DIY Winter Crafts Simple Projects to Do with Your Kids This December

As December rolls around and the weather turns chilly, it’s the perfect time to gather the family indoors for some fun and creative DIY winter crafts. Crafting with your children is a fantastic way to spend quality time together while keeping them entertained during the colder months. Plus, it offers a wonderful opportunity to create beautiful, homemade decorations and gifts that will add a personal touch to your home this winter.

Whether you’re looking for festive décor ideas or simple ways to keep your little ones busy, here are some easy DIY winter crafts that are fun for all ages and don’t require any specialist supplies. Most of these projects can be made with items you likely already have at home or can easily pick up at your local shop.

1. Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough is a classic crafting material that’s easy to make and perfect for creating long-lasting decorations. These homemade ornaments can be hung on the Christmas tree, used as gift tags, or even given as handmade presents.

Ingredients for Salt Dough:

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water

Method:

1. Combine the flour and salt in a bowl, then slowly add the water, mixing until a dough forms. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour.
2. Roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, then use cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars, trees, or snowflakes.
3. Use a straw to make a small hole at the top of each ornament (for hanging later) and place them on a baking tray.
4. Bake at 100°C for 2-3 hours, or until completely hard. Let them cool before decorating.
5. Once cool, your children can paint the ornaments with acrylic paints, adding glitter, buttons, or ribbon for extra flair.

These salt dough ornaments are not only fun to make but also create lasting memories each year when you pull them out to decorate the tree.

2. Pinecone Animals and Decorations

Collecting pinecones during a winter walk is a great way to bring nature indoors and incorporate it into your crafting. Pinecones can be turned into all sorts of festive animals and decorations, making them a versatile and free material for crafting with kids.

Supplies:

• Pinecones (collected or store-bought)
• Googly eyes
• Felt
• Pom-poms
• Craft glue

Instructions:

1. Start by deciding what creature or decoration you’d like to make. You could create a reindeer, owl, or even a simple snowman.
2. For a pinecone reindeer, glue two googly eyes onto the wide end of the pinecone, add a red pom-pom for the nose, and cut antlers from brown felt to glue onto the top.
3. For owls, use brown or grey felt to cut out wings and a small beak, then attach googly eyes.
4. If your children want to create a festive decoration instead, consider gluing sparkly pom-poms or mini bells onto the pinecones and tying a loop of ribbon at the top so they can be hung on the Christmas tree.

This is a fantastic activity that gets the whole family involved, from collecting pinecones on a nature walk to crafting creative, cute creatures at home.

3. Paper Snowflakes

Making paper snowflakes is a timeless winter craft that’s both simple and beautiful. It’s the perfect activity for children of all ages, as even the youngest crafters can cut their own unique designs, and they make lovely, delicate decorations for the home.

Supplies:

• White paper or coloured paper
• Scissors
• String (for hanging)

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting your paper into a square. Fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.
2. Fold the triangle in half again, then in thirds so that you have a smaller triangle.
3. Use scissors to cut small shapes along the edges of the triangle – triangles, circles, and wavy lines all work well.
4. Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your snowflake design. You can make each one unique by experimenting with different shapes and sizes.
5. Hang the snowflakes in windows, string them together to create garlands, or use them to decorate gift wrap.

This is a great way to teach children about symmetry while creating a snowy, festive atmosphere at home.

4. Mason Jar Lanterns

These beautiful DIY lanterns add a warm, cosy glow to your home on dark winter nights and are incredibly easy for children to make. They also make fantastic homemade gifts for family and friends.

Supplies:

• Clean, empty mason jars or glass jars
• Tissue paper in winter colours (white, blue, silver)
• PVA glue
• Tea light candles (battery-operated ones are safest for kids)

Instructions:

1. Tear the tissue paper into small pieces or strips.
2. Use a paintbrush to apply PVA glue to the outside of the jar, then layer the tissue paper pieces onto the jar, covering it completely. Overlapping different shades of paper creates a lovely textured effect.
3. Once the jar is covered, apply another layer of glue on top to seal the tissue paper in place.
4. Let the jars dry completely, then pop a tea light inside. When the candle is lit, the light will shine through the tissue paper, creating a cosy, glowing effect.

These lanterns are perfect for adding a touch of homemade charm to your mantelpiece or windowsill during the festive season.

5. Winter-Themed Collage

For a less structured craft that allows for total creativity, a winter-themed collage is a fun way for children to express themselves while creating seasonal artwork.

Supplies:

• Coloured paper, cotton wool, glitter, buttons, and other craft materials
• Glue
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Set up a crafting station with a variety of materials and let your children decide what kind of winter scene they want to create.
2. They can glue cotton wool to make snow, cut out trees and houses from coloured paper, or add glitter for a frosty effect.
3. Let them use their imagination to create snowy landscapes, winter animals, or festive scenes.

This is an easy craft for children of all ages, and the finished collages make lovely homemade decorations for the fridge or wall.

Conclusion

Crafting with your children during the winter months is not only a great way to keep them entertained indoors but also provides a chance to bond, get creative, and make some wonderful holiday memories. These DIY winter crafts are simple, affordable, and enjoyable for the whole family. From salt dough ornaments to pinecone animals, these projects will fill your home with homemade festive cheer. So, grab your craft supplies, gather the kids, and let the creativity flow this December!