Holiday Paper Projects for Kids

It’s important that kids feel involved in holiday celebrations.  At home or in the classroom, holiday craft projects are a great way to help kids feel included.  With just a few supplies, you can help kids make fun and easy paper decorations for every holiday, or create simple gifts for mom and dad.

Chinese New Year Paper Lanterns
Supplies:
Colored construction paper
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:
1. Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half, making a long, skinny rectangle.

2. Make a series (about 12) of cuts or slits along the fold line, but leave some room at the edge.

3. Unfold your paper, and then glue the short edges of the paper together.

4. Cut strips of paper 6” long and ½ “ wide.  Glue this strip across the end of the lantern.  This will be the handle.

5. You can make lots of lanterns and string them along the length of cording to decorate your classroom or home

Valentine’s Day Coupon Booklet
Supplies:
Red and pink construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Ribbon/cording
Heart puncher

Instructions:
1. Start by cutting 3 ½” x 4 ½” pieces of construction paper.  Write your coupons on these.  You can use ideas like
Breakfast in bed
Butler for a day
Spotless kitchen cleaning
Bedroom cleaning
Bedtime book reading
5 minute snuggle session

2. Make a hole in the top left corner of each coupon.

3. Thread the ribbon or cording through the hole and tie in a double-knotted bow.

4. Kids can give these to parents or other family members for Valentine’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Mask
Supplies:
Green construction paper
Pencil
Scissors
Green yarn and felt
Glue
Stapler

Instructions:
1. Draw the shape of a shamrock on a piece of green construction paper and make sure the cutout is large enough to cover the face, then cut it out.

2. Draw eye holes on the mask and cut them out too.

3. Glue pieces of green felt around the outer edges of the mask to help reinforce the paper.

4. Attach the green yarn to the shamrock using the stapler so you can tie the mask to your head.

5. You can also add colorful embellishments to the mask for extra flair!

Easter Windsock
Supplies:
Pastel construction paper
Pastel streamers
Yarn/cording
Hole puncher
Stapler
Tape

Instructions:
1. Draw an Easter picture on a piece of construction paper.  Draw eggs, bunnies, flowers and use embellishments for colorful add-ons to decorate the drawing.

2. Cut 3 inch pieces of streamers and tape or staple them to the bottom back of the construction paper.  Roll the construction paper up and staple the ends together.

3. Punch a hole on the top of the wind sock on each side and tie your yarn or cording to make a loop. 

4. You can hang these fun decorations in the classroom, your home or at Sunday school.

4th of July Flag Yard Poke
Supplies:
Red, white & blue construction paper
Gold star stickers
Glue
Tape
Glitter
Embellishments
Wooden stick
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Cut 1” wide strips of white and red construction paper and glue them, alternating colors, onto a larger piece of blue construction paper.  Leave an open square for the stars.

2. Place 50 gold star stickers on the blank square of your flag.  If you don’t have any gold star stickers, you can cut them out of yellow construction paper and glue them on.

3. After each flag is assembled, let kids decorate them with glitter and other embellishments.

4. Next, use tape to attach flags to the wooden sticks. 

5. Kids can use the flags as decorations, or hand them out to friends at the 4th of July parade!

6. Short on time?  Look for color-your-own American flags.

Pumpkin Wall or Door Hanging
Supplies:
Old DVDs, CDs, or mason jar lids
Orange construction paper
Twine
Black marker
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:

1. To make the jack-o-lantern faces, start by tracing circles onto the orange construction paper and cutting them out.

2. Next, let kids use a black marker to decorate each jack-o-lantern’s face.

3. Glue the decorated faces onto the DVD, CD or jar lid.

4. Tie twine into small bows and glue them onto the pumpkins.

5. Attach all of the pumpkins to a longer piece of twine with glue or paper clips and hang on walls, doors or anywhere for a fun decoration!

Thanksgiving Turkey Placemat
Supplies:
White construction paper
Markers or crayons
Brown, orange and yellow finger paint
Paper plates
Apron
Laminator (optional)
Plenty of soap and water!

Instructions:
1. Begin by letting kids use markers or crayons to draw an out line of a turkey on a white piece of construction paper.  Make sure the paper is roughly the size of a placemat.  If you need to add pieces of construction paper together, you can do that before you start the project.

2. They can decorate the turkey drawings with eyes, beaks and feet.  They can also add the names of family members that will be at Thanksgiving dinner. 

3. While the kids are drawing, you can pour the finger paints onto paper plates.

4. When they are done with the drawing, have them put on their aprons then dip their hands into the paint and use their handprints as the turkey’s feathers on their placemat.

5. After all of the placemats have dried, you can use a laminator to protect the artwork on Thanksgiving Day!

Star of David Hanukkah Card
Supplies:
Blue and yellow construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Glitter

Instructions:
1. Fold a blue piece of construction paper in half.

2. Trace a picture of the Star of David, or even the menorah, onto a piece of yellow construction paper and cut it out.  Glue it to the front of the blue construction paper.

3. Decorate the front of the card with a cheerful Hanukkah greeting and glitter around the edges of your design.

4. Write a note inside the card then send them out to friends and family during your Festival of Lights!

12 Days of Christmas Paper Chain
Supplies:
Red, green and white construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Markers
Glitter

Instructions:
1. Cut strips of construction paper 8 ½” x 1” each.

2. Cut out the strips and let kids decorate them marking each one for every day leading up to Christmas Eve.

3. Kids can decorate them with colorful glitter and other holiday embellishments.

4. Glue the pieces together to make your chain and hang it on your Christmas tree for a fun decoration.

5. Each day, tear one strip off the chain, and before you can say, “Ho Ho Ho,” it will be Christmas day!