15 Easy Christmas Handprint Crafts Kids Will Love to Make

The holiday season is all about making memories—and what better way to capture those special moments than with Christmas handprint crafts? These festive projects are not only fun for kids to make, but they also double as keepsakes that parents and grandparents will treasure for years to come.

In many ways, handprint crafts are the perfect kind of DIY Christmas crafts: they’re budget-friendly, simple to set up, and packed with personal meaning. From handprint reindeer and Santa beards to Christmas trees and salt dough ornaments, each project turns your child’s little hands into something magical.

Best of all, these Christmas Crafts ideas are inexpensive and age-appropriate, making them ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. Whether you’re looking for a quick afternoon activity or a holiday keepsake, these Christmas handprint crafts will keep little ones busy and joyful all season long.

Why Christmas Handprint Crafts Are Perfect for Kids

There are countless ways to get crafty during the holidays, but Christmas handprint crafts stand out as something truly special. Unlike store-bought decorations or quick activities, handprint projects capture a moment in time—literally. They transform your child’s tiny hands into festive keepsakes you’ll cherish for years.

These crafts are also wonderfully versatile. A simple handprint can become a reindeer, a Christmas tree, or even Santa’s fluffy beard. That’s what makes them such fun and memorable DIY Christmas crafts—they’re creative, meaningful, and easy enough for preschoolers and kindergarteners to enjoy.

On top of being adorable, handprint crafts for Christmas support early learning and development:

• Fine motor skills: tracing, painting, and cutting help strengthen little hands.
• Creativity and self-expression: kids choose colors, decorations, and personal touches.
• Family connection: parents and grandparents treasure these handmade keepsakes.

Whether you’re at home, in a classroom, or doing homeschool activities, handprint crafts combine festive fun with learning in a way no store-bought toy or ornament can match.

15 Adorable Christmas Handprint Crafts

One of the best parts about the holiday season is turning everyday moments into lasting memories. With these Christmas handprint crafts, your child’s little hands become the centerpiece of creative, festive projects. From reindeer and Santas to Christmas trees and wreaths, each idea is simple, inexpensive, and packed with sentimental value.

1. Handprint Reindeer

What it is: A festive reindeer made from tracing and cutting out a child’s handprint, complete with antlers, googly eyes, and a red pom-pom nose.

Materials needed:

• Brown construction paper
• Googly eyes
• Red pom-poms
• Crayons or markers
• Glue stick

Why kids love it: Preschoolers giggle when their handprint becomes Rudolph, and adding the shiny red nose always makes this craft extra fun.

2. Santa Handprint Beard

What it is: A jolly Santa face where the beard is created by printing or tracing a child’s hand, then decorating with cotton balls and a red paper hat.

Materials needed:

• White paper or cardstock
• Red construction paper
• Cotton balls
• Glue
• Crayons or markers.

Why kids love it: Kids love the fluffy cotton-ball texture and get a kick out of making Santa’s beard “grow” with each glued-on handprint.

3. Christmas Tree Handprint

What it is: Overlapping green handprints stacked in a triangle shape to resemble a Christmas tree, decorated with stickers, glitter, or pom-poms.

Materials needed:

• Green construction paper
• Scissors (adult use)
• Stickers, sequins, or glitter
• Glue stick

Why kids love it: Preschoolers enjoy layering their handprints to build the tree and decorating it with as many “ornaments” as they like. It feels like creating their own mini Christmas tree.

4. Handprint Wreath

What it is: A festive wreath made by arranging multiple green handprints in a circle and adding a bow or berries for decoration.

Materials needed:

• Green construction paper
• Red paper (for berries or bow)
• Glue stick
• Safety scissors

Why kids love it: Preschoolers enjoy seeing their handprints form something big and bold. Adding the bow and berries makes them feel like they’ve created a “real” Christmas decoration.

5. Handprint Angel

What it is: A simple angel craft where white or gold handprints form the wings, paired with a circular head and a halo on top.

Materials needed:

• White or gold construction paper
• Yellow paper (for halo)
• Glue stick
• Crayons or markers

Why kids love it: Kids feel proud making something “heavenly.” They especially love the halo and decorating the angel’s gown however they like.

6. Handprint Snowmen Family

What it is: Each finger of a handprint becomes a little snowman, complete with scarves, hats, and buttons.

Materials needed:

• White paint or ink
• Dark-colored construction paper (blue or black works best)
• Crayons or markers for details

Why kids love it: They get excited painting all five snowmen at once and adding funny details like scarves, carrot noses, and top hats to make each finger character unique.

7. Handprint Nativity Scene

What it is: A meaningful holiday craft where brown-painted handprints form the stable, and small cutouts or drawings of the Holy Family are added inside.

Materials needed:

• Brown construction paper or paint
• White or beige paper for figures
• Crayons or markers
• Glue stick

Why kids love it: Children enjoy the storytelling aspect—placing Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the stable makes the craft feel important and special.

8. Handprint Candy Cane

What it is: Alternating red and white handprints arranged in a curved shape to form a festive candy cane.

Materials needed:

• Red and white paint
• White cardstock
• Paintbrushes

Why kids love it: Kids have fun with the stamping process and love seeing how their handprints combine into the recognizable candy cane shape.

9. Handprint Elf

What it is: A cheerful elf character where a green handprint becomes the elf’s hat or body, with added details like eyes, ears, and a smile.

Materials needed:

• Green construction paper
• Crayons or markers
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Why kids love it: The silly look of the elf makes preschoolers laugh, and they love adding goofy expressions and details to make each elf unique.

10. Handprint Christmas Cards

What it is: Folded cardstock turned into holiday cards featuring handprint designs—trees, Santas, wreaths, or reindeer.

Materials needed:

• Blank cardstock or folded construction paper
• Paint, crayons, or markers
• Glitter or stickers for decoration

Why kids love it: Kids enjoy making something they can proudly give to parents, teachers, or grandparents. Each card feels like a personal holiday gift.

11. Handprint Ornaments (Salt Dough or Clay)

What it is: A lasting keepsake where kids press their handprints into salt dough or air-dry clay, then decorate with paint and glitter to hang on the tree.

Materials needed:

• Homemade salt dough or air-dry clay
• Acrylic paint
• Ribbon or string
• Glitter (optional)

Why kids love it: Children love squishing their hands into the soft dough and decorating their very own ornament. Parents treasure these keepsakes for years.
For a step-by-step guide to making salt dough ornaments, check out this helpful blog post from Yummy Toddler Food.

12. Handprint Holly & Berries

What it is: Green-painted handprints become holly leaves, with red thumbprints or pom-poms for berries.

Materials needed:

• Green paint
• Red paint or pom-poms
• White cardstock
• Glue stick

Why kids love it: Thumbprint berries are fun to stamp, and preschoolers enjoy the bright colors and seeing their holly come to life.

13. Handprint Gift Tags

What it is: Mini handprints cut from colorful paper and turned into festive gift tags for presents.

Materials needed:

• Construction paper (red, green, or white)
• Scissors (adult use)
• Markers for writing names
• Hole punch and ribbon or string

Why kids love it: Children love the idea that their handprint becomes part of a Christmas gift. It makes giving presents feel more personal and special.

14. Handprint Snowflake Art

What it is: Multiple white handprints layered in different directions to resemble the arms of a snowflake.

Materials needed:

• White paint
• Blue construction paper
• Paintbrush
• Glitter (optional)

Why kids love it: Preschoolers enjoy seeing how overlapping their handprints can create a completely new shape. Adding glitter makes the snowflake sparkle like real snow.

15. Handprint Keepsake Canvas

What it is: A painted canvas featuring one or more family handprints, decorated with the year and holiday theme.

Materials needed:

• Blank canvas
• Acrylic paints in holiday colors
• Paintbrushes
• Marker for writing name/date

Why kids love it: Kids love the “big project” feel of painting on canvas, and parents cherish the keepsake for years. It’s a holiday memory captured in art.

Tips for Parents, Teachers, and Homeschooling Families

Planning and setting up Christmas handprint crafts can be just as fun as making them—but a little preparation goes a long way. Whether you’re crafting at home with your toddler, in a preschool classroom, or as part of a homeschool lesson, these tips will help keep things stress-free and enjoyable:

• Prep in advance: Trace, cut, or gather supplies before kids sit down. With everything ready, little ones can jump right into the fun.
• Choose simple designs: Stick with easy Christmas handprint crafts that can be finished in 10–20 minutes. Quick projects hold preschoolers’ attention and reduce frustration.
• Contain the mess: Use washable paints and protect tables with trays or tablecloths. Cotton balls, glitter, and pom-poms are easier to manage when kept in small containers.
• Encourage creativity: Handprint crafts for Christmas don’t have to be “perfect.” Let kids pick their own colors, add silly Christmas-themed details, and make each project unique.
• Celebrate the keepsake factor: Parents, teachers, and grandparents will love receiving these as cards, ornaments, or framed art. Christmas Handprint crafts double as both an activity and a heartfelt gift.

By keeping projects simple, fun, and meaningful, handprint crafts for Christmas become more than just holiday activities—they turn into treasured memories that children and families will hold onto for years.

Easy Alternatives: Christmas Activity Pages Bundle

While Christmas handprint crafts are a wonderful way to capture memories, sometimes you need quick, no-prep activities that keep kids busy without the mess. That’s where our Christmas Activity Pages Printable Bundle comes in—a festive collection of worksheets and games you can download instantly and enjoy at home, in the classroom, or during homeschool lessons.

What’s Included:

• 47 Festive Mixed Christmas Activity Pages Book: includes puzzles, games, and holiday challenges for endless fun.
• 31 Christmas Cutting Practice Sheets – safe scissor practice with Christmas-themed shapes.
• 30 Magical Christmas cut and paste preschool worksheets – hands-on crafts that build fine motor skills.
• 35 Christmas Dot Markers Printables – colorful patterns perfect for little hands.
• 120+ Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids– three unique themes for hours of screen-free creativity.
• I Spy Christmas Book – playful activities that sharpen observation and counting skills.

Why Families Love It:

• Instant access: download, print, and start right away.
• Kid-approved designs: ideal for ages 2–8.
• Versatile use – perfect for classrooms, homeschool, or family time.
• Lifetime printing rights – reuse the pages year after year.

Grab your Christmas Activity Pages Bundle today and make holiday downtime fun, festive, and stress-free!

FAQs

Final Word

The holidays are about more than decorations and gifts—they’re about making memories that last. Christmas handprint crafts capture those little moments perfectly, turning tiny hands into festive keepsakes that families will treasure for years to come. From Santa beards and reindeer noses to wreaths and salt dough ornaments, each project is a simple way to spark joy, creativity, and connection during the holiday season.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a quick weekend activity, a teacher planning classroom projects, or a homeschooling family building festive lessons, these DIY Christmas crafts are easy, affordable, and full of holiday magic.