Turn handprints into Santa’s beard and craft sticks into a cute Santa hat with these simple and fun Santa crafts for kids! These easy-to-follow activities are perfect for even the youngest crafters, though they’ll need a little help from an adult. But trust me, it’s all worth it when you see the smiles and excitement on their faces as they create their own little masterpieces!
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to get all kids excited, it’s the thought of Santa Claus coming to town. And while we adults are busy with the usual holiday rush — decorating Christmas trees, buying gifts, or whipping up holiday treats — there’s nothing quite like the thrill our little ones feel as they count down the days until Santa’s arrival.
So, to keep the kids entertained and excited while waiting for Santa, let them get creative with these cute Santa crafts! We’ve rounded up the best Santa crafts that are perfect for kids of all ages – from toddlers, and older children, to something the whole family can enjoy too.
And as a bonus, you’ll have the best Christmas crafts for kids that can also double as fun decorations around the house! So, grab your craft supplies, get ready to get messy, and enjoy spending time with your kids as they create fun Santa crafts this holiday season!
30+ Santa Crafts for Kids
Dive into these Santa craft ideas for kids and find the perfect one that suits your child’s age and skill level. From simple projects for toddlers to more detailed ones for older kids, there’s something for everyone this holiday season!
1. Paper Tube Santa Craft for Kids
Turn empty paper tubes or toilet paper rolls into adorable Santa ornaments with this quick, kid-friendly craft! Kids can make a handful of these in just minutes, making them ideal for holiday decorating or as easy Christmas presents. This simple Santa craft is easy to create, and little ones will love seeing their crafts proudly displayed. It’s a quick and budget-friendly way to keep the holiday magic alive!
2. Festive Santa Handprint Craft for Kids
Kids will love making this adorable handprint Santa craft — it’s a perfect holiday keepsake! Using only paper, glue, and scissors, this craft is as easy as it gets. The printable template makes it simple, so kids of all ages can join in on the fun without any mess. The finished handprint Santa is perfect for gift-giving or decorating the fridge!
3. Easy Santa Craft With Cotton Balls
Create an adorable Santa with just cotton balls, paper, and glue! Kids will enjoy sticking soft cotton to make Santa’s fluffy beard, bringing this festive character to life. This simple project is great for developing fine motor skills, making it an ideal craft for younger children!
4. Santa Paper Plate Yarn Lacing Craft
Introduce kids to lacing with this delightful Santa yarn craft! This easy project uses a paper plate, yarn, and glue to create Santa’s friendly face. It’s a wonderful way for kids to develop fine motor skills while creating something festive. Kids will love the satisfaction of making Santa’s beard and hat come to life with yarn!
5. Moving Santa Paper Plate Craft for Kids
Turn a simple paper plate into a Santa that moves! Kids will enjoy making Santa come up and down the chimney with just a popsicle stick, making it interactive and fun. This craft is easy and keeps children entertained even after the project is done. Watch this paper plate Santa make the holiday spirit alive with each move!
6. Cute Origami Santa Craft
Fold your way into holiday cheer with this adorable origami Santa! Let your little one transform a piece of paper into a charming Santa that’s perfect for decorating or giving as a small gift. This origami project is fun and versatile — you can hang it on the tree, add it to Christmas cards, or make a garland. It’s a fantastic way to teach kids about folding techniques while making holiday memories!
7. Fork Painted Santa Craft
For a unique holiday twist, let them use a fork to paint Santa’s beard in this fun craft! This activity is super simple and allows kids to experiment with different textures while creating Santa’s classic white beard. Using a printable Santa template adds ease, so kids can focus on painting and having fun. The result is a playful Santa they’ll be proud to display at home!
8. Popsicle Stick Santa Craft
Who doesn’t love a popsicle stick craft, especially when it’s Santa? This easy project is great for classrooms or holiday storytelling time, giving kids a hands-on way to join in the festive fun. It only needs a few materials like popsicle sticks, paint, and some cotton for the beard. Kids can even turn their Santa creations into ornaments by adding a string!
9. Santa Party Cup DIY
Transform a simple disposable cup into a festive Santa with this DIY project! Kids will enjoy decorating their own holiday-themed cup using basic materials like cotton balls and markers. These Santa cups are perfect for holiday parties and can even be filled with treats to give as gifts. It’s a budget-friendly craft that adds a personal touch to any holiday celebration!
10. Photo Santa Paper Craft for Kids
This craft is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face when Santa’s beard is crafted around your child’s photo! It’s a fun, personalized project that makes for a special keepsake. Kids will enjoy cutting, gluing, and seeing themselves as Santa’s little helper. Display these adorable Santas around the house or gift them to family members. It’s a memorable craft that kids will want to make every year!
11. Free Printable Santa Cut and Paste Craft
They will surely enjoy cutting, pasting, and creating Santa’s face with this printable template! This no-prep craft is great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination using just a few coloring kits. Available in different colors, kids can choose their favorite version to make it extra special. It’s an easy way to entertain little ones while creating holiday memories. Just print, cut, and glue for hours!
12. Easy Cotton Ball Santa Craft for Kids (Free Printable)
Kids will love putting together a fluffy cotton ball Santa with a free printable template! All they need to do is color Santa’s face and glue on the cotton balls for his beard, making it a perfect craft for younger kids. This easy activity promotes creativity and fine motor skills without much fuss!
13. Santa Beard Paper Chain Christmas Countdown Craft
Build the anticipation for Christmas with a Santa beard paper chain countdown! Each day, kids can remove a paper link from Santa’s beard, bringing them one step closer to Christmas. This craft doubles as a fun decoration and a daily holiday tradition. Plus, with a free printable template, it’s easy to set up and enjoy throughout December!
14. Santa’s Glitter Beard Craft
This glittery Santa beard craft is a wonderful way to add sparkle to Santa’s iconic white beard! With simple materials like cotton wool and glitter, kids can go all out designing Santa’s beard and hat, adding their own personal touches. It’s a straightforward craft that lets children exercise their creativity, and it’s ideal for younger kids who might need a little help with the scissors!
15. Mickey Mouse Santa Paper Plate
Kids can make their own Mickey Mouse Santa with just a few craft items! This charming craft only needs paper plates, paint, cotton balls, and some glue, so it’s easy on the wallet. They’ll enjoy painting and assembling their favorite Disney character dressed as Santa. The finished product makes a great keepsake or holiday decoration that all Disney fans will adore!
16. DIY Christmas Cracker Printable Craft for Kids
Make your Christmas table pop with DIY Christmas crackers! Just print, cut, and assemble these character-themed crackers, and fill them with small gifts or charade prompts for extra holiday fun. This interactive craft brings the whole family together, adding a playful element to Christmas dinner!
17. Origami Santa Hat
This craft is easy enough for beginners and can be used as ornaments, table decor, or even as unique gift toppers! Kids will love watching their paper creations turn into Santa hats with a few folds. Make a bunch to create a garland or hang on the tree for a festive touch!
18. Santa Hat Craft Stick Ornament
This Santa hat craft stick ornament is a simple, adorable project perfect for young crafters! Using just a few supplies, kids can make festive Santa’s hat decorations that look wonderful on the tree or as gift toppers. It’s a quick and easy activity, and you probably already have most of the materials on hand. Just pre-cut the triangles for younger children, and let them create their own mini Santa hats!
19. Preschool Christmas Hats – Free Santa Hat Template
Kids can make their very own Santa hats with a free, easy-to-use template! With both color and black-and-white versions, they can either quickly cut and assemble or color their hats before wearing them. This activity is great for classrooms or holiday parties, giving kids a sense of pride in creating their own festive hat!
20. Easy Clothespin Santa DIY
Turn an ordinary clothespin into Santa with this fun and easy DIY project! Kids can paint and decorate their clothespins to look like Santa, making them great for holding Christmas cards or decorating around the house. This easy craft is as practical as it is cute, adding a little holiday cheer to everyday items!
21. DIY Santa’s Workshop Ornament
Craft a mini Santa’s workshop with this adorable ornament project! Kids can design their own workshop scene using small items and glue, making each one unique. It’s a wonderful way for them to create their own Christmas story in miniature form. This ornament is perfect for the tree and adds a bit of homemade charm to holiday decor!
22. Santa Claus Door Hanger Craft
Every visitor will know Santa is welcome here with this fun Santa door hanger! Kids can decorate their own hanger using cardboard, markers, and other simple materials. It’s a cool way for them to display their love for Christmas while crafting something useful. Hang it up to welcome guests or just to brighten up a room!
23. Coffee Filter Santa Craft
Make Santa come alive with a simple coffee filter and a few crafty touches! Kids can paint and glue to create Santa’s iconic beard and hat, turning an ordinary coffee filter into a holiday masterpiece. The project only takes about 30 minutes, and it’s a wonderful way to decorate the tree or add a personal touch to gift bags!
24. Free Printable Christmas Crafts
With templates for snowmen, Santa, wreaths, and more, these printables make it easy for kids to dive into holiday crafting! Just download, print, and start decorating! Whether cutting, coloring, or adding glitter, these printables offer a creative outlet for hours of Christmas cheer!
25. Santa Wish List Ornament for Christmas
Capture holiday memories with a Santa wish list ornament that kids can personalize! Have your child tuck their Christmas wish list into a clear ornament for a heartfelt keepsake. This simple project brings joy now and will be a treasured memory in years to come!
26. Santa Collage for Toddlers
Let toddlers get creative with a Santa collage, combining fun shapes and textures to build a holiday scene! This craft helps toddlers practice their cutting and gluing skills in a playful and engaging way. Using various materials, they’ll get to explore different textures and make Santa’s face just the way they like!
27. DIY Santa Ring Toss
Bring the fun of the North Pole home with this Santa ring toss game! They get to create their own game using simple supplies like plastic bottles, paint, and rings. It’s a fantastic way to combine crafting with playtime, keeping kids entertained for hours. This game can be used indoors or outdoors, adding a festive twist to family gatherings!
28. Construction Paper Santa Craft for Kids
Celebrate the holidays with this easy Santa construction paper crafts made using just paper, glue, and scissors. This simple craft is ideal for preschoolers, allowing them to work with basic shapes and colors that they can proudly display!
29. Santa Sensory Bottles DIY
Make a Santa-inspired sensory bottle for a holiday craft that doubles as a calming toy! Kids can watch glitter and small decorations float inside, creating a mesmerizing experience perfect for relaxation. This sensory bottle is mess-free, and it only requires a few simple items to create a festive look!
30. Driftwood Santa and Snowman Ornaments
Turn driftwood into cozy Santa and snowman ornaments for a unique holiday decoration! Kids will love how easy it is to transform natural driftwood into festive ornaments with a touch of paint and a few simple materials. Every piece of driftwood has its own shape, so no two ornaments will ever look the same!
31. Homemade Santa Belly Ornaments
Give your tree a handmade touch with Santa belly ornaments that are fun to put together! Using a clear ornament, kids can fill it with red foil shreds and add a buckle to complete Santa’s iconic look. This craft is quick, requires minimal supplies, and lets kids make a personal decoration they’ll love hanging on the tree!
One Last Thing
As you gather around the table with your kids, creating Santa’s face or paper plate crafts, remember that these little moments are the ones that truly make the holiday season special.
The glitter on the table, the laughter as glue gets stuck to fingers, and the pride in their eyes when they see their finished crafts — these memories will last long after the decorations come down.
These easy Christmas craft ideas for kids aren’t just about creating something fun, they’re about connecting, sharing joy, and passing down traditions.
So as you craft and create, take a moment to soak it all in because these simple moments of joy are what truly capture the spirit of the season!
Your Turn
If you make one of these cute Santa crafts for kids, please take a moment to let me know how they turned out in the comments section below.
More Crafts for Kids:
- Cute Christmas Crafts For Infants and Babies: Easy DIY Ideas
- Popsicle Stick Valentine Crafts: 5 Simple and Sweet Ideas
- Halloween Crafts For 2-Year-Olds (15 Fun And Easy Ideas!)
Tamara Tsaturyan is the owner and writer of Thriving In Parenting, a website focused on providing simple tips for busy parents — easy and healthy recipes, home decor and organization ideas and all things P A R E N T I N G.
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