Christmas Elf Crafts for Kids: Fun Ideas to Make at School or Home

Kids love elves. These cozy elf crafts will keep them busy during the holiday season. You probably already have some of the materials lying around your house, so gather them up and have fun with this list of easy Christmas elf crafts for kids.

1. Elf Hat

A green and red-painted popsicle, with a cotton ball and jingle bell representing an elf.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Paint the popsicle stick green and let dry
  2. Cut or shape the stick into a triangle if desired, or keep rectangular
  3. Glue a cotton ball or pom-pom to the top point
  4. Attach a tiny jingle bell to the pom-pom
  5. Add red stripes or dots with marker if wanted
  6. Let everything dry before handling

These elf hats are perfect for pretend play after crafting time is over. They’re just the right size for dolls or action figures to wear too. Explore 15 other popsicle stick Christmas crafts here.

2. Elf Face Plate

A paper plate elf face.

Materials:

  • 1 paper plate
  • Green construction paper (for hat)
  • Pink or beige construction paper (for ears)
  • Googly eyes
  • Red marker or crayon (for mouth)
  • Small pom-pom or cotton ball (for hat tip)
  • Glue
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  • Cut a triangle from green paper to make the elf hat and glue it to the top of the plate.
  • Cut two large ear shapes from pink or beige paper and glue them to the sides of the plate.
  • Glue on googly eyes and draw a smiling mouth with the red marker.
  • Add a small pom-pom or cotton ball to the tip of the hat for a festive touch.

Explore more paper plate Christmas crafts for kids here.

3. Elf Painted Rock

A rock painted with an elf´s face.

Materials:

  • Oval or round rock
  • Green paint (for the hat and outfit)
  • Pink or peach paint for face
  • Red paint, white paint, black paint
  • Yellow paint (optional, for hair)
  • Small brushes
  • Black fine-tip marker
  • Clear sealer spray

Instructions:

  1. Paint the top third of the rock green for the elf’s pointed hat.
  2. Paint the middle section pink or peach for the face.
  3. Paint the bottom green for the elf’s outfit.
  4. Add a white stripe where the hat meets the face for the brim.
  5. Paint small pointed ears on either side using the same skin tone.
  6. Add a few brush strokes of yellow or brown paint under the hat for hair.
  7. Use black marker to draw dot eyes and a small smile.
  8. Dab tiny pink or red circles for rosy cheeks.
  9. Glue a small white pom-pom to the hat tip.
  10. Let dry completely, then seal with clear coating if desired.

Rock painting is an addictive, budget-friendly craft for kids and a therapeutic activity for adults. Check out this tutorial for beautiful painted rock Christmas crafts!

4. Toilet Paper Elf

A toilet paper elf.

Materials:

  • 1 toilet paper roll
  • Green construction paper
  • Flesh-toned or pink paper
  • Red construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Black marker
  • Scissors
  • Small bell (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Wrap the toilet paper roll with green paper for the elf’s attire
  2. Cut out a circle of flesh-colored paper for the face and affix near the top
  3. Draw dot eyes, rosy cheeks, and a smile with markers
  4. Cut a triangle from red paper for the elf hat
  5. Glue the hat above the face, with the point bending to one side
  6. Cut a small white circle for the hat’s pom-pom and glue to the tip
  7. Add a tiny bell to the hat tip if desired
  8. Cut small strips from flesh-toned paper for the elf’s hands
  9. Draw simple fingers on the hand strips and glue to the sides of the roll

Explore more toilet paper roll Christmas crafts for kids here.

5. Pinecone Elf

Little pinecones crafted as elves.

Materials:

  • Small to medium pinecones
  • Felt sheets in various colors
  • Wooden beads for heads
  • Fine-tip markers
  • Small bells
  • Craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Small pom-poms

Instructions:

  1. Attach wooden beads to the narrow end of pinecones for heads
  2. Cut pointed elf hat shapes from colored felt
  3. Glue hats to heads and add small bells to the tips
  4. Draw cute elf faces with markers – big smiles and rosy cheeks work well
  5. Cut small vest shapes from felt and glue to the front of the pinecone
  6. Use pipe cleaners to create arms and bend them into helpful poses
  7. Add tiny pom-poms as buttons or decorations
  8. Create an entire workshop of elves because productivity happens in groups

Explore other pinecone Christmas craft ideas here.

6. Clothespin Elf Ornament

A clothespin elf ornament.

These little guys are surprisingly sturdy and make great gifts for grandparents. Plus, kids love anything they can actually hang on the tree.

Materials:

  • Wooden clothespin
  • Red and green acrylic paint or markers
  • Small wooden bead (for the head)
  • Tan or peach paint (for the face)
  • Black fine-tip marker
  • Red felt
  • Glue gun (adult supervision) or craft glue
  • Ribbon or twine for hanging
  • Tiny pom-poms (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Paint the wooden bead with tan or peach paint for the face and let it dry.
  2. Use the black marker to draw simple dots for eyes and a small curved line for a smile.
  3. Paint the clothespin body—green for the outfit works great, or alternate red and green stripes if you’re feeling ambitious.
  4. Once dry, glue the bead onto the top of the clothespin for the head.
  5. Cut a tiny triangle from red felt for the hat and glue it on top of the bead.
  6. Add a mini pom-pom to the hat tip if you have one.
  7. Tie a loop of ribbon around the “neck” area so you can hang your elf ornament.
  8. If you want, add tiny dots of white paint down the front for buttons.

Explore 24 other Christmas tree ornaments to make with your kids.

7. Egg Carton Elf

Elves made with egg carton, a small wooden bead, googly eyes, and a pom-pom-

This is genuinely one of the most creative ways to repurpose those egg cartons, and kids are always amazed that trash can turn into something this cute.

Materials:

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Green and red paint
  • Beige or tan paint
  • Pipe cleaners (for arms)
  • Small pom-poms
  • Googly eyes
  • Markers
  • Scissors
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. These guys can stand on their own or you can string them together as a garland.
  2. Cut out individual cups from the egg carton—you’ll need one cup per elf.
  3. Paint the cup green for the elf’s body and let it dry.
  4. Paint a wooden bead or small Styrofoam ball with beige paint for the head, or simply paint the rounded top of the egg cup if you’re going for a simpler version.
  5. Glue on googly eyes and draw a smile.
  6. Cut a small cone from red paper or felt for the hat and glue it on top.
  7. Add a white pom-pom to the hat tip.
  8. Poke two small holes on either side of the egg cup and thread a pipe cleaner through for arms.
  9. Bend the pipe cleaner ends to create little hands.

Check out more egg carton Christmas crafts here.

8. Elf Gift Bag

An elf give box made with a paper bag.

Materials

  • Brown or green paper bag
  • Red and green construction paper (for hat, collar, accents)
  • Googly eyes
  • Cotton balls (for hat trim)
  • Craft buttons or paper circles
  • Glue stick or craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker

Instructions

  1. Cover the paper bag with green construction paper if it isn’t already green.
  2. Cut a beige/tan rectangle and glue it on the flap for the face.
  3. Add googly eyes, pink paper circles (or color with marker) for cheeks, and draw a smile with a black marker.
  4. Cut and glue on elf ears from beige/tan paper.
  5. Make a red triangle hat and glue cotton balls along the bottom edge.
  6. Add green zig-zag shapes for the hat trim and glue them under the cotton.
  7. Cut or glue on large buttons (or use real ones) down the front of the elf’s body.

Explore more festive and fun paper bag Christmas crafts for kids here.

9. Elf Hat Headbands

An elf headband.

Materials:

  • Green or red construction paper (two sheets per headband)
  • Scissors
  • Stapler or glue
  • Jingle bells (1–3 per headband)
  • String or ribbon (about 6 inches)
  • Tape
  • White pom-poms or cotton balls (optional)
  • Measuring tape

Instructions:

  1. Cut a strip of construction paper about 2-3 inches wide and long enough to wrap around your child’s head with a little overlap (usually 20-22 inches).
  2. Cut a large triangle from the second sheet of paper for the elf hat, about 8-10 inches tall.
  3. Thread jingle bells onto string or ribbon and tie securely.
  4. Tape or glue the bell string to the pointed tip of the triangle.
  5. Attach the triangle to the center front of the headband strip using staples or glue.
  6. Add white pom-poms or cotton balls along the base of the hat for trim if desired.
  7. Wrap the headband around your child’s head and staple or tape the ends together to fit.
  8. Let your little elf jingle around the house!

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Explore more kid-friendly Christmas craft ideas, 15 holiday projects to make together, Santa Claus crafts, and salt dough Christmas ornaments-a craft for all the family.

Your kids may also love these easy wreath crafts, reindeer crafts. Christmas tree crafts, and a collection of fun Grinch crafts they’ll love.

Don’t miss our Preschool Christmas Gifts for Parents post for more handmade holiday inspiration!

When the holiday fun is over, keep little hands busy with these cozy winter crafts for kids that are just as magical!

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