The holiday season is a perfect time to get creative, and art is a great way to bring everyone together.

I’ve always loved how art can add something extra special to the holidays, whether it’s making homemade decorations and gifts or just having fun with family and friends.

You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it—simple art lessons can be fun for both kids and adults.  

In this blog, I’ll share easy and enjoyable art projects that anyone can try.

From painting to drawing, these lessons are perfect for creating festive decorations, personalized gifts, or just spending quality time together.

The best part is that you don’t need fancy supplies to get started—use what you have at home.  

So, let’s make this holiday season extra special with some creative fun. 

The Benefits of Art During the Holidays

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, with the pressure to shop, decorate, and prepare for gatherings.

However, art offers a wonderful way to slow down and relax.

Creating art during the holidays can help reduce stress, calm the mind, and give you a break from the chaos.

Engaging in creative activities also encourages mindfulness. 

It could be painting, drawing, or crafting; focusing on making something can help clear your mind and make you more present.

It’s a simple way to unwind and enjoy the process of creation instead of worrying about the outcome.

Additionally, art brings people together. It’s a great way to bond with family and friends, whether working on a joint project or simply sharing ideas.

It fosters a sense of community and can create lasting memories that everyone will cherish.

Fun Holiday Art Lessons for All Ages

The holiday season is a perfect time to get creative, and these simple art projects are sure to bring joy to both kids and adults.

Each project is designed to spark creativity and provide lasting memories, from making personalized holiday cards to crafting your own ornaments. 

1. Holiday Card Making

One of the most thoughtful things you can do during the holidays is make a card by hand. It’s a special way to show someone you care.

And making cards can be a lot of fun!

Supplies Needed:

• Blank cards or heavy paper
• Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
• Stickers, glitter, or other decorations
• Stamps or stencils (optional)

How to Make It:

1. Start with a blank card or a piece of folded heavy paper.
2. Use markers, colored pencils, or crayons to draw simple holiday-themed pictures like Christmas trees, snowflakes, or presents.
3. Decorate your drawings with glitter, stickers, or other fun materials.
4. Write a personal message inside the card.

This is a simple project that anyone can do, and it’s perfect for spreading holiday cheer to friends and family. You can also make multiple cards for school, work, or gifting.

2. DIY Holiday Ornaments

Creating your own ornaments is a fun way to personalize your holiday decorations. Whether you’re making them for your tree or as gifts, these ornaments will add a special touch to your holiday season.

Supplies Needed:

• Clear plastic or glass ornaments (or DIY salt dough)
• Paint, glitter, or markers
• Ribbon or string for hanging
• Glue

How to Make It:

1. If using clear ornaments, carefully remove the top and fill the inside with glitter or paint. Swirl it around until the inside is coated.
2. For salt dough ornaments, make a simple dough by mixing flour, salt, and water. Roll out the dough, use cookie cutters to create shapes, and bake them until hard.
3. Decorate the ornaments with paint, glitter, or even small drawings.
4. Once dry, add ribbon or string to hang the ornaments.

These handmade ornaments will make your tree look unique and will bring a personal touch to your holiday décor. Plus, they make great gifts for family members.

3. Festive Handprint Art

For a fun and personal art project, try making handprint art. This is a great activity for kids and adults alike, and it makes a memorable keepsake.

Supplies Needed:

• Paint (preferably washable)
• Large paper or canvas
• Markers or pens

How to Make It:

1. Choose a piece of paper or canvas as your background.
2. Dip your hand in paint and make a handprint on the paper.
3. Once the paint is dry, turn it into a holiday design! For example, you can turn the handprint into a reindeer by adding antlers and a red nose or a Christmas tree by decorating the handprint-like branches.
4. Write a holiday message or the year at the bottom for a personal touch.

This project is fun for all ages and makes a great decoration for the home. It’s also a fantastic gift for grandparents or other family members who will appreciate the personal touch.

4. Snowflake Art

Snowflakes are one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season. Making paper snowflakes is a simple yet creative way to decorate your home.

Supplies Needed:

• Paper (white or colored)
• Scissors
• Markers or glitter (optional)

How to Make It:

1. Start with a square piece of paper and fold it diagonally to form a triangle.
2. Fold the triangle into smaller sections, then cut out small shapes along the edges to create your snowflake pattern.
3. Once unfolded, you’ll have a beautiful snowflake design. You can decorate it with markers, glitter, or even paint.

These snowflakes can be hung in windows or on the walls to create a winter wonderland effect.

Making snowflakes is a fun and simple art lesson for kids, but adults can join in and create more intricate designs, too.

5. Gingerbread House Crafting

While gingerbread houses are often made with edible ingredients, crafting a gingerbread house out of paper or cardboard can be just as fun—and it lasts longer!

Supplies Needed:

• Brown construction paper or cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Markers, stickers, or cotton balls for decoration

How to Make It:

1. Start by cutting out the basic shapes of a gingerbread house from brown construction paper or cardboard—walls, roof, and base.
2. Glue or tape the pieces together to form the house.
3. Decorate the house using cotton balls for snow, markers to draw candy windows, and stickers to add fun details.

This project can be a fun way to celebrate the holiday season without all the mess of real gingerbread. Plus, it’s a great craft for kids to make and give as gifts.

6. Holiday Tree Collage

This project is perfect for using up leftover scrap paper and bits of fabric. You can create a beautiful holiday tree collage with materials you already have around the house.

Supplies Needed:

• Construction paper (green for the tree, other colors for decorations)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Glitter, stickers, or sequins for extra decoration

How to Make It:

1. Start by cutting a triangle shape from green construction paper to form the tree.
2. Cut small shapes from different colors of paper to make ornaments, garlands, and a tree topper.
3. Glue everything onto the tree shape to create your collage.
4. Add glitter or sequins for extra sparkle and shine.

This collage can be hung on a wall or used as a holiday card. It’s a simple yet creative way to make a festive decoration.

7. Paper Plate Santa

This fun and easy project uses paper plates to create a jolly Santa Claus face. It’s perfect for young children and makes for a great craft to hang up in your home.

Supplies Needed:

• Paper plates
• Red construction paper
• Cotton balls
• Markers or crayons

How to Make It:

1. Take a paper plate and color the outer edge red for Santa’s hat.
2. Use cotton balls to create a fluffy beard and the pom-pom for the hat’s tip.
3. Draw a face for Santa using markers or crayons.
4. Add more cotton balls around the beard for extra fluffiness.

This project is easy and fun and makes a cute holiday decoration. Kids will love the chance to create their own Santa Claus!

8. Holiday Wreath Making

Making a holiday wreath is a fun and festive way to add some cheer to your door or wall. This project can be done with simple supplies and offers endless ways to get creative.

Supplies Needed:

• Paper or cardboard (for the wreath base)
• Green construction paper or fake leaves
• Red ribbons or buttons for decoration
• Glue

How to Make It:

1. Cut a circle out of paper or cardboard to form the wreath base.
2. Cut strips or shapes from green construction paper to make leaves and glue them around the wreath base.
3. Decorate with red buttons, ribbons, or other holiday embellishments.

This wreath is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit, and it makes a great decoration for your home.

9. Holiday Photo Frame Craft

A homemade holiday photo frame can be a lovely gift or a way to display family memories from the holiday season.

Supplies Needed:

• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Markers, glitter, and stickers
• A photo to display

How to Make It:

1. Glue four popsicle sticks together to form a square or rectangle frame.
2. Decorate the frame with markers, glitter, and holiday stickers.
3. Add a photo from the holiday season and display it proudly.

These frames make great gifts for family members and are a simple, enjoyable craft for kids and adults alike.

10. Holiday Mask Making

Making holiday masks is a fun and imaginative way to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you want to make reindeer, Santa, or snowman masks, it’s an easy craft for all ages.

Supplies Needed:

• Construction paper or felt
• Glue
• Scissors
• String or elastic to wear the mask

How to Make It:

1. Cut out the shape of the mask from construction paper or felt.
2. Decorate the mask with paint, markers, or fabric to create a holiday design.
3. Attach string or elastic to the sides so you can wear the mask.

Mask-making is a great way to get creative and enjoy some fun, festive play.

Creative Gift Ideas: Handmade Art for Loved Ones

Handmade Holiday Cards

Instead of buying generic cards, create your own with unique artwork.

Use simple materials like colored paper, markers, or watercolor paints to draw holiday scenes, messages, or abstract designs.

You can also add personal touches, like glitter or small embellishments, to make each card one-of-a-kind.

A handmade card shows effort and adds a special, heartfelt touch to your holiday greetings.

Personalized Ornaments

Ornaments are a timeless gift idea, and making your own adds a personal flair.

You can create ornaments from salt dough, felt, or even clear plastic ones that you decorate with paint, glitter, or beads.

Try designing ornaments that represent something meaningful to the recipient, such as their favorite colors, hobbies, or memories you’ve shared together.

It’s a thoughtful gift they can hang on their tree year after year.

Handprint or Footprint Art

A handprint or footprint art project is a heartwarming way to create lasting memories.

For example, turn a handprint into a Christmas tree or use footprints to create festive reindeer shapes.

This is a great gift for grandparents or close family members, as it captures the size and memory of a child’s hands or feet during the holidays.

You can frame it or turn it into a holiday decoration they can cherish.

DIY Picture Frames

Craft a personalized picture frame to hold a special photo.

Use simple materials like popsicle sticks and cardboard, or even repurpose an old frame. Decorate it with festive touches like ribbons, glitter, or seasonal stickers.

You can also add small holiday-themed items like pinecones or fake snow for extra charm.

Fill the frame with a meaningful photo, and you have a unique, personal gift that will be treasured.

Customized Art Pieces

Create a special artwork for your loved one, whether it’s a simple drawing, painting, or even a printed quote in beautiful calligraphy.

Personalize it with their favorite colors, meaningful symbols, or something related to a memory you share.

This gift can be framed and displayed in their home, constantly reminding them of your thoughtfulness and creativity.

Conclusion

Holiday art lessons are a fun and creative way to unite people during the holiday season.

These simple projects can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, and they provide a wonderful opportunity to bond, relax, and express your creativity.

Each art project adds a special touch to the holidays, from making personalized cards to crafting unique ornaments.

Handmade art gifts are also a meaningful way to show your loved ones how much you care.

Personalizing cards, ornaments, or picture frames can turn simple ideas into treasured keepsakes.

These gifts carry a personal touch that store-bought items often can’t match.

With just a few basic supplies and a bit of time, you can create beautiful art that brings holiday cheer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need expensive supplies for these art projects?

Not at all! Most of the supplies you need for these holiday art projects are inexpensive and easy to find. You can use basic materials like paper, markers, glue, scissors, or even things you already have at home, like old jars or fabric.

How long do these projects take to complete?

The time varies by project. Simple crafts like making cards or paper snowflakes can be done in under an hour, while more detailed projects may take longer but can be done in stages.

Can I make holiday art lessons a tradition?

Definitely! You can turn these art lessons into a yearly tradition, creating new crafts, cards, and ornaments every holiday season. It’s a fun way to celebrate together each year.

What are some simple gift ideas for last-minute handmade art?

Quick and easy gifts include handmade holiday cards, personalized ornaments, or simple handprint art. These projects can be completed in no time and make thoughtful, unique gifts.