It always starts with “we’ll just make one little garland this year,” and ends with every available surface covered in drying glue, leaf piles, and suspicious amounts of glitter. In our house, Christmas crafts are basically a sport. One minute you’re sticking cotton balls on a snowman, and the next you’ve got four shoeboxes, a jug of paint water, and a seven-year-old crying because their reindeer looks like a potato. Still — it’s kind of the best part of December.
The trick, I’ve learned, is finding projects that feel new but don’t require an art degree or £50 in supplies. These ones are unique enough to feel special, but still doable on a weekend with kids, grandparents, or just a mug of tea and a podcast. Some are rustic, some are sweet, and some are just weird enough to become a new family tradition. And if your house ends up with a few slightly wonky gingerbread crafts or a beaded snowman missing an eye — that’s part of the charm.
Let’s get stuck in.
Make mini trees from scrap paper rolls and twigs
If you’ve got an old cereal box, a few sticks from the garden, and five minutes of peace, you can make these rustic tabletop trees. Start by cutting the cardboard into small triangles or cone shapes — nothing perfect, the more “handmade” it looks the better. Wrap them in layers of recycled paper, newsprint, or leftover tissue paper. Crumple the paper a little to give the trees texture. Then glue a twig to the base as a trunk and add a tiny paper star at the top.
Cluster them on the mantel or windowsill for a soft, homemade forest vibe. You can even add a splash of white paint or a little natural twine to tie it all together. They’re simple, but they look like something you’d see in a Scandinavian winter shop.
Create a nature-inspired snowman using cotton and pine bark
Forget the classic round snowman — this one’s all about mixing textures. Start with three soft cotton balls or felted wool for the body. Stack them gently on a wooden slice or flat stone, then use bits of bark, acorn caps, and dried moss to make hats, scarves, and arms. A tiny twig or clove makes a perfect nose. If you want a touch of colour, press in a few red berries or thread a gingham ribbon through his middle.
It’s like making a woodland creature, and no two snowmen come out the same. These look lovely next to candles or nestled in greenery, and they’re perfect for anyone who likes their decorations more forest than flashy.
Assemble a gingerbread-style paper house village
You don’t need real gingerbread to get the look — just brown craft paper, glue, and a white paint pen. Cut and fold small houses from card or thick paper, then decorate them like you would a real cookie house: scalloped roofs, snowy windows, and swirly hearts on the door. Add cut-out trees or stars and tape them to a string of fairy lights for a glowing winter street scene.
Kids can go wild with designs, and adults can pretend it’s architectural. Display them on a shelf or windowsill with cotton wool snow and maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon if you’re feeling extra. Bonus: they won’t go stale.
Craft a row of standing paper gnomes with paper cone hats
You only need some thick paper or card, scissors, and a little imagination. Cut large triangles from paper and roll them into cones for the hats. Make simple tube bodies, glue on white beards cut from tissue or fluffy cotton, and add little round noses from beads or buttons. Use soft colours — oatmeal, grey, forest green — or let the kids go bold with red and gold.
These look best in groups: three or five gnomes standing together on a shelf, peeking out from behind plants or stacked books. They give off a storybook feeling, and once you’ve made one, you’ll probably end up with a whole family.
Design natural ornaments using dried leaves and paper cutouts
Start by collecting a few strong, flat leaves — ones that haven’t completely crumbled yet. Press them in a book for a couple days, then glue them onto paper circles or stars cut from cardboard. You can draw over the leaves with white pen or metallic marker to highlight their shape — or just leave them plain if they’ve got a good winter colour.
Punch a hole at the top, tie a loop of twine, and hang them on the tree or across a window. They feel earthy and calm, especially if you keep the palette to browns, greens, and cream. Add one shiny bell or a strip of gold ribbon if you want that hint of sparkle.
Turn a glass jar into a winter gnome lantern
This one starts with an old jar and ends with something magical glowing on your shelf. Grab a clean glass jar (jam jars, pickle jars — anything with a nice shape), and wrap a paper cone around the top to become the gnome’s hat. Paint the inside of the jar with a frosted whitewash or glue a bit of tissue paper inside for a soft glow. Add a cotton ball or pom-pom nose just peeking out from under the hat brim, and glue a beard made from white yarn, faux fur, or crinkled paper down the front.
Pop a battery tea light inside and you’ve got a glowing gnome lantern. These are extra cute lined up on a porch or windowsill, and they give off a cosy handmade feel without looking messy. If your kids make one each, you’ve basically got a gnome family nightlight situation. It’s slightly quirky, very lovable, and somehow it works in every room.
Make flat gingerbread-style ornaments from cinnamon dough or salt dough
You can make these from scratch in less than an hour, and your kitchen will smell like Christmas for the rest of the day. Mix up a simple dough using flour, salt, and water — or go the extra mile with cinnamon dough for that warm brown colour and delicious scent. Roll it out, cut into tree shapes, stars, little houses, or snowflakes using cookie cutters, and don’t forget to poke a hole for hanging.
Once they’re dry (either air-dried or baked on low heat), decorate them with white paint, a fine brush, or a gel pen to look like traditional gingerbread. Add names or dates if you want them to become keepsakes. String with twine or thread and hang on the tree, use as gift tags, or give as little presents. They feel handmade in the best way — like something you’d find at a local holiday fair, but way more personal.
Create layered paper tree decorations from recycled packaging
This one’s especially good if you’ve got cereal boxes or cardboard packaging you don’t want to just throw out. Cut out several tree shapes in gradually smaller sizes and stack them together with glue or double-sided tape. You can mix colours — like kraft paper, old wrapping paper, or even pages from magazines — for a more playful look. Fold each layer slightly in the middle to give the tree some dimension.
Add a paper star at the top, or thread a small bell through the middle if you want it to jingle. These can be used as hanging ornaments, place cards, or just scattered around the house in little clusters. They feel clean and modern, especially if you stick to a limited colour scheme. Even better? You can make a dozen in under an hour and still have time for hot chocolate.
Stitch a simple snowman ornament with felt scraps and buttons
This is the kind of craft that feels like you could sell it at a Christmas market stall. Cut two snowman shapes from felt (or even an old jumper that shrunk in the wash), stitch them together with a bit of stuffing inside, and decorate with whatever you’ve got lying around — a bit of ribbon, small buttons, a scrap of plaid fabric for a scarf. You can use fabric glue if sewing’s not your thing, but stitching gives it that handmade-with-love texture.
Add a loop of thread at the top and they’re ready for the tree. Each one turns out slightly different depending on who makes it — and that’s what makes them feel special. We made a bunch of these last year and gave them to neighbours, and now they’ve become “those cute snowmen from your kids” people ask about every December.
Build a woodland scene in a box lid with natural textures
Find an old shoebox lid or shallow gift box and turn it into a winter shadowbox scene. Start with a base of white paint or paper, then build up layers using small twigs, moss, pinecones, dried citrus slices, and paper cut-outs. You can create a snowy forest, a tiny cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney, or even a sleigh ride if you’re feeling detailed.
Glue everything in place, sprinkle with fake snow or shredded paper, and let it sit flat to dry. Prop it up like a mini art piece or use it as a centrepiece with candles. It’s basically storytelling with glue and bark, and it looks so much more impressive than it actually is to make. Plus, you get to go on a nature walk first — and call it “gathering materials.”
final thoughts
If you’ve made it this far and your table isn’t already covered in scraps, glue sticks, and someone’s missing button nose — I’m impressed. But honestly, even just picking one or two of these ideas and turning them into a weekend activity makes the season feel a bit more homemade in the best way.
The best part about these crafts? They’re not meant to be perfect. One snowman’s lopsided, someone’s gnome is missing its hat, and the pine bark reindeer looks more like a sad donkey. But they belong in your house because they were made there, with actual laughter and crumbs on the floor and probably a bit of glitter in your hair.
So whether you’ve got little ones, big kids, bored teens, or just feel like crafting with a friend and some tea — I hope these ideas gave you something new to try. Save the fancy stuff for Pinterest boards. The real memories are in the gluey, slightly wonky magic of making things together.
Merry crafting x
— Emily