Christmas, Crafts & DIY, Holiday Ideas

8 Joyful Christmas Christian Crafts for Kids

As a mom, I’ve learned that some of the sweetest Christmas moments happen when we slow down, spread out some craft supplies, and just be with our kids.

There’s something really special about watching them glue, color, and create while we talk about why Christmas matters – about Jesus, about hope, and about God’s love showing up in the most humble way.

I’ve gathered seven sweet and simple Christian Christmas crafts that are perfect for kids of different ages.

They’re quick to set up, fun to make, and full of purpose.

Whether you pick just one or sprinkle a few throughout December, these ideas can help your home feel calmer, more intentional, and beautifully centered on the heart of Christmas.

Why Faith-Centered Christmas Crafts Matter

Children understand the season more deeply when they can touch, shape, and build pieces of the story with their own hands.

Crafting gives them a calm, purposeful way to explore themes like hope, light, and God’s steady presence.

As they create, they naturally ask questions, make observations, and form connections that strengthen their understanding of Christmas in a joyful and accessible way.

These projects also invite families to share meaningful time together. A simple table setup becomes a space for conversation, laughter, and creativity.

When we guide our children through these activities, we help them carry the message of Christmas with clarity and confidence.

And if you want to continue nurturing faith through hands-on learning, you might also enjoy hands-on crafts to teach children about Jesus’ disciples.

8 Colorful Christmas Christian Crafts for Kids

Below are seven easy Christian Christmas crafts designed just for kids.

Each one is simple to set up, meaningful to make, and perfect for bringing a little more joy and purpose into your home this season. Let’s dive in!

1. Star Garland of Hope

a handmade star garland. The garland features small, five-pointed stars crafted from vintage book pages, white cardstock, and metallic gold paper, all strung together with white string


This cheerful garland invites children to think about hope as they cut, decorate, and string together bright paper stars.

Each star becomes a small reminder of the light that guided the shepherds and wise men, and the light that still guides us today.

Materials:

  • cardstock or construction paper,
  • scissors
  • markers or paint
  • hole punch
  • twine or ribbon

How to Make It:

  1. Trace and cut a handful of stars.
  2. Invite kids to decorate each one with words of hope or simple Christian symbols.
  3. Punch a hole at the top of every star and string them along a length of twine.
  4. Hang the garland across a doorway, mantel, or window to brighten the room with meaningful cheer.

If you want more faith based activities, you can also explore meaningful crafts that teach the 10 commandments for deeper learning moments.

2. Angel Wing Wooden Spoon Puppets

a handmade Christmas angel craft laid flat on a light gray wooden surface


These wooden spoon angels offer a playful way for kids to explore the angelic message of Christmas.

With just a few craft materials, children can create friendly angels that encourage storytelling, singing, and joyful pretend play.

Materials:

  • wooden spoons
  • white or felt paper for wings
  • ribbon or yarn
  • markers
  • glue

How to Make It:

  1. Draw a simple, cheerful face on the spoon’s “head.”
  2. Cut wing shapes from felt or sturdy paper and attach them to the back of the spoon.
  3. Add a small ribbon halo or decorative yarn for hair.
  4. Let kids use the puppets to retell the angel’s announcement of Christ’s birth or to create their own joyful scenes.

If you are looking for even more simple ideas kids can enjoy, you can check out easy Sunday school crafts on a budget for additional inspiration.

3. Baby Jesus Ornament


This simple ornament helps children focus on the heart of the season – Christ’s birth.

Creating a small Baby Jesus to hang on the tree allows kids to hold the story in their hands and place it somewhere they can see each day.

Materials:

  • cardstock or textured paper
  • markers
  • glue
  • twine
  • scissors

How to Make It:

  1. Cut an oval shape from cardstock to form Baby Jesus’s head and draw a sweet, peaceful face with a marker.
  2. Use a second piece of paper or cardstock to form a blanket, folding it to wrap around the head like a swaddle.
  3. Glue the wrapped baby together and add any details like rosy cheeks or scripture text.
  4. Attach a loop of twine to the back so the ornament can hang on the Christmas tree as a handmade symbol of the Nativity.

Looking for even more cold-weather craft ideas kids will enjoy, you can explore fun winter Sunday school crafts for kids for cozy inspiration.

4. Joyful Bells Ornament

handcrafted Christmas bell ornaments made from painted paper cup


This cheerful craft reminds children of the angels’ joyful announcement of Jesus’ birth and encourages them to share that same joy with others (Luke 2:13-14).

Materials:

  • Paper cups or small jingle bells
  • Ribbon or yarn
  • Markers, crayons, or paint
  • Stickers, glitter, or small decorative items (optional)
  • Scissors and glue

How to Make It:

  1. If using paper cups, cut the bottom slightly to make a bell shape, or leave as-is for a simple design.
  2. Encourage kids to color, paint, or add stickers and glitter to make each bell festive and bright. They can draw stars, angels, or Christmas symbols to tie it to the Nativity story.
  3. Punch a small hole at the top of each bell (or tie around a small bell) and thread a ribbon or yarn through it. Tie a loop so it can hang easily on the tree, a doorknob, or a mantel.
  4. If you’re using a paper cup, place a small bead or bell inside to create a gentle jingle when moved.

As children make and hang their joyful bells, talk about how the angels shared the good news of Jesus’ birth with shepherds.

Explain that just like the angels, we can share God’s joy with our family, friends, and community.

Encourage kids to ring their bells while singing or reading a Christmas verse aloud, turning the craft into a small, joyful celebration of Christ’s birth.

5. Baby Jesus in a Hay Nest

a handmade Nativity-themed Christmas craft for children, featuring a baby Jesus figure in a paper plate manger


This simple craft helps children focus on the heart of Christmas – the humble birth of Jesus – and understand God’s love in sending His Son (Luke 2:7).

Materials:

  • Small paper plate or shallow bowl
  • Hay, shredded paper, or raffia
  • Cardstock or construction paper
  • Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
  • Glue or tape
  • Optional: small figurine or paper cutout of Baby Jesus

How to Make It:

  1. Fill the paper plate or bowl with hay, shredded paper, or raffia to form a soft “manger” bed.
  2. Cut out a small oval shape from cardstock or construction paper for Baby Jesus.
  3. Draw a peaceful face and wrap it with a small strip of paper to resemble a swaddle.
  4. Place Baby Jesus gently in the nest. You can add small paper animals or stars around Him for extra decoration.
  5. Set the nest on a table, shelf, or use it as part of a larger Nativity scene.

While making the craft, talk with kids about the humility of Jesus’ birth.

Emphasize that God’s greatest gift came in the simplest way – a tiny baby in a manger – showing His immense love for everyone.

Ask questions like: “Why do you think God chose a stable for Jesus?” or “How can we share God’s love with others this Christmas?”

If you’d like more themed projects for different seasons, you can also explore faith-filled fall crafts perfect for Sunday school for meaningful ideas kids will enjoy.

6. Three Wise Men Gift-Bearer Craft (Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar)

a handmade children’s nativity craft representing the Three Wise Men (Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar)


Celebrates the Magi who followed the star and brought gifts to Jesus (Matthew 2:1–12).

Materials:

  • colored paper or cardstock, small paper cups OR toilet paper rolls
  • markers
  • glue
  • scissors
  • star sticker (optional)
  • gold/silver paper for gifts.

How to Make It:

  1. Use paper cups or rolls as the bodies. Wrap them in colored paper to create robes.
  2. Cut out three simple head shapes from cardstock and draw faces (one for Gaspar, one for Melchior, one for Balthazar).
  3. Add crowns using gold or yellow paper. Decorate with dots, shapes, or small gems.
  4. Create tiny gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh) using small squares of gold/silver paper and glue them to their hands.
  5. Optional: Glue a star above them to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

Explain that the Wise Men traveled far because they recognized Jesus as the true King.

Their gifts remind us to offer our best to God and to honor Jesus with joyful hearts.

7. Nativity Silhouette Acrylic Painting

a hand-painted Nativity scene artwork in progress, placed on a warm wooden tabletop


This painting offers children a calm, focused moment to reflect on the Nativity.

By using simple shapes and bold color, kids can create a striking silhouette that highlights the beauty of Christ’s birth in a way that feels both artistic and approachable.

Materials:

  • canvas or thick paper
  • acrylic paints
  • brush
  • black paint or marker
  • pencil

How to Make It:

  1. Paint the background using warm or cool tones – sunset colors, soft blues, or a starry night sky.
  2. Once dry, lightly sketch the simple Nativity shapes: the stable outline, Mary, Joseph, and the manger.
  3. Fill the sketch with black paint or a thick marker to create the silhouette.
  4. Add a bright star above the stable to complete the scene and let the painting dry fully before displaying.

8. Matchbox Manger Craft

a handmade Nativity-themed matchbox craft featuring baby Jesus


This tiny manger tucked inside a matchbox offers a joyful, meaningful way for children to focus on Baby Jesus.

Kids enjoy the surprise element of opening the box to reveal the small manger scene, and it becomes a keepsake they can treasure year after year.

Materials:

  • empty matchbox
  • small fabric scraps
  • cardstock
  • markers
  • glue
  • tiny bead or pom-pom

How to Make It:

  1. Cover the outside of the matchbox with cardstock and decorate it with stars, stripes, or symbols of the season.
  2. Inside the drawer, glue a small folded piece of cardstock to form a simple manger shape.
  3. Wrap a bead or pom-pom in a small fabric scrap to make Baby Jesus and place it gently in the manger.
  4. Add a short phrase like “Joy to the World” to the lid and let kids open and close the box as they retell the story.

If you’re looking for even more ways to spark creativity and faith at home, check out our collection of creative Christmas crafts for kids for additional ideas that are fun, meaningful, and easy to make together.

Make Space for Joyful Crafting This Christmas

These simple, faith-centered projects offer your family a warm and steady way to connect with the heart of Christmas.

When children create with purpose – they gain confidence, spark meaningful questions, and carry the message of Christ’s birth into their everyday moments.

Choose one craft to begin with, gather a few materials, and enjoy a cheerful, hands-on pause in the middle of the season.

If you try any of these crafts, I’d love to hear how it went and what your kids enjoyed most.

Share your experience or your child’s favorite project in the comments below!

FAQs

How can I adapt these crafts for younger toddlers?

Use larger, safer materials and simplify each step. Toddlers can paint pre-cut shapes, add stickers, or help press pieces in place while you guide the structure.

What’s the best way to store these crafts for future years?

Keep them in labeled envelopes or small boxes and store them with your Christmas decor. This protects the crafts and turns them into keepsakes your kids can revisit each year.

Can these crafts be used for Sunday school or group settings?

Yes. Most crafts use affordable materials that are easy to prepare in batches. Pre-cutting pieces ahead of time helps group crafting run smoothly.

How do I keep cleanup simple after craft time?

Cover the table with a cloth or kraft paper, set out a small scrap bowl, and invite kids to help pick up materials. A quick cleanup routine keeps the process positive.

What if I don’t have acrylic paint or specialty materials?

Most projects can be adapted. Swap in crayons, washable paint, or markers, and replace specialty items with what you already have like paper, cardboard, yarn, or fabric scraps.

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