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If your kids loved making pinecone reindeer, they’re going to adore these tiny pinecone Santas. There’s something so cheerful about watching a simple pinecone turn into a jolly little Santa with a fluffy beard and a felt hat. This is the kind of Christmas craft that feels magical without being overwhelming — the steps are calming, the materials are simple, and every Santa ends up with its own cute personality.

This craft is perfect for sleepovers, classroom activities, winter weekends at home, or any moment where you want to slow down and do something festive with minimal mess. Kids love choosing their pinecones, making little beards, and gluing on the red hats. Everything is small, cute, and tactile, which adds to the relaxing feel of the activity.

Pinecone Santas also make adorable handmade decorations. You can stand them on shelves, display them in a tiny woodland village, or turn them into Christmas ornaments. Kids often end up making a whole “Santa family,” which is even more fun when you add them to your reindeer crafts from earlier.

Here’s how to create these charming little Santas.

Materials You’ll Need

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• Pinecones (any small or medium size)

• Red felt

• Small white pom-poms

• Googly eyes

• White yarn (for the beard) or cotton balls

• Craft glue or hot glue

• Optional extras: mini bells, tiny scarves, glitter edges, wooden bead noses

Everything is inexpensive and easy to find. If you want a more natural look, you can use wooden beads for faces or felt for beards instead of yarn.

Step 1: Pick Your Pinecones

Choose pinecones that sit upright easily. If the base is uneven, glue a cardboard circle underneath. Kids always enjoy selecting which pinecone looks “the most like Santa,” which secretly encourages them to make choices and observe textures.

Step 2: Make the Santa Hat

Cut a small felt triangle and roll it into a cone. Glue the edges together. Add a white pom-pom on top. The hat doesn’t need to be perfect — in fact, slightly crooked hats look even cuter and more handmade.

Step 3: Add the Face

Glue two googly eyes near the top of the pinecone. If you’re using a wooden bead face, glue the bead first and then attach the eyes. Add a tiny nose if you want — a small bead, a bit of felt, or even a red pom-pom for a Rudolph-Santa twist.

Step 4: Give Santa His Beard

Cut a piece of fluffy white yarn and gently pull apart the strands to make it softer and fuller. Glue the beard under the eyes. Kids love this part because it instantly makes the pinecone look like Santa.

Step 5: Attach the Hat

Place the felt hat on top, slightly tilted forward, and glue it in place. You can add a thin line of white felt or cotton around the base of the hat for a classic Santa trim.