Origami ideas for December! Easy Christmas and winter crafts to make with kids
Make the cold season fun! When it gets chilly, why not enjoy December-perfect origami crafts with your child? There are so many seasonal motifs—Santa, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, and more! Cute creations made with colorful origami will warm both your room and your heart.
Everything is easy to make, so even little kids can join in with ease and enjoyment.
Whether at daycare, kindergarten, or at home, enjoy origami together and create wonderful winter memories.
You can also use them to decorate for Christmas!
Origami ideas for December! Easy Christmas and winter crafts to make with kids (1–10)
Snowflakes
This is a snowflake made by combining two colors of origami.
Fold each part using two colors of paper—such as white and light blue—and assemble them alternately.
Although the snowflake may look intricate, it’s actually easy to make.
During the colder season when we tend to stay indoors, enjoy folding the parts together while chatting in a warm room.
If you break it down into steps—like folding the parts into triangles or opening and refolding the paper—even small children may find it easy to make.
It can also be used as an origami coaster, so try placing a cup or glass with a drink on it.
gloves
Glove origami is perfect for feeling cozy during the cold season.
Since gloves come in pairs, you can cut one sheet of origami paper in half to make two.
We’ll fold the paper into a curved shape that wraps around the fingertips.
This part is a bit tricky, but once finished, the glove will look just like the real thing.
For small children, have an adult or older person help as they make it.
Using polka-dot or patterned origami paper is recommended.
The finished gloves can be used in many ways, such as decorating a handmade Christmas tree or wreath.
Christmas bell
Some children aren’t very good at origami, right? In that case, have them start by trying a Christmas bell.
Christmas bells are among the easier origami models, so even young children should enjoy folding them.
They also look impressive, which helps give a sense of accomplishment.
You could make two and turn them into an ornament-style design.
Once they get the hang of it, they can also fold a ribbon and combine it with the bell for even more fun.
A Santa Claus that can be folded in 5 minutes
Origami is a great recreational activity that children can easily enjoy, and it’s perfect as a childcare material too! Here’s an easy Santa Claus you can make using origami.
This Santa can stand on its own, so making a bunch and decorating a room could be lots of fun.
There are no difficult steps and it only takes about five minutes to fold—super easy, so you’ll master it in no time! Finish by drawing any face you like to make it cute.
If you fold with origami in various colors, patterns, and sizes, you can create a lively family of Santas.
star
Stars are often placed at the very top of Christmas trees, aren’t they? Because it’s said that a star’s light guided people to where Christ was, stars have become an essential motif for Christmas.
You can make a star using a single sheet of origami paper, just by folding—no scissors needed.
As you keep folding, the star shape gradually appears, which makes the process exciting.
Try using colors other than yellow, like red, green, or gold.
When you decorate your room with them, you can create a colorful and festive Christmas atmosphere.
Santa’s boots
Let’s make Santa boots out of origami—perfect as ornaments to brighten up your room for Christmas! It’s a great craft for getting ready for the holidays with kids and also ideal for at-home playtime.
The steps are few and the method is very simple.
The final step to give the boots a rounded shape might be a bit tricky for small children, so have an adult help out.
Have fun customizing them: hang them on the Christmas tree, use them as an accent on a wreath, or attach them to Christmas presents.
Flat present boxNEW!
A flat present box you can make from a single sheet of origami paper is a cute idea to stick onto a birthday card.
First, fold the paper inward twice, crease firmly, then unfold.
Rotate it, fold back the other way, and fold to the crease; flip it over and repeat the same folds.
To create the ribbon in the center, fold triangles as if forming a bow, then open and squash-fold to give the ribbon a three-dimensional shape.
Finally, secure with glue and adjust the shape to finish.
Making crisp creases results in a neat finish, and simply changing the color or pattern can dramatically change the look.
gingerbread man
Gingerbread men are known for biscuits and cookies shaped like human silhouettes.
Let’s make origami themed around this character that’s popular at seasonal events.
Use three of the four pieces from a sheet of origami paper cut into quarters to create the body, arms, and legs.
Finally, attach the round face piece to complete the origami figure.
By getting creative with the gingerbread man’s face and decorations, you can enjoy a variety of arrangements.
Try placing it next to actual baked cookies or using it as an ornament—make this cute item for the Christmas season!
A Christmas tree that folds in six steps
This is an origami Christmas tree that looks super cute yet is easy to make.
You only need six folds, so it’s perfect for making at home with your children or for teachers to create with kids in kindergarten or preschool.
Use a regular-sized sheet of origami paper for the tree and a quarter-sized sheet for the base.
Green paper is a classic choice, but patterned paper like gingham also gives a stylish finish! For the final touch, enjoy decorating together with the kids using round stickers and other craft embellishments.
poinsettia
The red flower often used as a Christmas decoration, the poinsettia—let’s make it with origami to add a festive touch! Prepare three small red origami sheets and three small green ones.
Use each sheet to create petal and leaf parts.
Combine the finished parts and tape them together to form the flower shape and the large leaves, and you’ll have a completed poinsettia.
For an added touch, we recommend placing a small yellow round sticker in the center.
If you display lots of poinsettias together and mix them with other crafts, your room will look even more vibrant.
