10 Simple Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

Kids love looking at a beautiful, decorated tree and feel excited at the promise of gifts showing up beneath its boughs. When it comes to decorating your home for the holiday season, a Christmas tree laden with twinkling lights, gifts, stars, stockings, bells and glitter galore would be the right choice to spread the festive joy. So, instead of buying one from the store, involve them in making their own unique Christmas ornaments for the tree so that they can display it to create a warm and friendly Christmas home that feels inviting to anyone who drops in.

10 Colorful Christmas Tree Craft Ideas for Children

Every year, children wait with bated breath for the beginning of December. The great holiday season brings with it preparations for Christmas Day, as you can see them on full display everywhere you go. These traditional decorations, including the Christmas carols, cakes, wreaths, Santa Claus and above all, the Christmas tree, help us to get in touch with the true spirit of the season. Even before Christ’s birth, trees that stayed green throughout the year carried special meaning for people. A green evergreen tree reminded people of the hope of new life in the dead of winter. Started by the Celts, this ritual has now become a part of Christmas symbolizing Lord Jesus and his gift of everlasting life. Extravaganza besides, what better way to teach kids about the history of Christmas and its true meaning than by asking them to make some handmade Christmas decorations that will create everlasting memories of childhood for them. The Christmas tree is not just a sparkly landmark for Santa to park presents, but decorating it can be a huge moment for the whole family. So instead of rushing through the process, savour the experience. Bring a playful touch to your abode this season with a Christmas tree filled with kid-friendly décor. Most kids are happy to paint or make crafts. This kind of activity is more than a bit of fun, though. It promotes their physical development, mental health and social skills. Making decorative memorabilia is a great way to celebrate your little one’s growth over the years. Whether it’s personalized or represents something that your child is into that year (basketball, ballet), these Christmas tree branch crafts are Christmas ornaments that become holiday traditions in themselves. Here are some of the best Christmas tree crafts for toddlers that can be made under supervision. They will keep your little ones busy while giving you adorable craftworks to hang all season.

1. Paper Plate Christmas Tree

This kid-safe Paper Christmas craft can be made easily with supplies available at home.

Supplies

• A paper plate
• Green poster paint
• A brush
• An ice-cream stick
• Star stickers
• Glue

Instructions

• Paint your paper plate green. Leave it to dry.
• Cut it into three parts. Make one section a bit smaller.
• Arrange the parts one above the other with the help of glue. (The smallest one should be on top).
• Stick the ice-cream stick behind with glue and let it dry.
• Decorate it with stickers or pom-poms or whatever you fancy.

2. 3D Christmas Tree Craft

This fun craft activity can help support a young child’s growing understanding of shape. They learn to explore the similarities and differences between 2D and 3D objects.

Supplies

• 3D Christmas tree craft template
• Colored Cardstock Paper
• Toothpick
• Glue stick
• Tacky glue
• Star foam stickers
• Embellishments (gems, stickers, sequins)
• Scissors

Instructions

• Print out the 3D Christmas tree craft template on 3 sheets of colored cardstock paper. Cut out six paper Christmas trees.
• Fold each one of them in half. Add glue to one of the Christmas tree’s folded halves.
• Attach another folded half onto the glue while aligning the pieces together.
• Continue applying the glue until all the six Christmas tree halves are attached.
• Add glue to both ends and attach them together to form the 3D Christmas tree.
• Peel out the sticker of the foam star stickers and insert a toothpick onto it from below.
• Place some glue at the toothpick’s end and place them at the top of the tree.
• Finish the decoration by adding your own choice of embellishments.

3. Zig-Zag Glitter Christmas Tree Craft

Introduce the letter Z to your toddler while making this Christmas tree craft. Its shine is sure to add a hint of sparkle to your kid’s eyes and make them smile.

Supplies

• White craft glue
• Cardstock paper
• Tray
• Glitter

Instructions

• Place the paper in the tray. Add the glue to create a zig-zag shape to create a Christmas tree design.
• Sprinkle some glitter onto the glue. Leave the space for the trunk where glue has been added for the trunk.
• Shake off any excess into your tray.
• Add gold-colored glitter for the trunk. Shake off the excess again and keep the excess glitter back into the bottle.
• Add glue dots all over for ornaments and add more colorful glitter to them.
• Let the glue dry overnight.

4. Paper Straw Christmas Tree

If you’ve been stocking up on paper straws from the birthday parties, it’s time to use them for this cute and inexpensive craft.

Supplies

• Decorative paper straws
• Hot glue gun
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Star punch or sticker

Instructions

• Attach two paper straws together for the back of the tree with the help of a hot glue gun.
• Cut out the first straw for the top of the tree about the same width as the two support straws that have been attached previously.
• Leave more towards the ends and cut more straws that can be added down the tree.
• Each time we attach the straw, we need to add a little hot glue to the back.
• Cut off the extra at the bottom of the tree trunk.
• Punch out stars using glittery paper.
• Attach them with hot glue to the top of the tree.
• Finally, add the white ribbon from behind so as to hang our ornament up on the Christmas tree.

5. Ripped Paper Christmas Tree

This awesome craft activity lets your child wander into the world of colors. It promotes finger dexterity without the use of scissors.

Supplies

• Construction Paper(Colored and black)
• Glue stick

Instructions

• Ask your kids to rip off the colored construction paper into strips of various lengths.
• Start with the longer strips for the bottom of the tree. Add glue to each strip and stick them to the black construction paper.
• Gradually build your way up the tree to the top to create a triangular shape.
• A yellow paper can be placed at the top of the tree to represent the star.
• Allow it to dry.

6. Footprint Christmas Tree Card

This adorable footprint Christmas tree card is for a baby’s first Christmas. However, kids of all ages would also enjoy making it and keeping it as a great keepsake to be treasured by family forever.

Supplies

• Red and gold card
• Green paint
• Sequins
• White paper
• Glitter

Instructions

• Paint your child’s feet with green paint. Sprinkling some glitter will add a bit of sparkle to the craft. You can paint a baby’s feet in the air by laying them on a changing mat.
• Place the feet on the paper. Once dry, cut them out, leaving a bit of white around the edge as a border.
• Cut out a gold paper pot to the bottom of each tree for the trunk.
• Decorate with sequins.
• Don’t forget the star at the top.

7. Felt Christmas Tree

Easy to cut glue and embellish, felt is a great material to use for toddlers.

Supplies

• Green felt
• Styrofoam cones
• Toothpicks
• Gold paper
• Glue
• Scraps of felt in assorted colors
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

• Spray the styrofoam cone with spray glue a large piece of green felt around it.
• Trim off the excess felt.
• Secure the felt’s edge down along the side of the tree using a hot glue gun.
• Glue a star-shaped piece of gold paper onto a toothpick. Attach it to the peak of the tree by pressing it into the foam.
• Cut out a bunch of little colorful circles from the felt scraps for the ornaments.
• Stick them all over the tree.

8. Pinecone Christmas Tree

Pine cones are simple to find and give a cute touch to the Christmas décor. If you’ve collected them from outdoors, wash them with a quick rinse and shake to remove dirt & debris. Dry completely.

Supplies

• Regular paint
• Pom pom
• Glitter
• Green craft paint
• Pinecones
• Paintbrush
• Liquid glue
• Additional embellishments

Instructions

• Paint the whole pinecones with green paint. Clean the brush and allow it to dry.
• Brush glue onto the tips of each “leaf” with a clean brush.
• Decorate with the glitter, pom pom or any other embellishments of your choice.
• Tie some string using an ornament hook on the top of the pinecones.
• Sprinkle some glitter on top for a sparkly finish. Repeat the process with other cones.
• String them up onto (or hook) a larger string or ribbon to create a garland strand.

9. Egg Carton Christmas Tree

Don’t throw out your leftover egg cartons after using the eggs for baking those cakes for Christmas. This craft project made out of egg carton reinforces valuable lessons about recycling to kids.

Supplies

• Green/red paint
• Glue
• Gold glitter
• Scissors
• An egg carton

Instructions

• Cut out the pointy parts of the egg carton to make the Christmas tree.
• Paint them green.
• After it dries, put strings of glue around the egg carton.
• Sprinkle the golden glitter on the glue.
• Cut out a yellow star and put gold glitter on it.
• Dust off the extra glitter.
• Stick it in the hole on top or glue it down.
• Add dots with red paint as ornaments to decorate the tree.

10. Quilled Christmas Tree Card

Sending greeting card to wish friends and family has been an essential part of the Christmas ritual. What better way to do it than to send a handmade card that showcases your child’s burgeoning creativity.

Supplies

• Card stock or A6 sized cards
• Print quality type paper or construction paper of colors- red, green, yellow and brown.
• PVA glue
• Scissors
• A toothpick or knitting needle

Instructions

• Cut strips of colored papers to make quilling paper strips. (1cm long, 14cm wide and 28 cm).You will need maximum green strips, yellow for the star and around 7 red strips (7cm x1cm.)
• Coil the green strips tightly around the toothpick or knitting needle.
• Save the longest green strip for the tree outline and a yellow one for the star.
• You can make the triangular tree-shaped outline with green paper on the cardstock or card ahead of the crafting session so that it is already dried.
• Fold your long piece of green into approximately 10cm, then 10cm and then 7cm while leaving 1cm at the end to form the sides of the triangle.
• Glue your 1cm fold to the top of the first 10 cm section.
• Run some glue along the edges and position on the A6 Card. Leave space for the trunk.
• Put glue inside the gap of the tree to place the green coils.
• Make some little red coils and fill the extra space as if they were little red baubles.
• Cut a brown paper in the shape of a trunk to glue it up below the tree.
• Make a yellow star to fix it on top.

Christmas tree craft is not just for older kids but also for younger children. DIY Christmas tree crafts for preschoolers make your toddlers feel a part of the celebration while giving them a chance to utilize their imaginative power. It can also be an excellent way to introduce them to colors and materials, improves communication and neural connections. Thus, parents should encourage their kids to try and create new things – even though they seem to be making a bit of a mess. The ultimate output may not always look great but praising the process is also important as it shows your child there’s more than one way to do something.

Also Read:

Christmas Art and Crafts Activities for Children
Christmas Tree Decorations for Children
Santa Claus Craft Ideas for Children