14 Christmas ornament crafts for kids
Making ornaments with kids is one of those December activities that actually holds up year after year. The ornaments end up on the tree, and a few years later you find yourself looking at them and remembering exactly how old your child was when they made them. That is worth a lot. These 14 crafts cover a wide range of ages and skill levels, and most require only basic supplies you likely already have at home.
Some of these are quick and easy enough for toddlers. Others take more patience and work best with older kids or a parent helping along the way. Either way, the results are charming, and the time spent making them is the real point. You can find more inspiration for holiday crafts and arts and crafts on the blog as well.
Pom pom globe ornament
This one is about as simple as it gets. You take a plain Christmas ornament and glue brightly colored pom poms all over the outside. The result looks festive and full, and kids of almost any age can do this one without much help. It is a great choice when you want a craft that actually finishes in one sitting.
Craft tutorial: Kids pom pom ornament craft
What you’ll need: Brightly colored pom poms, a plain ornament, and craft glue.
Paint drip and swirl ornament
This craft works especially well for toddlers and younger kids. You start with a clear plastic fillable ornament and let your child drip paint colors of their choosing inside. Once you close it up, the paint moves around the inside of the globe on its own. The patterns it creates are completely unique every time. No two turn out the same, which makes each one feel special.
Craft tutorial: Paint drip ornament Christmas craft activity
What you’ll need: Clear plastic fillable Christmas ornaments and craft paint.
LED snowmen with earmuffs
These little snowmen are made from battery-operated LED tea lights. Pom poms act as earmuffs, and the glowing nose effect is genuinely sweet. Kids love making these because the light-up element feels like a real payoff. They also make good gifts for grandparents and teachers because they are functional as well as decorative.
Craft tutorial: LED snowmen with earmuffs
What you’ll need: LED tea lights and pom poms.
Pipe cleaner and wood bead circle ornaments
This craft is worth making for the fine motor skill practice alone. Kids thread wooden beads of different sizes onto pipe cleaners, then bend the pipe cleaner into a circle to finish the ornament. It takes focus and patience, which makes it a great option for slightly older toddlers or preschool-age kids. The finished ornaments have a clean, simple look that works on almost any tree style. If you are interested in how activities like this support early development, take a look at some activities for toddlers that build similar skills.
Craft tutorial: Preschoolers pipe cleaner and wood bead circle ornaments
What you’ll need: Wooden beads in assorted sizes and pipe cleaners.
Mason jar lid reindeer
An old mason jar lid becomes a reindeer with just a few supplies. Googly eyes, a shiny red pom pom for a nose, and a pipe cleaner bent into antler shapes are all you need. This is one of the most forgiving crafts on the list. Even very young kids can glue the eyes and nose on, and the finished reindeer always gets a good reaction on the tree.
Craft tutorial: Silly reindeer from mason jar lid
What you’ll need: Googly eyes, a red pom pom, a pipe cleaner, and a mason jar lid.
Felted acorn ornaments
Wet felting is a surprisingly satisfying craft for kids. Wool felts in warm water through a process of rubbing and shaping, and the result here is a smooth felted ball that fits into a real acorn cap. These ornaments look beautiful on the tree and feel handmade in the best way. This craft works well for kids who have a longer attention span and enjoy sensory activities.
Craft tutorial: Felted acorn Christmas ornament instructions
What you’ll need: Real acorn caps (foraged or purchased) and wool roving.
Polymer clay ornaments
Polymer clay is a step up from regular play dough because it bakes solid in a home oven. Kids roll it out and cut shapes using the same kinds of cutters and rollers they would use with play dough. Once baked, the shapes become hard ornaments that last for years. This is a great option for kids who already enjoy sensory play and want something more permanent at the end of it.
Craft tutorial: Kids clay Christmas tree ornaments
What you’ll need: Sculpey oven-bake polymer clay and play dough cutters or rollers.
Piñata Christmas tree ornaments
These tiny triangle ornaments are made from old cracker boxes folded into Christmas tree shapes, then decorated with strips of green crepe paper cut into a fringe. The fringe technique is easy enough for kids to do themselves with scissors, and the layering process is satisfying and repetitive in a good way. These take a little more time than some of the other crafts here, but the finished ornaments are charming.
Craft tutorial: Piñata Christmas tree ornaments
What you’ll need: Green crepe paper streamer roll and an old cardboard box.
Pom pom pinecone ornament
If you have collected pinecones outside, this is a good way to put them to use. Kids press colorful pom poms into the spaces between the scales of the pinecone. No glue is always required because the scales hold the pom poms in place naturally. The result is bright and festive, and it is a craft that even very young kids can do with minimal setup and supervision.
Craft tutorial: Pom pom pinecone ornament activity
What you’ll need: Pinecones and colorful pom poms.
Tiny toboggans popsicle stick craft
This is the most challenging craft on the list. Kids build small sled shapes from popsicle sticks using tacky glue, which means waiting for pieces to dry before moving on to the next step. It is not a one-session craft for most kids. That said, the process involves counting, measuring, and problem-solving, which makes it genuinely educational. The finished ornament is something kids feel proud of because they know it took real effort.
Craft tutorial: Tiny toboggans popsicle stick kids craft
What you’ll need: Popsicle sticks and classic craft tacky glue.
Felt Christmas tree ornaments with buttons
Green felt cut into a tree shape and decorated with buttons is a classic for good reason. Buttons are easy to find at thrift stores, dollar stores, or in an old sewing kit. Older kids can apply the glue themselves, while younger kids will need a hand with that part. The button decorations give these ornaments a cozy, handmade quality that looks lovely on the tree.
Craft tutorial: Felt Christmas tree ornament with buttons
What you’ll need: Green felt, assorted buttons, and tacky glue.
Alphabet block tree ornaments
Classic wooden alphabet blocks get a second life as Christmas ornaments here. Red and green blocks work well together, though a mix of colors can look great too. This craft involves more adult participation than some of the others, but it still makes a meaningful contribution to a family tree. If you want to try making your own wooden pieces for crafts and decor, the post on how to make wooden letters has some useful guidance.
Craft tutorial: How to make alphabet block ornaments
What you’ll need: Classic wooden alphabet blocks.
Pom pom star ornaments
These ornaments start with a wire or wooden star base. Kids glue white pom poms over the entire surface to create a snowy, textured effect. The dollar store often carries wooden star shapes that work perfectly for this. The finished ornaments are understated and pretty, which makes them a nice contrast to the brighter, more colorful crafts on this list.
Craft tutorial: Snowy pom pom star tree ornaments
What you’ll need: Pom poms, a star base, and craft glue.
Melted crayon ornaments
This craft uses crayon shavings melted inside a clear fillable ornament. You collect shavings from old or broken crayons, pour them inside the ornament, and apply gentle heat to melt them. The colors swirl together as they melt and then harden into a unique pattern once they cool. It is one of the more unusual crafts here, and kids find the melting process genuinely fascinating. Adult supervision is needed for the heating step, but kids can do the rest on their own.
Craft tutorial: How to make melted crayon Christmas ornaments
What you’ll need: Clear fillable Christmas ornaments and crayon shavings.
Choosing the right craft for your child
Not every craft on this list suits every age. The paint drip ornaments and pom pom pinecones work well with toddlers who need something open-ended and low-pressure. The popsicle stick toboggans and alphabet block ornaments are better suited to older kids or family projects where adults and children work together. The polymer clay and felted acorn crafts fall somewhere in the middle and work well for kids who are ready for a bit more of a challenge.
The best approach is to match the craft to your child’s current abilities and attention span rather than pushing toward something too complicated. A finished ornament that a child made mostly on their own is far more meaningful than a perfect one that required constant adult correction. These crafts are also a good way to spend time together during the holidays without the pressure of a structured activity. Keep the supplies simple, set up a comfortable workspace, and let your child lead where they can.
For more ideas on keeping kids engaged through the season and beyond, take a look at the kids activities section of the blog.
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