Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament: A Jolly Christmas Craft for Kids
Few crafts capture the magic of Christmas quite like making your own Santa. Kids instantly light up when they get to paint something bright red, add a fluffy beard, and finish it off with googly eyes and a pom-pom nose. The Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament is one of those simple but delightful crafts that kids love and parents treasure. It’s easy to make, inexpensive, and perfect for classroom projects or cozy afternoons at home. Best of all, when it’s done, you’ll have a cheerful little Santa to hang on the Christmas tree—a handmade keepsake full of personality.
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This project has all the best parts of a great holiday craft: painting, cutting, gluing, and a little bit of texture with cotton and yarn. It’s tactile, creative, and full of opportunities for kids to make it their own. Whether you’re crafting with a classroom full of students or setting up a family crafting night, this Santa ornament is sure to bring smiles all around.
What you’ll need to make the santa popsicle stick ornament
To make a Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament, you’ll need a handful of simple materials: popsicle sticks, red paint, a paintbrush, scissors, construction paper, glue, a marker, cotton balls, yarn, googly eyes, and a small pom-pom for Santa’s nose. You’ll also want to use the provided templates for the hat and belt, which make assembling the final details much easier. These are all common supplies that most classrooms and homes already have on hand, making this an easy, low-prep project to pull together.
How to make this christmas ornament
Start by painting three popsicle sticks a bright Santa red. Once they’re fully dry, glue them side by side to form a rectangle—this will be Santa’s body. Next, cut two more popsicle sticks in half and glue them together into a smaller square shape. This will form Santa’s beard area.
Once the square is assembled, glue cotton balls around the edges to make a fluffy, white beard. When it’s ready, attach the square to the top of the red popsicle stick body.
Now it’s time to bring Santa to life. Using the templates, trace and cut out the hat and belt from construction paper. The hat should be red, of course, with a white brim and pom-pom tip. The belt can be black with a yellow buckle, or you can get creative and add a little glitter to make it sparkle. Glue the hat to the top of Santa’s head and the belt across the middle of his red popsicle stick suit.
Next, glue on the googly eyes just above the beard. Use a small red pom-pom or a piece of yarn rolled into a ball for Santa’s nose, and glue it in place. You can also use a marker to draw a small smile or rosy cheeks. If you’d like to add a bit more personality, give your Santa some eyebrows or even tiny paper glasses. This is the part of the craft where kids’ creativity really shines—no two Santas ever look the same!
Finally, cut a piece of yarn or ribbon and glue it to the back of the ornament so it can hang from a Christmas tree. Once everything is dry, your Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament is ready to be displayed. It’s sturdy, colorful, and full of handmade charm.
Why parents and teachers love this santa popsicle stick ornament
What makes this craft so special is that it’s both fun and skill-building. Painting and gluing help children strengthen fine motor coordination, while cutting and tracing encourage precision and focus. Following step-by-step directions reinforces sequencing skills, and decorating allows for creativity and self-expression. For younger children, this craft is an opportunity to practice color recognition and shape awareness. For older students, it’s a chance to add details and personalization that make their Santa stand out.
In the classroom, this ornament is a holiday favorite. Teachers can prepare materials ahead of time—painting the popsicle sticks or pre-cutting the hats and belts—so that students can focus on decorating and assembly. The finished Santas make adorable bulletin board displays or can be hung on a classroom tree. They also make wonderful take-home gifts that families will cherish for years. There’s something heartwarming about seeing a child’s handmade Santa proudly hanging from the tree each December.
At home, the Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament is a wonderful craft to do with kids on a weekend afternoon or as part of a family craft night. It pairs perfectly with Christmas music or a classic holiday movie in the background. Kids can make one for the family tree and extras to give as gifts to grandparents, teachers, or neighbors. Handmade ornaments are always meaningful, and these cheerful little Santas are sure to bring smiles to anyone who receives them.
From a practical standpoint, the Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament is affordable and easy to organize. The materials are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to clean up. The templates save time and ensure that all of the pieces fit together nicely. The project can be completed in a single sitting, making it ideal for classroom art centers, homeschool groups, or quick family crafts during the busy holiday season.
Pair it with a christmas book
Pairing the craft with a Christmas read-aloud makes it even more memorable. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore is a timeless favorite that sets the perfect mood. How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan adds a fun, modern twist that kids love. For something cozy and heartwarming, Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson is a great choice, reminding children about the joy of giving and togetherness. Reading one of these stories before or after crafting helps connect the activity to the spirit of the holiday season.
Extend the Learning
This project also lends itself easily to learning extensions. For writing, children can create a short story or letter to Santa and attach it to their ornament. For math, they can count how many cotton balls or popsicle sticks they used. For art, they can experiment with different colors, patterns, or materials to give Santa a new look—perhaps a blue hat for a “winter Santa” or a sparkly belt made from foil. These small activities make the project even more engaging while reinforcing important learning concepts.
Bring some joy to the holiday season
The Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament isn’t just a fun holiday activity—it’s a memory in the making. Children love seeing their Santas come to life, and parents love displaying them year after year. Over time, these ornaments become treasured reminders of childhood Christmases and the magic of the season.
Christmas is about joy, creativity, and connection, and this craft captures all three. It’s simple, festive, and meaningful, giving children a way to express themselves while creating something they’ll be proud to share. Whether it’s hanging from a classroom tree, gifted to a loved one, or displayed at home, this Santa brings a little extra holiday cheer wherever he goes.
If you’re looking for a Christmas craft that’s easy, affordable, and full of personality, the Santa Popsicle Stick Ornament is a perfect choice. It’s the kind of project that brings out the best parts of the season—imagination, laughter, and the simple joy of making something together.
Get your free santa popsicle stick ornament template below:
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