Winner: Marie Claire Sustainability Awards 2023

Creative Christmas activities for festive family time at home

Keep little hands busy during the holidays with these fun and crafty activities you can do as a family!

This holiday might be a little different from all the others. There might be less travel, and gifting might be a bit more socially distanced. Face coverings might be mandatory, and family gatherings may be happening over video call rather than in person. Despite these changes, there are lots of ways to get in the spirit and connect with one another this holiday. Making festive decor and opting for sustainable holiday activities together is a wonderful way to get into the spirit and collectively make the most of the season.

We've compiled our top twelve holiday craft tutorials that you can access for free, from both Yodomo instructors and from our publisher partners. Make beeswax candles, crochet a festive robin, make a crab apple wreath and more, and when you're done, share it to Instagram with the tag #YodomoMakes. Happy making!

1. Make your own Christmas baubles using recycled fabric scraps

Fabric Chistmas baubles stylised on branches

If you're anything like us, you have a drawer or five filled with fabric scraps just waiting to find a home with the right project. That's why we love this idea: upcycling your fabric scraps to make unique, colourful baubles that look great hanging from any tree.

2. Make A Rolled Beeswax Candle in Five Super Easy Steps

Beeswax candles of different lengths spread across the table

No holiday is complete without the soft glow of warm candles. This year, make your own stylish candles using beeswax sheets for a bit of DIY festive fun. 

3. Make a leafy copper garland

Make a leafy copper garland

Major shops have opted for less plastic and more sustainability when it comes to Christmas decor this year, and we're completely on board with this. Make your sustainable Christmas even more special with a DIY touch. This leafy copper garland looks lovely hanging from holly branches or on mantles and uses no plastics!

4. Handmade Christmas: Carve a wooden star decoration

Carve a wooden spoon

Learn woodcutting techniques and make a wooden star ornament! You can use the template provided or get creative and come up with your own designs using the methods taught.

5. Make a festive crochet robin in this free project

Crochet robin on a tree branch

If you know your way around a crochet hook, this adorable project makes a wonderfully designed crochet robin, complete with tiny crochet eggs. A symbol of wintry days with their handsome red chest, this feathery crochet friend makes the perfect adornment to any Christmas tree, with wire talons that'll grip perfectly to a branch.

6. Linocut citrus fruit

Linocut citrus fruits in a bowl

Using techniques for linocutting for prints, this project makes colourful and detailed ornaments to place on mantles or for making the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas table.

7. Make a willow wreath

A willow wreath with holly hanging from a door

Easy to personalise for every occasion throughout the year, turn this willow wreath into a Christmas favourite with sprigs of holly, branches of evergreens or some mistletoe.

8. Make clove-spiked pomanders that smell like Christmas morning

Clove spiked pomander

Cloves and oranges are a classic Christmas combo, and not just to accompany mulled wine. These pomanders smell divine and look wonderful as Christmas decor for your dinner table or mantle. 

9. Make hanging tassel decorations using recycled paper

Make hanging paper tassel decorations using old books

These tasseled hanging decorations use pages from old books for the ultimate sustainable Christmas with a unique twist.

10. Make a Holiday Paper Garland

Christmas tree paper garland

These paper garlands are easy to personalise, and kids of all ages can join in on creating some festive and fun garlands.

11. Make a gift envelope

For gifts of smaller stature and tricky shapes, this gift wrapping hack means your watches, socks, gift vouchers and other such presents will have that wow factor even before it's unwrapped.

12. Make a crab apple wreath

Make a crab apple wreath

For a wreath that you won't find in stores, make your own colourful crab apple wreath that will be the envy of all other Christmas decorations.

For more creative projects and fun gift ideas, browse our selection of courses and kits. Learn to make kombucha, create macrame hangers, design your own rope necklace and more.