Easy holiday DIY crafts

Is there any season better for DIY crafting than the holiday season? Whether you’re fashioning cozy decor for your home, creating thoughtful gifts for others or making memories with your family, there’s no shortage of excuses to break out a glue gun and get crafty.

Pinterest and TikTok are full of holiday craft ideas, but hey, you’re probably busy enough planning other holiday magic to spend more time scrolling. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite easy holiday crafts for kids AND holiday crafts for adults to make your season extra merry and bright.

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Handmade ornaments

There’s a reason this is first on the list—there’s something about a handmade ornament that never fails to add charm to a tree year after year. There are also many ways to create a cute ornament from the heart! One that we’ve seen all over TikTok and Pinterest is this keepsake handprint Santa ornament. We love it because it’s easy to make, personal (how sweet would it be to send out new ones to family and close friends every year?) and it looks adorable. Many people make theirs from homemade salt dough, but we also like air-dry clay because it can last longer and doesn’t require baking!

‍Supplies:

Air-Dry Clay

Acrylic paint

Paint brushes

Fine tip permanent marker

Twine string

Pom poms

Hot glue gun or Tacky Glue

Small rolling pin

Pencil (to sketch out Santa’s face)

Knife (to cut out the shape)

Straw or toothpick (to add a hole for the ribbon to pass through)

Directions:

1. Roll out your clay to a thickness of 0.25–0.5 inches.
2. Place your child’s hand on top of the rolled-out clay and press down. They should keep their thumb sticking out and 4 fingers close together (the thumbprint will form the hat, and the fingers will form the beard).
3. Cut around the hand print, leaving approximately 0.5" around it. Create a hole at the top of the “hat” for the twine to pass through later.
4. Allow the clay to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Once the clay is dry, sketch out Santa’s features (optional) and then paint his hat and face using acrylic paint.
6. Once the paint is dry, add details like eyes using a black permanent marker, and glue a pom pom at the end of Santa's hat.
7. Thread your twine through the hole at the top of the hat and tie. Write the year and your child's name and age on the back.
   

Dried orange garland

While no longer as ubiquitous during the holidays as candy canes or gingerbread houses, oranges have been part of the Christmas tradition since the 19th century in the United States. Oh, and also thanks to St. Nicholas (yes, THE St. Nicholas) way back in the early AD days. Instead of leaving them in stockings to be enjoyed on Christmas Day, why not use some to decorate your home in the form of a dried orange garland? It’s environmentally friendly, easy and fun to make, and it looks gorgeous!

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Supplies:

4–5 oranges

A sharp knife

Cutting board

Parchment paper

Baking sheets

Paper towels

Clear fishing line 

Cooling racks (optional)

Cedar, fir or faux greenery garland 

White fairy lights (optional but very fun)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to approx. 225º F (you can even go lower than this if you're concerned about burning).
2. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Slice your oranges (approx. 1/8–1/4" thickness) and place them in a single layer on the sheets. Blot with a paper towel.
4. Place your tray(s) in the oven and bake for approx. 3 hours. You'll want your orange slices to turn slightly brown and dry (consider flipping them halfway through to ensure an even bake).
5. Let your orange slices cool (if you have cooling racks, this speeds up the process) for a few hours.
6. Use your clear fishing line to poke holes through the flesh of your dried oranges and attach them to your garland. We recommend spacing them out a few inches, but it's completely up to you! If you want to add a little more pizzazz, string white fairy lights around your garland before attaching your orange slices.
7. Hang your beautiful dried orange garland up over a window or mantle and enjoy!
   

Scenic wreath

Is anyone else humming "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" right now? There's something about a vintage car, laden with shiny pressies, driving down a pine-lined road that brings out the nostalgia in all of us. Even if we haven't personally ever seen this IRL. A wreath is a must during the holidays, and we love how charming this idea is (just think how much fun you'll all have picking out the perfect car for it)!

Supplies:

Brass hoop

Sisal bottle brush trees of all sizes and colors

Toy car

Snowy faux tree branch

Mini gifts

Faux snow

Hot glue gun

Tacky Glue

Floral wire

Ribbon

Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut your snowy faux tree branches as needed and attach them to your brass hoop using floral wire. These will form the base that everything will rest upon, so make sure it's robust and secure (don't skimp on the branches!).
2. Glue some mini gifts onto the top of your car using your hot glue gun. We recommend gluing the gifts together first, and then gluing the attached pile to the car afterward.
3. Use floral wire to attach the car onto the wreath with the front facing forward. Wrap the wire(s) around the wheels of the car, and then weave the ends through the snowy faux tree branches and twist shut to secure.
4. Add your brush bottle trees! Place the larger ones toward the back and attach using floral wire to the snowy faux tree branches, then place the medium and small trees in front and either wire or hot glue those in place.
5. Add a little faux snow to the car and treetops for a wintry scene. Apply some Tacky Glue wherever you want a little extra snowy magic, and then sprinkle the faux snow there and let it dry.
6. Once everything is dry, tie a ribbon to the top of your wreath and hang it up with pride!
   

Ornament tree wall decor

This very merry holiday craft is great for 1. People whose Christmas ornament collection has outgrown their tree size (relatable), 2. People with cherished vintage glass ornaments and curious children and/or pets (not the best combo), or 3. People who love the idea of a Christmas tree on their wall. You can use your own ornaments (a mish-mosh of vintage baubles looks especially cheerful) or scour your local thrift shops or Etsy for some one-of-a-kind festive finds. 

Supplies:

Vintage ornaments (your own or from Etsy)

A linen-covered bulletin board

White pearl straight pins

Directions:

1. The goal is to create a shape out of the ornaments that resembles a classic Christmas tree. So start by creating the base of your "tree" by pinning an assortment of ornaments in place. Angle your pins upwards a bit to keep the ornaments from falling once your board is upright. They should all line up at the bottom in a straight line, but mix and match shapes above (balls, bells, finials, etc.) to avoid even rows. Leave space at the bottom for your "trunk."
2. Continue filling in the rest of your "tree" by narrowing the shape as you go up. Anticipate shifting ornaments around as your masterpiece unfolds.
3. Before you reach the top, add a star- or angel-shaped ornament at the very top. Then, fill the space between that and the "tree" with ornaments.
4. Add a suitable ornament to the base of your "tree" for the trunk. We recommend opting for a more "rectangular" ornament to go here, but you can get creative.
5. Carefully hang up your ornament wall decor and admire it all season long (just keep it out of reach from little hands and/or paws)!

Snowy candle holders

Fun backstory: The author of the very blog you're reading right now made these years ago and still loves bringing them out every winter! These tealight/votive holders look like glowing snowballs, and you can easily make them using only four items. Or jazz them up with some extras!

Supplies:

Clear glass votive holders

Faux snow

Spray adhesive or Mod Podge

Battery-operated candles

Mini wreath candle ring (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour your faux snow into a box or container big enough to dip your glass votive holders into comfortably.
2. If using the spray adhesive, go outside and spray the exterior of a votive holder with the glue. If you're using Mod Podge, "paint" your Mod Podge all over the outside of a votive holder (you can do this inside or outside your home). Do each votive holder one at a time since the glue will dry quickly.
3. Dip and roll your votive holder into the container of faux snow to coat the exterior entirely. Lightly pat it down to ensure the faux snow adheres to the surface well.
4. Repeat for the other votive holders.
5. Let your votive holders dry. If you want to make them even snowier, apply another coat of spray glue (we don't recommend using Mod Podge if you do a double faux snow layer) and roll your votive in the faux snow again. Let them dry.
6. That's it! Just place your battery-operated, flameless candles inside and turn them on. If you want to make them even more festive, place your snowball votive holders over mini wreaths (the shadows and silhouettes they create look lovely when the lights are turned on).

Handprint menorah

Simple and sentimental, this Hanukkah craft allows kids to get (a little) messy while creating a keepsake their parents can hold onto and get misty-eyed over as their kids grow up. If your kids are a bit older, you can also use this craft to explain more about the history and traditions of Hanukkah!

Supplies:

Cardstock paper

Blue paint

Yellow paint

Directions:

1. Lay a sheet of cardstock paper on a flat surface so it's horizontal.
2. Pour blue paint onto a plate, and carefully dip your child's palms/fingers into it.
3. Help your child press their hands down onto the cardstock paper. You'll want to have their fingers spread out and their thumbs overlapping to form the shape of the menorah.
4. Wash their hands thoroughly.
5. Help your child dip their thumb into the yellow paint, and then have them put a yellow thumbprint over each blue finger/candle on the cardstock to create the "flames." They can do them all at once or do one for each night of Hanukkah!
   

Bottle brush tree drink stirrers

Festive AND functional? Oh ho-ho-how much we love that combo! Drink stirrers are typically associated with the more adult drinks out there, but you can bet the kids will love using these to stir their hot cocoa concoctions. (FYI, they made great host gifts, too.)

Supplies:

Tiny sisal bottle brushes 

Wooden lollipop sticks

Sandpaper

Hot glue gun or super glue

Directions:

1. Sand the tops of your wooden lollipop sticks to create a flat surface. You'll glue your sisal trees here, so the flatter, the better!
2. Brush off any sawdust from your stick, then apply a small drop of glue to the top of it. Add a sisal tree to this and hold it firmly upright in place for 20–30 seconds, depending on the glue you use.
3. Repeat until all of your fancy and fun drink stirrers are made, and then grab a mug of your favorite winter drink and enjoy!

Gift throw pillows

Too many throw pillows simply isn't a thing, especially during cozy season. There are always tons of pre-made seasonal pillows out there, but given how quick and easy it is to create one that's absolutely perfect for your home, why not go the semi-DIY route? Trust us—it'll look even better than the store-bought ones (and cost way less).

Supplies:

Throw pillow covers (can do a solid color or a classic tartan print)

Pillow inserts

Ribbon

Hot glue gun

Extra decorative items like:

• Festive felt ornaments
• Classic red & white felt ornaments
• Woolen felt acorns
• Faux berry & pinecone holiday tree picks
• Personalized wire name tags
  

Directions:

1. Tie or glue your ribbon onto your pillow cover into the classic crossover shape of a gift box and tie a bow. If you're tying it on (recommended if you want to repurpose the pillow covers for something else later), tie the ribbon on after you've filled them with a pillow insert. If you're gluing everything in place, you can also opt to add the bow as a separate piece if you prefer.
2. Get creative! Here's where you can really personalize your pillows. If you have curious pets or small children, consider tying a felt ornament below the bow to look like a gift tag. If your fellow home dwellers are less likely to eat or want to tug at the decor, add a faux sprig of holiday greenery, some woolen acorns or a metal wire tag below the bow. We love the last option because you can create a personalized pillow for each person, or add a simple "Merry" or "Joy" greeting. It's really up to you and what works best with your decor and lifestyle!

If there’s one thing that makes holiday DIY crafting even more fun, it’s doing it with others! Host a cozy crafting party using one of Evite’s holiday invitations or design-your-own invitations (talk about really setting the DIY vibe!) to easily bring everyone together for a day of creative fun. Of course, the holidays aren’t the only time you can get crafty—check out more DIY crafts to do with your kids and besties all year round!

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