17 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

The holidays are a magical time for kids—full of delicious smells coming from the kitchen, the sound of Christmas carols on the radio, and crafting fun DIY projects to keep and remember from year to year.

This season, depart from the store-bought gingerbread house making kit and set the kids to work building their own mini Christmas trees. Explore materials such as cardboard tubes, patterned paper, and colorful pom-poms, then let little ones loose to build and decorate festive pine trees. Get your holiday making started with these easy, kid-friendly tutorials.

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Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree

Make and Takes

Not only is this an incredibly simple afternoon craft, but it also allows you to put those leftover wrapping paper scraps to use. Fill the center of popsicle stick triangles with patterned wrapping paper, then kids can paint and decorate the wooden craft sticks with stick-on gems and glitter. This project is a great introduction to simple shapes, as well as simple design, for little ones.

Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree from Make and Takes
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Jeweled Paper Christmas Tree

Housing a Forest

In this clever kids’ craft, a clothespin does double duty as the Christmas tree’s stump and a handy stand. Pre-cut green triangles for little kids, then let them decorate with gems, sequins, or glitter. These look especially cute grouped together in a forest of sparkly pine trees as a DIY-ed centerpiece for your holiday spread.

Jeweled Paper Christmas Tree from Housing a Forest
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Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree

The Resourceful Mama

Trim a stack of empty toilet paper rolls to roughly form a triangle, then glue together with regular white glue. The recycled cardboard takes paint well, so you can easily use a washable, kid-friendly formula and still achieve a colorful result. Add a loop of string to turn this decoration into a homemade ornament.

Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree from The Resourceful Mama
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Marbled Christmas Tree

Buggy and Buddy

This lovely little craft utilizes a simple paper marbling technique, where the secret ingredient is liquid starch. This one can get a bit messy, so be sure to protect clothes with smocks or aprons before beginning. Once you’ve achieved your perfect green, swirling, marbled paper, cut into a forest of triangular pines, and add a construction paper stem.

Marbled Christmas Tree from Buggy and Buddy

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Abstract Christmas Tree Coloring Project

Make and Takes

For an easy, mess-free art project, break out the colored pencils or crayons and encourage kids to get abstract. Using a ruler, draw heavy black lines every which way across your page, then color the central green triangle in monochromatic green. To take this project up to the next level and provide a few different types of glitter glues so kid artists can add a touch of sparkle to their trees.

Abstract Christmas Tree Coloring Project from Make and Takes
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Paper Plate Pom-Pom Christmas Tree

Creative Family Fun

This Christmas tree craft allows children to create in three dimensions, challenging their design and building skills all while encouraging their creativity. Use a regular paper plate to form a cone, tape it into form, then paint. Glue on colorful pom-poms, or try stringing metallic yarn around the entire thing as mini-garland.

Paper Plate Pom-Pom Christmas Tree from Creative Family Fun
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Paper Straw Christmas Tree

Simple as That

Patterned paper straws can be the building blocks of festive, cheerful holiday decorations. Snip apart a few different designs, then assemble Christmas tree triangles. Glue together, then add a loop of yarn to turn these into adorable handmade ornaments.

Paper Straw Christmas Tree from Simple as That
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Zigzag Glitter Christmas Trees

Make and Takes

Bring a little sparkle to your holiday craft time with this straightforward paper project. Kids can squirt glue in a scribbled zigzag, then add color and shine by sprinkling glitter on top. This idea works well for handmade holiday cards or thank you notes, too.

Zigzag Glitter Christmas Tree from Make and Takes

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Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats

Food Fanatic

Mix up a big batch of marshmallow puffed rice treats, add a few drops of green food coloring, then shape into triangles. Kids can join in by adding sprinkles or candy ornaments. Teeny pretzel rods work perfectly as edible tree stumps. These sweet treats work wonderfully as a budget-friendly holiday snack for the entire class.

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats from Food Fanatic
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Pom-Pom Painting Christmas Tree

Fantastic Fun and Learning

Keep little hands totally clean, while still allowing a painting activity, with these DIY-ed soft, fuzzy stamps. Clip a pom-pom between a clothespin, then encourage kids to dip and stamp colorful circles onto a pre-cut Christmas tree. Heavier paper or cardstock works best for this quick painting project. This is a wonderful option for toddlers just starting to explore with paint.

Pom-Pom Painting Christmas Tree from Fantastic Fun and Learning
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Stained Glass Christmas Tree

Pick-Ease

Sticky, transparent laminating paper traps squares of tissue paper for a stained glass effect, no glue required. Kids can practice scissor skills by cutting tissue paper into chunks, then scatter them onto the sticky surface. Add another layer of laminating paper over top, then cut into a tree shape and frame with colored tape for a beautiful, light-catching decoration.

Stained Glass Christmas Tree from Pick-Ease
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Ripped Paper Christmas Tree

Thinking Outside the Sandbox Family

Another great option that will make use of your holiday wrapping paper scraps: Tear long strips of colorful paper, then arrange into a Christmas tree shape. The more colors and patterns in this craft, the better. This is a wise option for a mess-free afternoon of making.

Ripped Paper Christmas Tree from Thinking Outside the Sandbox Family

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Spiral Cardboard Tube Christmas Tree

Mess for Less

Save those empty wrapping paper tubes this holiday season, and add them to your craft supply throughout the year. Help kids snip a through-line to create a cardboard spiral, then they can paint and glue on ornaments (such as pom-poms, sequins, or gems).

Spiral Cardboard Tube Christmas Tree from Mess for Less
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Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Easy Peasy and Fun

Send the kids out for a morning of scavenging in the backyard before an afternoon of crafting at the table. Pine cones painted green are the perfect little Christmas trees, and fuzzy pom-poms are adorable as ornaments. Sprinkle some glitter on top for a sparkly, festive finish.

Pine Cone Christmas Tree from Easy Peasy and Fun
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Fork Painted Christmas Tree

A Dab of Glue Will Do

Trade out the paintbrushes in your children's art box for a plastic fork. Instruct kids to practice dipping the fork in paint, then layering and stamping ridged strokes into a tree form. This painting technique is the perfect base for simple foam or paper ornaments.

Fork Painted Christmas Tree from A Dab of Glue Will Do
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Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree

Whimsy Workshop Teaching

Pipe cleaners are a super kid-friendly craft supply: They’re bendable and re-bendable, and often don’t require any glue or tape. Twist a few green pipe cleaners around a wooden craft stick, then add colorful plastic beads as ornaments. Pop these crafts all over the house for a quick holiday transformation.

Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree from Whimsy Workshop Teaching

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Cardstock Christmas Tree

I Heart Crafty Things

This kids’ craft couldn’t be simpler. Cut three to four triangles out of colored cardstock, then fringe with scissors. For children ready to work on cutting skills, this is the perfect project for practicing small cuts. Pre-made foam stickers or sparkly sequins make easy decorations on this paper Christmas tree.

Cardstock Christmas Tree from I Heart Crafty Things