Christmas is full of magic and packed with plenty of inspiration for craft-loving kids. Instead of searching for presents for friends and family this year, why not encourage little ones to create gifts instead? We’ve found 10 DIY Christmas gift ideas they’ll love to make and give to siblings, parents, best friends and more.

A Personalised Scribble Mug for a Relative

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make for relatives: customised scribble mug

This easy activity is loads of fun for kids both big and small. Children can create a shape using washi tape (try a Christmas tree!) – it just needs to peel off easily. Then, they stick the shape onto any plain white mug and let their artistic skills run wild with markers. Once they peel off the shape, they’ll be left with a nice space in their design to write a message for the recipient. Now it is time to bake the mug (with help from an adult). Place the decorated mug in a cold oven, turn on to 180 degrees and leave in for around 30 minutes, which sets the marker ink like a glaze. The final touch? Filling the adorned mug with sweet treats and wrapping it in clear cellophane.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas: craft supplies kids need to make a present for mum and dad

A Set of Christmas Cards for Those Far Away

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids: cool homemade art and craft cards

Card-making is a classic Christmas craft activity that’s perfect for all ages and skill sets. As simple as folding over a piece of thick paper, kids can adorn their card with anything from fringed paper Christmas trees to presents that pop open with a surprise message! Encourage bigger children to think outside the box, making crafty cards like a bonbon that “cracks” open.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas: art supplies kids need to craft cute cards for friends and family

SEE ALSO: Inspiring DIY Christmas Cards and Wrapping Paper Ideas

A Gingerbread House Money Box for a Sibling

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make: decorate a homemade money box

With a bit of glue and a lot of imagination, the Little Learner Papier Mache Flower Pot turned upside down becomes a gingerbread-style money box. Make a slot in the base for coins by pressing scissors down gently to create a hole, then slide scissors back and forth to make a wide slot (this may need adult supervision). Use an orange marker or paint to cover the entire outer surface of the pot, then let dry if required. Turn the pot over, then use a generous amount of glue to stick the rim to a paper plate. Onto the decorating – with gingerbread houses, the sky’s the limit! You can draw directly onto the pot with liquid chalk markers or cut out candy cane or window shapes from paper to glue on. And even the surrounds can be embellished: shredded paper makes great looking snow and is a fantastic way to work on scissor skills and dexterity. Once the money box is full, the giftee can cut a hole in the paper plate to release their treasure.       

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to craft: what you need to make a homemade money box

Festive Bag Charms for a Bestie

Easy DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make for friends: a cool bag charm

These glittering designs will charm any BFF. Made out of sparkly pipe cleaners, bells and ribbon, this mess-free project helps kids refine their fine motor skills as they use their imagination to create shapes and designs. Make the bag charm sturdy by double-twisting the pipe cleaners, then it can hang off a loop on their school bag or purse.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make: craft supplies you need to make fun bag charms

A Fingerprint Photo Frame Perfect for a Grandparent

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make for grandparents: a personalised clay picture frame

If your little ones want to give their grandparents something homemade and heartfelt, a clay frame featuring their fingerprints as Christmas lights is a fun idea. Using this no-bake clay is a great educational activity, as they engineer the frame into shape. After decorating, find a favourite photo they can tape to the back – you can do high quality printouts in a range of sizes instore – and add a ribbon to make it easy to hang on a hook.          

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make: craft supplies you need to make a picture frame

A Grinch Christmas Hat for a Fun-Loving Aunty or Uncle

Easy DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to craft: a fun cardboard Grinch hat

If your children know someone who is less enthusiastic about Christmas, this hat will make a very funny gift! It’s a fun exercise in construction skills: making and cutting out a cardboard template; folding and securing it; covering the hat in felt; cutting out the face; and carefully gluing the pieces on. It may take a little while to assemble but is a brilliant way to encourage concentration and precision.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to craft: what you need to make a Grinch themed hat

Christmas Decorations for a Teacher

DIY Christmas gift ideas using air dry clay: get kids to make cute tree decorations

Air dry clay, like dough, is a brilliant sensory experience for young children. The kneading, rolling, and pinching take concentration and dexterity, and making the design will fire up their imagination (for example, a basic Santa Claus face could have a beard decorated with fingerprints). Encourage kids to write the year and a message on the back, so their teacher will remember which student gifted it to them and when.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to craft: supplies you need to make tree ornaments

SEE ALSO: The Best Christmas Gifts Under $15 for Secret Santa and More

A Beaded Ornament for a Craft-Loving Cousin

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make for friends and family: cute tree ornaments

A handmade ornament is a thoughtful gift because it’s pulled out of the decoration box year after year. Wooden balls are an easy base to make a snowman or wreath and kids can flex their fine motor skills as they paint and then thread each ball onto a ribbon before tying knots. Fun and educational!

What You’ll Need

Make beaded ornament gifts as DIY Christmas gifts with paint, beads and ribbon

A Popsicle Stick Family for the Parents

DIY Christmas gift ideas for kids to make: a customised popsicle stick family

What better gift for Mum and Dad than a mini version of their own family? Using jumbo popsicle sticks, kids can create miniature people as well as clothing, hair and faces, using easy-to-find craft items such as felt and pom poms. Older children could add pets, a house, a car and more. The more personalised, the better!

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas: art supplies kids can use to make a paddle pop stick family

Gift the Whole Family a Snow Globe Decoration

DIY Christmas gift ideas kids can make on their own: a cute paper-snow globe

This showstopper is sure to be a surprising DIY gift that will delight the recipients. Kids can take a glass jar and fill it with shredded paper ‘snow’. Then they can make pipe cleaner trees and presents to drop into their globe. The twisting and manipulating of the pipe cleaners will take some time and great concentration. The snow globe can be pulled out year after year to adorn the house at Christmas, making crafty memories that last.

What You’ll Need

DIY Christmas gift ideas kids can make: supplies you need for a water-free snow globe