There’s something magical about the way kids light up when Santa shows up in a craft. Maybe it’s the red suit, maybe it’s the fluffy beard, or maybe it’s that little spark of “he’s really coming!” excitement that fills the whole house in December. At our home, Santa crafts are the surest way to turn a grumpy afternoon into a giggly, glittery one — especially when the weather gets chilly and we’re all tucked in with hot cocoa.
These Santa crafts are easy, adorable, and totally kid-approved. They’re the kind of activities that keep little hands busy, make sweet keepsakes for grandparents, and look SO cute on the fridge or above the mantle. Let’s begin with the first few favorites.
1. Paper Plate Santa Face (So Simple, So Cute)
Some crafts feel like childhood classics — this is one of them. Kids love seeing Santa’s big beard puff up around the plate as they glue each piece down.
You’ll need: paper plate, cotton balls, red construction paper, googly eyes, glue, and markers.
How to make it:
Let kids glue cotton balls around the entire bottom of the plate for Santa’s beard. Add a red paper triangle for the hat, glue on the pom-pom, add googly eyes, and draw a jolly smile. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes and looks adorable hanging anywhere.
Monika’s Tip: I keep a small bin of cotton balls in the craft drawer this time of year — they save so many last-minute projects.
2. Santa Handprint Ornament (A Keepsake You’ll Treasure)
This one melts every parent’s heart. It’s simple enough for toddlers but looks special enough to gift grandparents.
You’ll need: red cardstock, white paint, ribbon, and a gold marker.
How to make it:
Paint your child’s hand white and press it onto the cardstock. Once dry, the fingers become the beard and the thumb becomes Santa’s hat. Cut it out, punch a small hole, and thread a ribbon. Add your child’s name and the year on the back — future you will thank present you.
Monika’s Tip: Store these keepsakes in a small holiday memory box so you can watch how tiny hands grow over the years.
3. Popsicle Stick Santa (Easy for Preschoolers)
If you need a craft that keeps kids engaged with zero mess, this is it.
You’ll need: popsicle sticks, red paint, cotton balls, googly eyes, and glue.
How to make it:
Glue three sticks into a triangle and paint it red. Add a cotton ball beard at the bottom, googly eyes near the top, and a tiny pom-pom hat tip. These make great tree ornaments or gift tags.
Monika’s Tip: If you have a hot glue gun, you can reinforce the back so the triangle stays sturdy.
4. Santa Beard Cutting Craft (Great for Fine Motor Skills)
This is one of the easiest activities — and little kids LOVE snipping the beard.
You’ll need: white paper, red construction paper, glue, and child-safe scissors.
How to make it:
Cut a large beard shape from white paper and fringe the bottom into long strips. Kids get to snip each strip to make Santa’s beard “fluffy.” Add a paper Santa face and hat on top.
Monika’s Tip: This is the perfect craft for kids learning how to handle scissors — it feels like play, but it’s great skill-building.
5. Santa Hat Cone Craft (Cute Table Décor Too!)
This one always gets a big “WOW!” from the kids because it stands up like a real little Santa hat. It’s festive, fun, and doubles as the sweetest holiday table decoration.
You’ll need: red cardstock, cotton balls, tape or glue, and scissors.
How to make it:
Roll the red cardstock into a cone and secure it. Add a fluffy cotton ball on top and a strip of cotton around the bottom rim. That’s literally it — and somehow, it looks magical every single time.
Monika’s Tip: These look adorable lined up on the dining table or windowsill — like tiny Santas marching into Christmas.
6. Santa Countdown Chain (Kids LOVE This!)
If your kids ask “How many days until Christmas?” every 20 minutes, this is for you. A simple countdown chain makes waiting for Santa way more fun.
You’ll need: red and white paper strips, glue or staples, and a Santa face cutout.
How to make it:
Create a Santa head from paper, then add red-and-white looped paper chains below for his long beard. Make one loop for each remaining day until Christmas. Kids remove one loop daily — watching Santa’s beard shrink is half the excitement!
Monika’s Tip: Write daily mini activities on each loop (“Read a Christmas book,” “Drink cocoa,” “Dance to Jingle Bells!”). Kids go wild for this.
7. Santa Pinecone Craft (Rustic & Adorable!)
This one looks like something you’d see in a little Christmas market. If you’ve got pinecones from a walk or park visit, this is a PERFECT use.
You’ll need: pinecones, red felt, googly eyes, cotton balls, glue.
How to make it:
Cut a small red felt triangle for Santa’s hat and glue it to the top of the pinecone. Add a cotton ball tip, googly eyes, and a tiny felt nose. Let the pinecone’s natural texture act as Santa’s “coat.”
Monika’s Tip: These make the cutest mantel pieces. I also love using them as place cards for holiday dinners — just tuck a name tag into the pinecone’s scales.
8. Santa Spoon Puppets (Perfect for Story Time)
This craft keeps the fun going long after the glue dries. Kids love using these for pretend play or little holiday shows.
You’ll need: wooden spoons, red paint, felt scraps, googly eyes, and glue.
How to make it:
Paint the spoon red for Santa’s suit. Add felt for the beard, tiny belt, and hat. Draw or glue on the facial features. Once dry, this becomes an instant storytelling toy.
Monika’s Tip: Make a whole set — Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer. It becomes a whole Christmas puppet theater!
9. Paper Plate Santa (The Classic Every Kid Loves)
Some crafts come and go, but the paper-plate Santa? He stays winning every single Christmas. It’s simple, cheerful, and wonderfully customizable — and even the tiniest toddlers can join in.
You’ll need: paper plates, red construction paper, cotton balls, googly eyes, glue, crayons.
How to make it:
Color the top half of the paper plate red or glue a red triangle to form Santa’s hat. Add cotton balls along the hat brim and across the plate for Santa’s fluffy beard. Glue on googly eyes and draw a warm little smile. Kids can even add glitter or stickers if they’re feeling festive.
Monika’s Tip: Use jumbo plates for big, fluffy-beard Santas — or small dessert plates for a cute “Santa family.” These look adorable hung on the fridge or displayed on a wall.
10. Santa’s Beard Tracing Craft (Fine Motor + Fun!)
This one is secretly educational — but kids only notice the fun! It helps with scissors practice, tracing lines, and hand–eye coordination, all wrapped in a cute holiday craft.
You’ll need: printed Santa face template, scissors, crayons, cotton balls (optional).
How to make it:
Print or draw Santa’s face with long, straight lines hanging down where the beard should be. Kids trace the lines with markers, then cut along each line to create long “fringe” pieces. When they hold Santa up and wiggle him, the beard dances!
Monika’s Tip: Add cotton at the top of the beard for extra fluff. Some kids even curl each strip around a pencil to give Santa a curly beard — it’s ridiculously cute.
Final Little Christmas Hug from Monica
Crafting with kids isn’t just about glue and googly eyes — it’s about slowing down, laughing over the mess, and giving them something to proudly display. These Santa crafts are simple, charming, and perfect for quick December afternoons when you want to make a memory without overwhelming your kitchen table.