Ultimate Christmas Guide: Christmas Crafts, Ideas and Freebies!
Looking for Simple Christmas ideas, crafts and more??
Ready to make this Christmas fun and stress-free? Whether you're looking for hosting tips, engaging classroom activities, or ways to keep kids entertained throughout the holiday season, we've got you covered!
Table of contents
- In the classroom: December maths and literacy, by year level
- Christmas Party Fun: Let's get started!
- Kids Christmas Crafts, Ideas and Activities for All Ages
- Christmas Crafts with Kids
- Easy Entertainment
- Other ideas we love...
- Christmas Take Home Treats to Make and Take
I'm Jo, owner of Mrs. Edgar, a teacher planner and stationery brand in Australia. I'm also a mum of three! Alongside our planners, I love creating digital resources to support teachers in the classroom and parents at home.
One of my favourite traditions is Friendsmas—a special annual celebration with my oldest friends that started over a decade ago and has grown even more meaningful as our families have expanded. With no family nearby, Friendsmas is our cherished time to connect, laugh, and make unforgettable memories.
Over the years, we've added a mix of activities that bring joy to both kids and adults, and I'm excited to share those ideas with you here.
So, whether you're a teacher seeking classroom inspiration, a parent planning holiday fun, or a host preparing a Christmas gathering, these ideas are designed to save time, spark creativity, and make the season unforgettable!
In the classroom: December maths and literacy, by year level
Teachers first, because December in a classroom is its own particular challenge. The kids are done, you are done, and you still have three weeks of actual learning to timetable.
These are the packs we made for exactly that stretch — real curriculum work, wrapped in enough tinsel that nobody notices.
25 Christmas Word Problems
Twenty-five word problems per pack, written to year level, all with a Christmas context. Reindeer sharing carrots, baubles in boxes, candy canes split between classes — the maths is the maths, the wrapping is festive.
30 Christmas Riddles
Thirty riddles per pack, also levelled. Brilliant as a morning starter, an early-finisher task, or the thing you pull out when the assembly runs twenty minutes over and you have a room full of children and no plan.
Christmas tree craftivities that are actually maths
A craft that goes on the wall and covers content at the same time. Students solve as they build, and the finished trees make the display.
- Christmas Tree Multiplication Craftivity — times tables
- Christmas Tree Fractions of a Collection Craftivity — fractions of a collection
Free ones worth grabbing too: the Christmas Tree Craftivity, Addition & Subtraction Crack the Code, Christmas Word Search and the Christmas Scavenger Hunt.
Browse the whole Christmas collection →
Christmas Party Fun: Christmas Ideas and more...
First things first—the Christmas invite! For our Friendsmas group, we had a list of fun preparations: Secret Santa for the kids, Christmas shirts for the adults, and a shared plate to bring. To stay organised, I even included space on the back of our invite for notes!
You can grab this free customisable template I've created to make your own Christmas invite. It's easy to edit using Canva and tailored to suit your unique holiday needs!
Grab your FREE Christmas invitation template here! →
Invite sorted?? Great! Let's get Secret Santa done!
For teachers, families, or friend groups looking to add a touch of festive fun, I highly recommend using Elfster for your Secret Santa exchange. It offers an easy setup: create an event, invite participants via a link, and let everyone fill out profiles with wish lists and gift preferences.
- Automated Draw: Elfster randomly assigns Secret Santa recipients, ensuring no one draws themselves or anyone on a designated exclusion list, like partners. Plus, it keeps everything a surprise!
- Wish Lists and Gift Ideas: Participants can add items to their wish lists, making it simple for their Secret Santa to choose the perfect gift. Elfster even offers built-in gift suggestions to inspire thoughtful choices.
- Anonymous Messaging: Elfster allows for anonymous messaging, so participants can ask questions or clarify preferences without spoiling the surprise, ensuring every gift feels personalised.
Kids Christmas Crafts, Ideas and Activities for All Ages
Christmas crown-making station
This crown-making station is a perfect Christmas craft idea that always delights kids aged 4 to 8—and even older ones often join the fun! Teachers and parents can set it up for Christmas celebrations, birthdays, or any occasion that calls for creative play.
Simply arrange a table with pre-cut cardboard crowns (no template needed) and plenty of supplies for kids to unleash their creativity: sequins, sticky glitter embellishments, glitter, and lots of glue!
Keep a stapler handy so they can proudly wear their creations right away—kids love showing off their crowns as part of fun Christmas crafts and memorable holiday activities!
Colouring Printables: Your must haves!
Looking for the ultimate Christmas colouring pages? You need to bookmark Homemade Gifts Made Easy!
Explore a hub of festive holiday sheets ready for you to download and enjoy for artists of every age!
Christmas Directed Drawings
How great is this new book by Rob Jensen! Draw with Art for Kids Hub Christmas just got released and I snapped it up immediately (huge fan). I'm planning on adding a few photocopied directed drawings and some blank paper to the table that will encourage those budding creatives to jump in and start drawing!
Christmas Crafts with Kids
Christmas DIY Lanterns
Transform old jam jars into festive, colourful lanterns perfect for your Christmas table! This simple and delightful activity can be enjoyed by children of all ages. I created these lanterns with my three, seven, and eight-year-olds, and they make for charming holiday decorations that bring warmth and sparkle to any setting. Idea is from Mud and Bloom.
These are perfect as gifts for grandparents or as festive decorations for the Christmas table!
Cookie Decorating Station
A cookie decorating station is a fun addition that kids will love! Set out plain cookies, icing, and sprinkles for them to decorate—and they can choose to take their tasty creations home or enjoy them on the spot!
Other Christmas Craft ideas we love...
Shout out to the following accounts that we were able to grab these ideas from:
- 1. Paper Plate Baubles: By Jen Walshaw, available at Mum in the Madhouse
- 2. Clay Pot Christmas Trees: By Amy Lemons, available at: amylemons.com
- 3. Salt Dough Christmas Trees: By Julie Munstermann, available at: emmaowl.com
- 4. Christmas Beading | Grinch Bracelet: By Julie Munstermann, available at: www.artsyfartsymama.com
Easy Christmas Entertainment
Christmas Movie Night
Turn your living room into a holiday cinema! Arrange comfy seating with plenty of beanbags and pillows, dim the lights, and set up a selection of holiday classics for everyone to enjoy. Add a snack station with popcorn, drinks and festive treats for a movie experience the whole family will love.
Grab these movie ticket templates here!
Christmas Movie List
To stop you scrolling through Netflix... here's a little something to get you started. The ultimate Christmas movie list for family night!
Lolly Bar
A lolly bar adds extra excitement! Fill jars with festive treats and let kids create their own sweet mix to enjoy during the party or take home as a little treat.
Other ideas we love...
- DIY Photo Booth: Photo Booth with Props – Set up a photo booth with festive props (Santa hats, reindeer antlers, Christmas glasses) for guests to take memorable photos.
- Reindeer Ring Toss: Use antler headbands and small rings for a fun and silly game where players try to toss rings onto the antlers.
- Holiday Story Corner: A cosy area with holiday books for quiet reading or group storytime, great for younger kids.
- Gingerbread House Decorating: Set up a gingerbread house station with ready-made houses, icing, and candy decorations.
- Holiday Karaoke: Bring out the classic holiday tunes with a karaoke machine and encourage guests to sing along.
Christmas Ideas: Take Home Treats to Make and Take
We found the perfect DIY treats you can send kids home with for Christmas! Perfect for teachers and those hosting festive parties with young children!
1. Reindeer Treat Bags
Fill a small bag with oats, m+ms + edible glitter (or sprinkles) labelled "Reindeer Food." Kids can sprinkle it outside to "guide Santa's reindeer" on Christmas Eve.
2. DIY Christmas Playdough Kit
Bring the holiday spirit home with a festive playdough kit! Create a simple kit with red, green, and white play-dough, a mini rolling pin, and Christmas-themed cutters (like trees, stars, and candy canes) for hours of creative fun. To add an extra sprinkle of holiday magic, you could include biodegradable glitter and mini holiday decorations, like tiny ornaments and snowflakes, to inspire imaginative play.
Top Image: Photo by Marla at Because I Said So, Baby. DIY Christmas Cookie Play Dough Kit, available at: becauseisaidsobaby.com
3. DIY Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Kit
Creating your own Gingerbread People Cookie Decorating Kits is a fun, thoughtful way to spread holiday cheer! Simply bake a batch of gingerbread people, then package them with mini bags of icing in festive colours and a selection of decorations like mini candies and sprinkles. Arrange everything in a holiday-themed box or bag, tie it with a ribbon, and add a cheerful tag.
Bottom Image: Photo by Patty at The PKP Way. Gingerbread Men Cookie Decorating Kits, available at: thepkpway.com
4. Mini Christmas Craft
Add materials for a simple paper craft, like making a paper snowflake. Include all the crafty things needed in order to complete - stickers, glue dots, and other small decorations.
5. Reindeer Nose Toppers
Our fun Christmas Reindeer Nose Bag Toppers are designed to create a memorable holiday treat. Simply print it on coloured card, fold it, and staple it to a bag filled with Maltesers and a Jaffa to represent Rudolph and his reindeer friends!
Reindeer Nose Toppers Freebie →
6. Printable Gift Tags
Grab our pack of printable gift tags to make gifting a breeze! Perfect for adding a personal touch to every present, for students and staff alike.
Teacher + Student Gift Tags Bundle →
With these Christmas crafts, hosting tips, and creative ideas, you'll be ready to make this festive season unforgettable. Whether you're a teacher planning engaging classroom activities, a parent looking for fun holiday projects, or a host preparing a memorable gathering, these simple and effective ideas are here to make your celebrations joyful and stress-free.
Remember, the magic of Christmas lies in the moments we create and share—so get creative, bring loved ones together, and let the holiday spirit shine through every craft, laugh, and memory made. Wishing you a holiday season full of joy, creativity, and cherished traditions!
More From The Blog
- The Classroom Advent Calendar
- Word Problems in December
- The Christmas Tree Craftivity
- Christmas Elf Ideas
- End-of-Year Organising
The Mrs Edgar Resources Used in This Post
Classroom maths and literacy
- 25 Christmas Word Problems | Foundation
- 25 Christmas Word Problems | Year 1
- 25 Christmas Word Problems | Year 2
- 25 Christmas Word Problems | Year 3
- 25 Christmas Word Problems | Year 4
- 30 Christmas Riddles | Foundation
- 30 Christmas Riddles | Year 1
- 30 Christmas Riddles | Year 2
- 30 Christmas Riddles | Year 3
- 30 Christmas Riddles | Year 4
- Christmas Tree Multiplication Craftivity
- Christmas Tree Fractions of a Collection Craftivity
Crafts, freebies and treats
- Christmas Tree Craftivity
- Christmas Colour In Bookmarks
- Letter to Santa Template
- Christmas Elf Craft
- Christmas Bag Topper
- Christmas Bunting
- Christmas Scavenger Hunt
- Christmas Stocking Craft
- Christmas Bauble Craft
- Christmas Crack the Code Riddles
- Christmas Addition & Subtraction Crack the Code
- Christmas Word Search
- Christmas A-Z Challenge
- Teacher + Student Gift Tags Bundle
How do I use the Christmas invite template?
You can easily customise the Christmas invite template using Canva. Simply click the provided link to access the template, edit the text and details to suit your event, and download it for printing or sharing digitally.
Can these activities be adapted for classroom use?
Absolutely! Many of our crafts and printables are designed with classrooms in mind, making them perfect for holiday-themed lessons, art projects, or as fun rewards for students during the holiday season. The word problem and riddle packs above are built specifically for the classroom, levelled from Foundation to Year 4.
Where can I find more Christmas digital resources?
We have an entire collection of freebies for teachers and parents alike! Check out our freebies now, and our Christmas Digital collection too!
Jo Edgar | Founder of Mrs Edgar
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