The cross is one of the first things my little ones learned to point to and name. It shows up in our storybooks, on the wall by the kitchen table, and in the quiet questions they ask at bedtime.
Making a simple cross craft together is a gentle way to talk about faith without it feeling like a lesson. Little hands stay busy, and the conversation comes on its own. These have become some of our favorites, right alongside our other easy Jesus crafts.
15 cute cross craft ideas for kids to celebrate faith
Here are fifteen cute cross crafts for kids, each one using something a little different. I kept them simple on purpose, so you can glance through, pick one that fits your day, and get right to it.
1. popsicle stick cross
Glue two craft sticks together in a cross shape and let little ones paint or decorate it however they like. You can wrap it in washi tape, dot it with paint, or leave the wood plain and simple. It is about as easy as a cross craft gets, which makes it a lovely place to start.
2. cotton ball cross
Draw a cross on paper and let your child glue cotton balls all the way along it. The soft, fluffy white is sweet to touch and easy for little fingers to press into place. It is a gentle one for the youngest crafters in the house.
3. paper plate cross
Cut a cross shape from the center of a paper plate, or cut a cross out and let the plate become the frame around it. Kids can paint it, add stickers, or glue on torn paper. The plate gives them a sturdy base that holds up to plenty of decorating.
4. handprint cross
Press a few painted handprints onto paper and arrange them to form the shape of a cross. These little keepsakes are sweet to date and tuck away, since small hands change so quickly. Even babies can join in with a bit of help.
5. stained glass cross
Cut a cross frame from black paper and let kids fill the openings with bits of colored tissue paper or cellophane. Tape it to a sunny window and the light comes through in pretty jewel tones. It is a nice one to look at all season long.
6. yarn-wrapped cross
Cut a cross from sturdy cardboard and let your child wind yarn around and around it until it is covered. The wrapping is good, quiet work for little hands, and the finished cross has a soft, woven look. If you have a basket of yarn scraps, this is a lovely way to use them, along with these other cute yarn craft ideas.
7. cross bookmark
Cut a small cross from felt or cardstock and add a ribbon so it can mark a page in a Bible or storybook. Older children can stitch the edges, while little ones can decorate theirs with markers and stickers. If your kids take to the needle and thread, these simple sewing projects for kids are a gentle next step.
8. jeweled christian cross
Cut a classic cross from craft foam or thick cardstock and let kids cover it with gems, buttons, and sequins. The little ones love choosing where each jewel goes, and no two ever turn out the same. It makes a cheerful piece to hang on a bedroom door.
9. john 3:16 cross
Cut a large cross from paper and write out John 3:16 down the center, or let your child copy the words if they are old enough. Reading the verse together while you work makes the craft and the lesson one and the same. You will find more ideas like it in this collection of simple Bible verse crafts.
10. “he is risen” cross
Make a paper cross and tuck paper or tissue flowers around it, with a small banner reading “He Is Risen” across the front. The flowers give it an Easter-morning feel and a bit of cheerful color. It is a sweet one to set on the table during Holy Week.
11. cardboard mosaic cross
Cut a cross from a piece of cardboard and let kids glue on small squares of torn paper like little mosaic tiles. The gaps between the pieces are part of the charm, so there is no need for it to be tidy. It keeps small hands busy for a good while.
12. twig cross
Gather two small twigs on a walk outside and tie them together at the center with twine or a bit of yarn. The wrapping takes a little patience, so this one is nice for older children. It brings a piece of the outdoors right onto the kitchen table.
13. leaf cross
Collect a few leaves on a nature walk and arrange them into the shape of a cross on paper, then glue them down. Pressed leaves work especially well and lie nice and flat. It is a quiet way to notice the small, ordinary things God made.
14. fruit of the spirit cross
Cut a large paper cross and add a little paper fruit for each part of the fruit of the Spirit, with words like love, joy, peace, and patience. It gives you a gentle way to talk through each one as your child glues it on. If your little ones enjoy it, they will love this fruit of the Spirit tree craft too.
15. prayer cross
Make a simple paper or craft stick cross and add small slips of paper where your child can write or draw the people they want to pray for. You can tuck the slips into a little pocket or string them along the bottom. It turns a craft into a sweet reminder to pray together.
why cross crafts are good for little hands
The cross is a simple shape, which is part of why it suits children so well. Two lines and a bit of glue, and even the youngest can take part. While their hands are busy, the questions come easily, and you get to answer them in your own gentle way.
These crafts also fit the slower pace a faithful home tends to ask for. There is no rush and no perfect way to do them, only a little time set aside to make something good together.
simple supplies to gather first
You do not need much for a cross craft, and chances are most of it is already in your home. I like to set things out during nap time so we are ready to go when little hands wake up.
- Construction paper or cardstock in a few colors
- Craft sticks, cardboard, and a paper plate or two
- Child-safe scissors and a glue stick
- Yarn, cotton balls, gems, and bits of tissue paper
- A few twigs and leaves gathered on a walk outside
a few gentle tips for crafting with little ones
Cover the table with an old towel before you begin, and let the mess be part of the fun. Keep the craft short and stop while they are still enjoying it, rather than waiting for the meltdown. A cross that is a little lopsided is still a treasure.
It also helps to read a short verse or tell the story behind the cross while you work, so the meaning sits alongside the craft. Keep it simple and let their questions lead the way.
more bible crafts to make together
Once you have a few cross crafts behind you, it is nice to have other Bible stories ready for the next slow afternoon. These Good Samaritan crafts and these tender prodigal son crafts carry the same easygoing spirit and use many of the same supplies.
If your children are learning the people of the Bible, these 12 disciples crafts are a sweet way to help the names stick. Keep a small basket of supplies on hand and you will always have something good to reach for.
pick one cross craft and make a little time today
You do not have to make all fifteen of these. Pick one that feels doable, gather your supplies, and let the afternoon be simple. The point is not a perfect craft but a little time spent together, with the cross at the center of it.
There is a quiet gift in these ordinary afternoons, the kind we tend to forget to notice while we are in them.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
If you make any of these cross crafts with your children, I would truly love to see them. You are warmly welcome to send in your pictures or share your creations in the comment section below. I may feature a few of them here on the website, and there is something so encouraging about seeing what other families have made together. So glad you are here, friend.
Warmly,
Betty
FREE Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card
If your kids learn best by doing, you’re going to love this simple activity. It turns the Fruit of the Spirit into something they can touch and create.
This free Fruit of the Spirit Playdough Tree and Card gives you two activities in one—a playdough mat (laminate once, use forever) plus 9 individual fruit cards.
Both feature all nine fruits from Galatians 5:22-23, helping kids learn about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through hands-on fun.
frequently asked questions
what age are cross crafts good for?
Most of these work from toddlerhood on up. Cotton ball, handprint, and paper plate crosses suit the littlest ones, while twig, bookmark, and verse crafts fit older children. A bit of help from you bridges the gap.
what supplies do i need for cross crafts?
Paper, glue, scissors, and craft sticks will carry you through most of this list. Add yarn, cotton balls, gems, and a few twigs and leaves, and you are well set for an afternoon.
are these crafts good for sunday school or a co-op?
Yes, many of them work well in a group. Popsicle stick, paper plate, and cotton ball crosses are easy to set up for several children at once and do not call for much prep.
how do i talk to my child about the cross while we craft?
Keep it simple and let their questions lead. Reading a short verse or telling the story in plain words while you work is often enough, and you can always say more as they grow.
what can we do with the finished cross crafts?
Hang stained glass crosses in a window, tape paper crosses to a bedroom door, or tuck a cross bookmark into a Bible. They also make sweet little gifts for grandparents.
