Craft Stick Santa: Easy Christmas Craft for Kids

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Make a cute craft stick Santa with a few simple supplies and turn it into a festive Christmas decoration, handmade gift, or tree ornament. This easy Santa craft is a fun Christmas activity for kids and a lovely way to spend a little creative time together during the holiday season.

You can make each Santa slightly different by changing the colors, facial expressions, and decorations. Once finished, add string to the back and hang your Santa on the Christmas tree, or display him on a shelf, mantel, or fridge.

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FAQs

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Craft

Uses simple craft supplies.
Makes a fun Christmas activity for kids.
Easy to personalize with different colors and decorations.
Use as a Christmas decoration or tree ornament.
Makes a sweet handmade gift for teachers, grandparents, friends, or family.
Can be completed in around 30 minutes, depending on drying time.

So, gather your materials, put on some festive music, and have fun creating your own jolly Saint Nick.

Supplies Needed

Craft sticks
Craft paint in pink, white, light blue, black, and red
Paintbrushes, including an angled brush and fine-tip brush
White faux fur
Miniature Santa hats
Miniature wreaths
Gold paint pen or gold Sharpie
White paint pen
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue

Optional: String or ribbon to turn your Santa into a Christmas ornament, or a small magnet to display him on the fridge.

How to Make a Craft Stick Santa

1. Build Santa’s body

Place two craft sticks side by side. These will form Santa’s legs.

Apply hot glue to three more craft sticks and place them across the top of the two sticks, leaving the bottom section of the original sticks visible (as pictured). This creates Santa’s body and head.

Allow the glue to set before moving on to the next step.

2. Add Santa’s arms

Cut approximately one-third from two craft sticks.

Turn the body over and glue the two longer pieces to either side, with the cut ends facing upwards. These will become Santa’s arms.

3. Paint Santa’s coat and face

Use a white paint pen to color the top center craft stick white, leaving a small section at the top for Santa’s face.

Paint the rest of the body red using an angled paintbrush. Leave the face area unpainted.

4. Add Santa’s face

Use a fine-tip paintbrush and black paint to add Santa’s eyes. You can paint simple half-circle eyes with small lashes, or create more detailed eyes using white, blue, and black paint.

Use pink paint to add three small circles for Santa’s nose and cheeks. Then use a white paint pen to draw on his mustache.

5. Paint the details

Use a gold paint pen or gold Sharpie to add details such as Santa’s boots and mittens.

Next, use a small paintbrush and black paint to add buttons down the white center of his coat and a belt across his waist.

6. Add Santa’s beard and eyebrows

Cut a thin strip of white faux fur and glue it above Santa’s eyes to create his eyebrows.

Cut a small triangle of faux fur and glue it beneath his mustache to make his beard.

7. Add Santa’s hat

Slide a miniature Santa hat over the top of his head and secure it with hot glue.

8. Finish with a wreath

For the finishing touch, glue a miniature wreath onto the front of Santa’s coat near his belt.

Your craft stick Santa is now ready to display. You could make these for friends, family, or even teachers as a sweet holiday gift idea!

Ways to Use Your Craft Stick Santa

There are several ways to use this finished Christmas craft:

Christmas tree ornament: Glue a loop of string or ribbon to the back.
Christmas decoration: Display Santa on a shelf, mantel, desk, or windowsill.
Fridge decoration: Glue a small magnet to the back.
Handmade gift: Give one to a teacher, grandparent, friend, or family member.
Christmas keepsake: Write the year on the back and keep it as a yearly decoration.

Tips for Making This Santa Craft

Use low-temperature hot glue where possible, but remember that an adult should always handle hot glue guns and scissors.
If children are making the craft, let them paint and decorate Santa while an adult handles the cutting and gluing.
Allow the paint to dry fully before adding the faux fur, hat, and wreath.
If you do not have miniature Santa hats, make a simple hat from red felt or red paper.
Replace the miniature wreath with a paper wreath, pom-pom, button, or another small decoration.
Make a whole Santa family by changing the colors, facial expressions, and accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this craft without miniature Santa hats?

Yes. You can make a small Santa hat from red felt, cardstock, or craft foam. Add a strip of white faux fur, cotton, or white paper around the bottom for the trim.

What can I use instead of hot glue?

You can use strong craft glue instead of hot glue, although it may take longer to dry. Adult supervision is still recommended when using scissors or other sharp tools.

Is this craft suitable for younger children?

Younger children can help paint and decorate their Santa, but an adult should handle the hot glue gun and any cutting. For very young children, use larger decorations that are easier to handle.