It is fun to make homemade Christmas crafts with the kids. Kids love it when their artwork is displayed in the home for all to see. Save money and give the kids a fun activity idea with these three easy Christmas tree crafts for kids.
To prepare for making homemade Christmas crafts with kids, prepare the work area. Cheap plastic tablecloths, available at most dollar stores, work better than newspaper, as the crafts don’t stick as much.
Easy Christmas Tree Craft #1: Handprint Christmas Tree Door Decoration
This homemade Christmas craft is made using a child’s handprint. This decoration can become large, and is suitable for a door or wall.
Materials Needed: Several sheets of green construction paper, a sheet of brown construction paper, a sheet of yellow construction paper, scissors, glue and small craft items such as bows and ribbons to decorate the completed tree.
Instructions: Trace the child’s handprint on green construction paper. Fit as many handprints on each sheet as possible. At least fifteen green handprints will be needed for this Christmas tree craft. Cut out the traced handprints.
Starting with a single handprint, fingers facing upward, for the top of the tree (see photo number two), add rows underneath. One more handprint will be used for each lower row than the previous row, staggered between and on the outside of the handprints of the previous row. Think of how bowling pins are arranged (see photo number 3). Angle the outer handprints slightly outward.
When using fifteen handprints, the last row will use five handprints. Cut a rectangle out of brown construction paper, and glue to the back of the tree for the trunk. Cut a star out of yellow construction paper and glue to the top of the tree.
Two styles of Christmas star can be found at DLTK’s Crafts for Kids1. Scroll to the bottom of the page, select the star of choice and choose the option of four per page to get the right size. After printing, this star can be used as a stencil or colored in by the kids.
Allow the kids to decorate this homemade Christmas craft as they wish. One suggestion is to let the kids make an ornament out of construction paper or card stock with each family member’s name on it.
Jolynne’s Tip: Store-bought decorations for mini and tabletop Christmas trees can be used, just be sure they are lightweight and somewhat flat enough to glue on paper.
Easy Christmas Tree Craft #2: Tree Shaped Christmas Ornaments
This homemade Christmas craft can be hung on the Christmas tree. Follow the DLTK’s Crafts for Kids link above, scroll to the bottom and choose the Christmas tree shape. Select either the two per page or four per page option, depending on how large of ornament is desired.
For instructions on this homemade Christmas craft, see this author’s article on Simple Homemade Christmas Ornaments for Kids2. Use the ideas given using the Christmas tree shape.
Easy Christmas Tree Craft #3: Simple Construction Paper Tree Window Decoration
This homemade Christmas craft is easy for even the youngest kids to make. Use the DLTK’s Crafts for Kids link given above, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the option to print one per page for the Christmas tree.
Materials Needed: One sheet each of green, brown and yellow construction paper, scissors, glue, various colored sheets of construction paper, a nickel and crayons or markers.
Instructions: After cutting out the Christmas tree shape, cut out a rectangle shape from brown construction paper and glue to the bottom back of the tree for the trunk. Cut out a small star from yellow construction paper and glue to the top of the tree.
Allow the kids to color and decorate the tree as desired with crayons or markers. Trace the nickel on various other colors of construction paper and cut out. These will be basic tree ornaments. Allow the kids to glue these on the tree as desired. Other small items may be glued to the tree as well, if desired.
Jolynne’s Tip: Green card stock or poster board can be used for the Christmas tree to make it sturdier.
Have Fun Making Homemade Christmas Crafts with the Kids
Not only are these homemade Christmas crafts easy to make, they are fun and save money, too. Make lasting memories with the kids this year and try out these ideas for easy Christmas tree crafts.
SOURCES:
1) DLTK’s Crafts; DLTK’s Crafts for Kids Simple Shapes Coloring Pages; DLTK’s Crafts
2) Jolynne M Hudnell; Simple Homemade Christmas Ornaments for Kids; Associated Content
