experimenting with different colors like red, white, or even metallic gold for varied wreath styles that suit your family’s aesthetic.
Arrange Dried Legumes Into Festive Cookie Toppers
White beans, yellow split peas, green pumpkin seeds, and brown lentils transform plain sugar cookies into edible art pieces. Each legume brings its own color and shape, letting kids arrange stars, trees, and snowflakes before the dough bakes.
Press the dried ingredients gently into rolled dough, creating patterns that hold during baking. @inspiremyplay shows how star anise adds a dramatic center point to snowflake designs, while almonds become tree trunks.
The segmented tray keeps each ingredient separate, making it easy for multiple hands to grab and create without mixing everything together.
Upgrade Cards With Nature-Inspired Pine Branch Collages
Real pine branches hot-glued to kraft cardstock create texture that store-bought cards can’t match. White paint splatters become snow drifts, while red and lime green buttons scatter across like fallen ornaments.
Glitter stars, gold or silver, perch at the top of each branch, and kids can paint their own snowy landscapes with acrylic paint dabbed on with sponges. @little_house_on_the_green shows how sequins and tiny embellishments fill empty corners without overwhelming the natural greenery.
These cards double as keepsakes that grandparents actually frame, not toss.
Reveal Personalized Air Dry Clay Ornaments With Spices
Air Dry Clay ornaments get a major upgrade when you press star anise, cinnamon sticks, and other spices right into the surface before drying. Stamping names or festive messages into the clay makes each piece feel personal, and the natural aromatics add a warm, nostalgic scent that fills your home.
This idea from @miom_studio works beautifully because everyone can customize their own ornament with different textures and designs. Try embedding dried herbs, small beads, or even metallic leaf for variety.
The cream and white palette keeps things simple, letting the natural brown tones of the spices stand out against the clay backdrop.
Introduce Paper Gnome Garlands for Festive Fun
These paper gnomes bring instant holiday cheer without needing advanced skills or fancy supplies. The triangular hats in red, white, and orange cardstock paired with curled white paper beards create characters that kids absolutely love making.
You can personalize each gnome by switching up hat colors or adding small cutout details like stars or hearts. @fraeullein_jasmin shows how simple cuts and curls transform flat paper into dimensional decorations that look way more impressive than the effort required.
String them together for a garland or prop them individually along mantels and windowsills for a playful Scandinavian vibe.
Arrange Shell Ornaments With Festive Decoupage Napkin Designs
Transforming plain shells into holiday treasures becomes surprisingly easy with this decoupage shell craft kit. The box arrives packed with everything needed, cream-colored shells, decorative napkins featuring Santa, candy canes, and Christmas trees, plus Mod Podge and brushes.
Kids love picking their favorite napkin patterns, whether it’s the red and green plaid or the whimsical vintage Santa design. WatersEdgeWonders includes clear instructions that make the process stress-free, even for first-timers.
These finished ornaments work beautifully as tree decorations or gifts for grandparents who appreciate handmade keepsakes.
Try next
Curate a Cardboard Village With Gingerbread House Charm
Cardboard transforms into an entire winter village when you let everyone design their own miniature house. The natural brown tones mimic gingerbread perfectly, and kids can add white paint dots, striped candy cane windows, or tiny cutout doors to make each structure unique.
Pair the houses with simple cardboard trees, some painted lime green, others left natural with snowflake stickers or polka dots. @creativeandbusysquirrels shows how toilet paper rolls become sturdy tree bases, and cereal boxes provide enough material for multiple buildings.
The whole scene sits beautifully on a table or windowsill, creating a display that grows with each family member’s contribution.
Melted Snowman Cookies Inspire Sweet Holiday Memories
This melted snowman cookie transforms a simple dessert into an adorable holiday character that kids absolutely love creating. The design uses a basic sugar cookie base topped with white icing, a marshmallow for the head, and simple decorations like black icing for facial features and stick arms.
The genius here is in the simplicity, which makes it perfect for younger crafters who want something achievable. @this.mum.cooks shows how you can swap the red candy scarf for different colors or add tiny pretzel stick arms for texture.
Let kids personalize their snowmen with different expressions or accessories like mini chocolate chip buttons for endless variations.
Layer Felt and Pinecones Into Adorable Gnome Characters
These quirky little gnome figures combine painted pinecones with wooden bead heads and triangular felt hats in vibrant orange, purple, and magenta shades. Each gnome gets a tiny scarf made from matching felt strips, and a jingle bell perched on top adds that perfect jingly touch.
The pinecone bodies can be spray-painted in bold colors like lime green or deep plum, then the edges get a light brushing of white or metallic paint for dimension. @juniorsartanddiy displays them on a rustic wood slice, but they look just as charming lined up on a mantel or tucked into a holiday centerpiece.
Kids love drawing silly faces on the wooden beads with permanent markers before assembling each character.
Add Whimsical Gnomes With Mystery Surprise Kits
Mystery gnome making kits from HomeSweetGnomeShop turn crafting into an adventure since you don’t know which adorable design you’ll receive until you open the box. Each kit includes pre-cut materials like striped or patterned hats in reds, greens, and blues, fluffy beards in white or blonde, and wooden noses that snap together without any sewing required.
Kids love the suspense of discovering whether they’ll create a candy cane striped buddy or a snowflake-covered character. The no-sew approach means even younger crafters can participate without frustration, and everyone ends up with a shelf-worthy gnome that looks professionally made.
Swap beard colors between kits or add jingle bells to the hat tips for personalized twists.
Paper Chain Ornaments Showcase Festive Character Designs
These adorable paper chain decorations transform a simple loop-and-link technique into charming Christmas characters. Santa in bold red with his black belt, a cheerful snowman in white with an orange carrot nose, and a mischievous elf in bright green all hang from festive garland, each one crafted from linked paper strips that create dimension and movement.
The beauty here is how accessible this project feels for all ages since the interlocking chain method requires just cardstock, glue, and ribbon for hanging. Younger kids can handle the looping while older ones add details like googly eyes, foam hats, and tiny button accents, making this a perfect collaborative activity inspired by @bakerrossfr.
Switch up the color schemes to create reindeer, penguins, or even gingerbread figures using the same chain foundation.
Arrange DIY Trees from Egg Cartons
Egg carton scraps transform into miniature evergreen forests when you stack and stitch triangular layers together. These tiny trees nestle perfectly in cardboard egg cartons, creating an instant winter woodland scene that’s equal parts charming and simple to execute.
Vary your greens from deep forest to soft sage, and let kids experiment with different tree heights and shapes. @inspiredbynaturesa shows how mixing textures and tones adds depth without complicating the process.
Hot glue works faster than hand-stitching if you’re working with younger crafters who want instant results.
Upgrade Your Decor With Beaded Wreath Ornaments
These miniature beaded wreaths bring a sophisticated touch that feels surprisingly easy to recreate at home. The combination of deep green pearls and ruby red crystals creates a classic holiday palette, while tiny bronze bells and shimmery gold ribbon bows add unexpected charm that catches light beautifully.
This beaded wreath making kit from SolidOakCrafts includes everything needed to assemble these elegant ornaments. The wire base allows for flexible bead arrangements, so everyone can customize their design slightly different while working together.
Try alternating bead sizes or experimenting with different ribbon colors to make each wreath uniquely yours.
Introduce Card Character Ornaments in Cookie Frame Designs
These cookie-shaped frames bring a playful twist to traditional ornament making. Each design features felt and card Santa faces, elves, and even a reindeer, all framed by tan cardboard borders that mimic gingerbread cookies with scalloped edges.
The backgrounds showcase bold patterns, chevron stripes, polka dots, and candy cane prints, in vibrant greens, blues, purples, and pinks. @liddierowl layers felt pieces for dimension, adding cotton ball beards and pom-pom hat toppers that kids can glue themselves.
Swap backgrounds with wrapping paper scraps or fabric remnants for endless variety.
Little Paper Hands Brighten Your Holiday Wall
This little paper hands wreath turns tiny traced handprints into something surprisingly elegant. The green construction paper hands layer around a cardboard ring, creating texture that catches light beautifully, while small red paper hearts add festive pops of color throughout.
Traced hands from every family member make this project deeply personal, and @nat.hinson mounted it on fabric-backed wood for a gallery-worthy finish. You could swap the hearts for bells, stars, or even tiny photos for a twist that reflects your crew’s style.
The arched frame elevates what could be a simple kids’ craft into actual decor you’ll want displayed year after year.
Curate Festive Mini Felt Tree Ornaments Together
This felt christmas tree kit from sheepcreekstudio arrives in a sweet cardboard tray, ready to spark creativity without any prep work. The lime green, forest green, and soft mint trees look adorable once decorated with rainbow embroidery floss and tiny embellishments.
Kids can stitch colorful garlands onto their trees or glue beads for a no-needle option. The wool felt has a soft texture that makes handling easy, even for smaller hands that might struggle with stiffer materials.
Each finished ornament becomes a keepsake that tells the story of your crafting night.
Layer Wood and Clay for Personalized Ornament Gifts
These circular ornaments combine smooth white clay with warm wood sections, creating a sophisticated contrast that feels both modern and rustic. Stamped names across the surface make each piece personal, while delicate dried florals pressed into the clay add texture and a bit of nature’s charm.
The beauty here is how accessible this project feels, you’re basically working with air-dry clay, wood slices, and whatever ribbon scraps you’ve got lying around. @laravinckdesigns shows how layering different materials creates depth without needing fancy tools or a kiln.
Try stamping initials, favorite words, or even inside jokes that’ll make everyone smile when they unwrap these little treasures.
Pipe Cleaner Trees Inspire Hands-On Holiday Creativity
This pipe cleaner christmas tree kit from ArtbyKarenFaith transforms simple green chenille stems into a fluffy, layered masterpiece that kids actually finish. The vibrant lime-green branches stack up beautifully, and the tiny ornaments (think pastel pom-poms, red-and-white candy canes, mini snowflakes) stick right on without glue drama.
Younger crafters love bending the fuzzy stems into shape, while older ones get creative with garland placement and color combos. Swap in metallic pipe cleaners for a glittery twist, or let everyone pick their own ornament palette for trees that feel totally personal.
The gold ribbon topper adds that final festive touch that makes everyone want to show off their work.
Your living room floor might be covered in glitter and your dining table sticky with glue, but those are the signs of successful family Christmas craft night ideas in action. Each ornament, card, and decoration carries the fingerprints and laughter of everyone who helped make it.
Years from now, you’ll pull these handmade treasures from storage boxes and remember exactly who made what. The crooked angel your youngest painted or the elaborate snowflake your teenager carefully cut will bring back those cozy December evenings.
Sometimes the messiest nights create the most treasured memories.
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