Christmas Crafts

Countdown To Christmas Crafts For Preschoolers

If you are looking forward to celebrating the holidays with a young one in your home, then you need some fun countdown to Christmas crafts to help make the time leading up to Christmas even more special.

I know that my kids love counting down the days until Christmas (even as they grow older they still enjoy it) whether it is with an advent calendar or some other sort of Christmas countdown craft. It makes the month of December go a little bit faster for kids and gets them involved more in learning about the holiday and making it special.

Although preschoolers between the ages 3-5 years old may not be able to make some fancy advent calendar, there are still some really fun crafts that can help them count down the days until December 25th. In fact, what is nice about these crafts as you can also use them to help teach counting and numbers as well, making them great for at home or even at preschools.

3 Fun Countdown To Christmas Crafts For Preschoolers

Christmas Countdown Chain

I remember making a Christmas countdown chain when I was younger and my kids still do this today. It’s one of the simplest crafts for younger kids but can still be exciting every day to take off that chain and get closer and closer to the Christmas day.

What You’ll Need:
*Several sheets of construction paper (red, green or your Christmas color choice)
*Glue or tape
*Scissors

Directions:

**For younger kids who may not be proficient with scissors yet, parents may want to consider cutting out the strips and then allowing the child to do the rest.

*Cut the construction paper into long strips that are approximately 2 inches wide.

*Take the first strip and glue (or tape) it together to form a circle.

*Then take your next strip and put it through the middle of the circle you made and then glue that strip together into a circle as well. Continue doing this with the next strips of paper until they have formed a chain link together of 25 days.

*Hang the chain up and then every day starting December 1st you remove one link from the chain until on Christmas morning there are no more links left.

We usually simply just do a pattern of red and green strips but I have also seen a people make it into a long snowman with the top link the head of the snowman or even all white with it being the beard of Santa hanging down from his face.

Another cute thing you can do is to write a Christmas related activity inside each chain link strip and then the one you pull off for that day is the holiday activity you do for the day. The activities don’t have to be anything huge as it can be singing a Christmas carol together or reading your favorite Christmas book .

Santa’s Beard Christmas Countdown Craft

I came across this craft a few years ago and simply loved it because it’s sort of the opposite of an advent calendar as you add to it every day instead of taking something away.

What You’ll Need:
*Paper (Cardstock is recommended)
*Glue
*25 Cotton balls

For the craft you can make your own Santa face or you can print out the image below and use that. I recommend that you print it on a heavier card stock paper to make it last through all 25 days.

Each day your child gets to glue on a cotton ball right onto the correct number on Santa’s beard. For this activity you would start at #1 and then finish it on the Merry Christmas (or 25th spot).

This is a simple but fun little craft that your preschooler can look forward to every morning for the month of December. It also helps to teach your child numbers and counting along the way as well.

Clothespin Countdown Wreath

This is another cute little craft for preschoolers and toddlers that can help them visually count down the days until Christmas morning.

It’s a pretty simple and is actually a kids version of some of the clothespins Christmas wreaths you may have seen on Pinterst.

What You’ll Need:
*Paper
*Crayons
*Glue
*Heavy duty paper plate
*25 clothespins

Directions:

You can print out free calendar numbers (1-25) or you can use a simple program like PicMonkey to make and print the numbers.

Have your child color the squares or circles around your numbers. If you are using a plain white paper plate you can have her color that as well.

You can also choose to paint your clothespins some fun Christmas colors or leave them as they are.

Take 25 clothespins and pin them around the paper plate starting, trying to space them out evenly.

Then take a dab of glue and past the numbers on each clothespin starting with one at the top. You can choose to go counterclockwise or you can go clockwise depending on what you want.

You can punch a hole in the top of the plate and hang it with a ribbon or you can use a magnet for the refrigerator.

Every day starting on December 1st you can take off a clothespin. I suggest that you start with 25 first and work your way down to number 1. This way your young child can tell exactly how many more days until Christmas.

Here is a video that shows this type of Christmas craft for preschoolers as well as a few more ideas as well.

There are so many fun Christmas crafts for preschoolers, but these DIY countdown to Christmas crafts make the whole month of December extra special for you and your child.

If you are looking for some more ways to make the days leading up to Christmas special for your family check out my guide of 25 Christmas Countdown Activities for Kids .

Rudolph Christmas Wreath Ideas and How to Make Your Own

Try something a bit different this year instead of your normal Christmas wreath, and decorate your home with a Rudolph Christmas wreath.

Maybe Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is your favorite holiday character or you want some more on the whimsical side for the kids or grand-kids this holiday.

There is a very simple way that you can make your own adorable Rudolph wreath as well as some unique, handmade wreaths featuring your favorite red nosed reindeer that you can buy.

How To Make a Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas Wreath

You can quickly make a very simple and inexpensive wreath that represents Rudolph even if you aren’t all that crafty.

Supplies You’ll Need –

Artificial plain greenery wreath
2 thin branches that can resemble reindeer antlers
Large red pouf ball
Green floral wire
Super glue or hot glue gun

As mentioned it’s very easy to make this wreath as you are simply attaching the branches at the top of the wreath with the floral wire and then glueing the red ball at the bottom for a red nose.

You can then hang your wreath anywhere in your home including on your front door, above your fireplace, or in the entryway of your home.

Check out the step-by-step directions on how to make a Rudolph Christmas wreath below.

Some More Rudolph Christmas Wreaths

If you don’t want to make your own wreath or you simple want something a bit different than the wreath above, there are plenty of other great options for wreaths.

The Rudolph burlap Christmas wreaths are really popular and the one you can even personalize with a monogrammed letter, which would look awesome on your front door.

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There are also other wreaths that have a red nosed reindeer theme as well. Some of these wreaths feature a small plush Rudolph or even a handmade wooden Rudolph figure.

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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is such a fun Christmas character and has been enjoyed for many, many years.

Although he is such a popular holiday character, a Rudolph Christmas wreath is definitely not something you see everyday. You can have a unique and special holiday decoration that makes both kids and adults smile this season.

Wood Pallet Christmas Tree Including DIY Instructions

If you have been browsing Pinterest or even canvassing local craft fairs you probably have seen a wood pallet Christmas tree before.

These types of decorations have become pretty popular in the past few years as they look great indoors as well as can be used to decorate outdoors.

There are a few different styles of these types of trees as some of them feature the boards spaced out while others have more of a stacked appearance.

If you don’t have time this year to make your own or you simply aren’t handy enough or don’t have the right tools, there are crafters that make these Christmas trees from wood pallets that you can buy. There are even some that will customize the tree exactly as you want so that it fits in perfect with your decor.

For those who are looking for the DIY pallet Christmas tree instructions, I have included those below as well.

Wood Pallet Christmas Tree Ideas

More Info More Info More Info More Info

With the unpainted trees above you can always leave them as they are for more of a rustic or natural look or you can always paint them your own color scheme to match all the rest of your decor.

The last tree you can even add lights or a personalized message on the tree to make it really unique. There is a slight extra charge for this but it does really make your tree look unique. This pallet tree can be used outdoors and would make a really cute addition to your front porch or right in the front of your driveway area to welcome guest to your home.

Another option would be this great simple, wood Christmas tree that you can choose a variety of ways to have it completed.

You can choose from buying the natural wood tree as exactly as shown above or you can choose from it being painted red, white, green, or brown.

You can also choose to have a sealant only applied so you can use it outdoors or just a wood stain to keep it looking natural.

This tree could be a nice starting point for you to make your own customized Christmas tree so you don’t have to worry about finding the pallet wood and cutting it and putting it all together. \

Instead you are already provided with the blank canvas that you can then go ahead and decorate as you want.

There are lots of great pallet Christmas trees that can be bought on Etsy.com . You’ll find a great variety to choose from in different styles, sizes, as well as price points.

How To: DIY Pallet Christmas Tree

You can make your own pallet Christmas tree if you have some spare time before Christmas to get it done. I know that there are lots of people who prefer to DIY their Christmas decorations so they can truly customize and personalize them to their liking.

Making your own wooden pallet tree is quite simple but you will need some supplies to get the job done.

The most important part is to get the pallet for the wood and make sure that it can be used without having to worry about the wood completely splintering or rotting right away. If you are wondering where you can find pallets to make your Christmas check out this source for free ways to score reclaimed wood and pallets .

Another thing to keep in mind is that you will need a saw to make a good cut on the wood to shape your tree. The easiest way is to use a circular saw or a mitre saw, but you can use a hand saw, as it just may take you longer.

For detailed instructions, check out this DIY video on how to make a pallet Christmas tree.

Making your own pallet tree will take you some time especially if you are inexperienced with a saw, but you can make the project fun for you by making it a unique tree that fits yours decorating style perfectly.

Whether you decide to buy your pallet Christmas tree on sale or you dive right in and make your own tree, this Christmas decoration is sure to be one that really makes a great impression and adds something special to your home this holiday.

How to Make a Felt Christmas Tree for Kids to Decorate

If you have young kids and you don’t want them messing with your Christmas tree, try a felt Christmas tree that they can decorate and play with all they want.

The great thing about this type of Christmas tree is that there is nothing they can break or ruin and they will love having their own tree that they can decorate anyway they want.

Best of all you can easily make your own felt Christmas tree or check out one of the inexpensive done-for-you felt Christmas trees that you can buy below as well.

Making your own felt tree is pretty simple and you can take a lot of liberties and get creative with it, but it will take you some time to make it. For older kids you can even get them involved with making the tree and the ornaments to go on it.

How To Make a Felt Christmas Tree

You’ll need a few supplies for this Christmas craft.

Supplies:

Green felt (approximately a yard)
Various colors of felt for decorations
Scissors
Cardboard or Card Stock
Glitter glue, sequins, or other accessories for decorating
Adhesive strips or Velcro strips

Directions:

Draw your tree outline on the green felt. You should be able to find the large felt on rolls at your local craft or sewing store. The easiest way to draw your tree is to fold the felt in half and draw the outline on the one side of the fold so that when you cut it out each side is exactly the same.

Use the cardboard or card stock to make a template for your ornaments. An easy way to make a circle ornament is to find a cup or glass around your home and trace the circle so it’s perfectly round.

If you want to get a little creative you can do different decorations besides just round ornaments. If you have large cookie cutters you can trace those for ornaments. Other things you could include on your tree are teddy bears, snowmen, hearts, presents, candy canes, and Christmas lights.

You will also want a star or other topper for the top of the Christmas tree as well.

Once you have all your templates made then trace them onto the felt and cut them out.

You can use them just as they are as plain decorations or you can use glitter glue, puffy paint, sequins or other items to decorate the ornaments as you want. You can also use the other felt pieces you have to embellish the ornaments as well.

Use adhesive strips to hang your Christmas tree on the wall. Be sure to hang the tree with the bottom at the bottom of the wall so your kids can reach the whole tree.

Let your kids take the decorations and place them where they want on the tree. The felt decorations will stick to the tree without needing glue or tape.

Your kids can decorate it once and then let it be or let them decorate it over a couple different times throughout the holiday to keep them away from the real Christmas tree.

Buy a Felt Christmas Tree for Your Kids

If you are short on time this holiday or you simply just want to buy an already made felt tree with all the decorations there are some really nice options available.

You can buy a pre-made large felt Christmas tree that can be hung on the wall along with different felt ornaments, lights, and even presents to decorate the tree. I recommend that you buy the tree along with the decorations in a kit together as it is cheaper and your child can still get to decorate the tree the way they want.

One of my favorite felt trees for Christmas is this one made by Precious Cargo Designs at Etsy.com .

The neat thing about this tree is that they red presents at the bottom are pockets where you can store all the ornaments and decorations for the tree so you don’t lose them for next year.

The presents are not removable but the other decorations are.

You can also find more great felt Christmas trees for kids at Etsy.com .

These felt Christmas trees are great for toddlers and preschoolers and make a pretty cute decoration on your wall for the holidays.

Wooden Christmas Ornaments to Paint

The Christmas season is a great time for doing crafts. In fact, crafts are probably one of the best things about the time leading up to Christmas day.

If you aren’t that crafty or you are just looking for simple ornament crafts that kids and adults can all do together, you may be interested in wooden Christmas ornaments to paint.

These ornaments usually come in a set and are just simple, unfinished ornaments that you can use paint, markers, and accessories like ribbon, sequins and gems to make them them your own personal ornament.

These are great for younger kids who may not be ready to make their own ornaments quite yet or even adults can enjoy painting them all different ways to fit in with the style of their Christmas tree.

You can usually get these unfinished wood ornaments for rather cheap and it’s up to you how much money you spend on decorating supplies for the ornaments.

Check out all the different wooden Christmas ornaments to paint that you can choose from.

Unfinished Wooden Christmas Ornaments

This is a set of 48 unfinished wood Christmas ornaments that are perfect for painting and coloring. These ornaments even include a gold string already on the ornaments so they can easily be hung up after decorating.

The ornaments are approximately 4″ in size. The set includes a snowman, angel, gingerbread man, and teddy bear. You get 12 each of the designs.

This is a nice set if you plan on having a children’s party or using this for a craft in school. They are also great for adult parties or ornament exchanges as well. The amount you will pay for these 48 ornaments is a great low price.

Wood Christmas Ornaments Paint Kit

Not only do you get 6 great wood ornaments to paint but you also get all the supplies you need to paint the ornaments as well.

The craft kit includes 6 wood ornaments including a rocking horse, sled, penguin, snowflake, Christmas tree, and gingerbread house as well as 6 different colored paints, glitter glaze, two paintbrushes, stickers, and gems.

This would be a great craft kit to buy for your child to keep them busy and having fun for the holidays. It would also even make a nice Christmas gift for someone you know who likes to design their own ornaments and do holiday crafts.

Unfinished Round Wood Christmas Ornaments

If you are looking for a normal round Christmas ornament to paint and decorate, then this is the set for you. It has 24 of these round wood Christmas ornaments that you can do just about anything you want with. You can paint them, use markers to decorate, attach some ribbon and gemstones and even use photos to decorate them.

The ornaments are 2 1/2″ wide by 2 3/8 inches high. They are nice size for kids as well as adults. They would be perfect for a holiday classroom craft or a kids’ Christmas party or keep your family busy with personalized Christmas ornaments.

Another cute idea would be to decorate the ornaments and then use them as gift tags for your Christmas gifts.

Decorate Your Own Holiday Ornament Craft Kit

This is another great kit that includes supplies to decorate the ornaments. This would be perfect for kids as well as adults and includes enough for 30 ornaments to be made.

There are 6 different ornament designs including Santa Claus, snowman, Christmas tree, reindeer, and mittens. It also includes 12 markers, glitter, and pom poms. You could also use your own paint on the ornaments as well.

Unfinished Wood Square Picture Frame Ornaments

If you want something a little different, then check out these picture frame ornaments that you can paint. The set includes 36 of these gift picture frame ornaments that are ready to be painted and hung on the Christmas tree.

The ornaments measure approximately 3″ and come with an attached jute hanger. This would be a cute craft for kids were you can take their picture and then let them decorate the ornament. You could also use it for your child to give a cute Christmas gift to relatives with his picture inside and decorate by him.

Decorating your own Christmas ornaments is a great craft for people of all ages. It’s great for kids because they can get creative and you don’t have to worry about them trying to use scissors or hot glue to make their own ornament but is also great for adults who want personalized Christmas ornaments on their tree.

DIY Project: How to Make Cupcake Christmas Ornaments

There all kinds of different Christmas ornaments that you can buy, but some of my favorite ornaments are the ones that I have made or other people have made for me.

It’s always fun coming up with new DIY Christmas crafts and I came across these cupcake ornaments and had to share it with you all because they are simply adorable. I love the fact that you can personalize them anyway you want and you can use different colors and accents so they fit your Christmas tree style perfectly. They would also make some really cute gifts that won’t cost you a fortune.

If you have some time this holiday season for some DIY projects, I definitely recommend you try making these cupcake ornaments.

To make the ornaments you will need:

Plain colored round ball ornaments (you could use any color you want)
Hot glue gun or a strong craft glue like E6000
Fun cupcake wrappers
Puffy paint (white is a good choice but could go with other colors as well)
Accents for the cupcakes (colorful beads, glitter, Christmas charms)

Check out the Christmas cupcake ornament tutorial below:

As you can see these are really simply to make and you can even have this as a craft that your older kids can make. If you have younger kids you could always do the hot gluing to the wrapper and let them decorate the rest of it.

There really are endless possibilities depending on what cupcake wrappers you find as well as what kind of decorations and accents you come up for the cupcakes.

How to Make a Christmas Tree Topper Bow Out of Ribbon

There are all kinds of Christmas tree toppers that you can choose from, but one of my favorite ideas for a unique and inexpensive topper is a beautiful big bow made out of Christmas ribbon.

I know that some people like the bow option because they aren’t really religious so the bow serves as sort of a “holiday” tree topper instead of a “Christmas” one.

You can choose whatever Christmas ribbon you want that goes with the style of your tree or keep it simple with a plain red, gold, or silver ribbon.

It may take you a few tries before you get your bow topper perfect, but it really doesn’t take much time at all and best of all you can personalize and accessorize the bow anyway you want.

Click Here to Check out Pre-Made Bow Christmas Tree Toppers

To make a big bow topper you will need wide ribbon that has a wire edge so that it stays in the place that you want the loops to stay in.

You will also need a chenille stem, which can be found at your local craft store. You could also use floral wire if you have it on hand to secure the bow as well.

Follow along with this bow Christmas tree topper tutorial to make your own tree topper.

Make sure you play around with your bow topper to get the desired look you want. It may also take some playing around to get the bow in the desired spot on top of your tree.

You can also add in some other items such as some stars, berries, Christmas sprigs, and glitter garland to make your bow stand out even more. Or keep it simple with just your big beautiful bow as the main attraction of the tree.

If you don’t want to make your own bow topper you can always buy one pre-made so that all you have to do is place it on your tree.

I recommend Etsy.com as there are lots of sellers that will customize your topper and you can choose from a huge variety of different ribbons.