5 Easy Christmas Ornament Crafts to Make with Kids

Looking for a few easy Christmas ornament crafts for kids? These five projects include little paper wreaths, homemade garlands, salt-dough keepsakes, and a fluffy cotton-ball snowman picture. Most use simple supplies you may already have in your craft drawer or pantry!

Easy Christmas Crafts for Our Family Tree

One of our family’s favorite traditions centers around the Christmas tree. (Or should I say “trees.”) Every Christmas season we put up two trees: a big tree in the main room for all my non-child-friendly ornaments and “fancy” decor, and a second smaller “family” tree for the breakfast/sitting area in the kitchen.

We cover this smaller tree with multiple strands of twinkling multicolored lights and then let the kids go crazy, decorating their little hearts out with handmade garlands and ornaments.  This year, we decided that instead of buying our tree at a local lot, it was time to start a new tradition and head out to the local cut-your-own Christmas tree farm.

The trip to the farm was a lot of fun! The kids were running around, trying to find the perfect tree. Now we can’t wait to start decorating our trees!!!

If you’re ready for a little Christmas crafting, here are five ideas to get you started. Some hang on the tree, while the cotton ball snowman makes a sweet winter picture to display nearby.

1. Construction Paper Wreaths

These little wreaths start with one piece of green construction paper. Cutting slits and joining the paper into a ring gives them their rounded, loopy shape. Finish with a red bow and a hanging loop for the tree.

You’ll need:

• One 4½ × 8-inch piece of green construction paper
• Red ribbon
• String for hanging
• Ruler and pencil
• Scissors
• Hot glue, handled by an adult

Directions:

1 Fold the green paper lengthwise so the two 8-inch edges meet.

2 Draw a line ½ inch from the long, open edge, opposite the fold. This marks where to stop cutting.

3 Make marks about ½ inch apart along the folded edge. Cut from the fold toward the pencil line at each mark, stopping at the line so the paper stays connected.

4 Open the paper. Bring the two long, uncut edges together, curving the paper in the opposite direction from the original fold. Overlap the uncut edges and have an adult hot glue them together to form a slitted tube.

5 Bend the tube into a ring and glue the ends together. Add a red ribbon bow and a loop of string for hanging.

💡Pro Tip:
Keep the uncut border intact. If you accidentally cut all the way across, the paper will separate instead of forming a tube.

2. Popcorn Garland

Popcorn garland is a simple way to add a little homemade charm to your Christmas tree. Older kids can help with threading, while younger ones can sort the popcorn and choose pieces to use.

You’ll need:

• Plain popped popcorn
• Thread or clear fishing line, cut into 3- to 5-foot lengths
• Needle
• Scissors
• Beads, optional

Directions:

1 Pop the popcorn and discard any burned pieces or unpopped kernels. If possible, let the popcorn sit for a couple of days before stringing it. Fresh popcorn tends to break more easily.

2 Thread the needle and tie a knot large enough to keep the popcorn from sliding off the end.

3 Carefully push the needle through the thick center of a fluffy piece of popcorn. Slide it down the thread and repeat.

4 Add beads between pieces if you’d like some color. Leave enough thread at the end to tie a secure knot.

💡Pro Tip:
Shorter strands are easier to handle than one long piece. You can drape several strands around the tree.

3. Paper Chain Garland

A paper chain is an easy project to make together because everyone can add a few links. Use red and green for a classic Christmas look, or choose colors to match your tree.

You’ll need:

• Construction paper in two or three colors
• Scissors
• Tape or glue
• Ruler and pencil, optional

Directions:

1 Cut the construction paper into strips about 1 inch wide and 10 inches long.

2 Curve the first strip into a ring, overlap the ends, and secure them with tape or glue.

3 Thread the next strip through the first ring, then join its ends to make another link.

4 Keep adding links until your garland is the length you want.

💡Pro Tip:
If you’re using glue, let each join hold before pulling on the chain. Tape is handy when little ones are eager to keep going!

4. Salt Dough Handprint or Footprint Ornaments

These keepsake ornaments capture a little handprint or footprint to hang on the tree. Don’t forget to add the year before you put them away for the season.

You’ll need:

• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup flour
• Approximately ¼ cup water, added gradually
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Rolling pin
• Knife, handled by an adult
• Straw or pencil for the hanging hole
• Baking sheet
• Ribbon and scissors
• Paint and paintbrush, optional

Directions:

1 Mix the salt and flour in a bowl. Gradually add water until a soft dough forms.

2 Roll the dough evenly and smooth the surface. Gently press your child’s hand or foot into it to make an impression.

3 Have an adult cut around the print, leaving a border of dough. A circle, heart, or mitten shape works well.

4 Poke a hole for the hanging ribbon with a straw or pencil. Leave enough dough between the hole and the edge, then place the ornament on an ungreased baking sheet.

5 Bake at 200°F until hardened, starting to check after about an hour. Thicker ornaments can take longer, so check that the dough has hardened throughout rather than relying on the clock alone.

6 Let the ornament cool completely. Paint it if you like, add the year, and let any paint dry before threading ribbon through the hole.

5. Cotton Ball Snowman

This fluffy snowman is a picture rather than a hanging ornament, and it’s a fun choice for kids who like gluing and decorating. A blue or black background helps the white cotton stand out.

You’ll need:

• White paper
• Blue or black construction paper for the background
• Cotton balls
• School glue
• Markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Decorations such as felt scraps, buttons, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, or colored paper

Directions:

1 Cut a snowman body from white paper, using three stacked circles as a guide.

2 Spread glue over the body and press cotton balls into it until the paper is covered. Use enough glue to hold the cotton without soaking it.

3 Let the cotton balls set enough to stay in place, then glue the snowman onto the construction-paper background.

4 Add a face, buttons, a hat, or a little scarf using the supplies you have. Leave the finished picture flat until the glue has dried.

💡Pro Tip:
Cut out hats, noses, and scarves ahead of time for younger kids, then let them choose how to dress their snowman.

More Christmas Crafts to Make Together

• Gingerbread Man Ornaments
• Paper Flower Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Paper Mache Christmas Trees
• Cotton Ball Art

Which of these would your kids want to make first? I’d love to hear about your family’s favorite Christmas craft!

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