Christmas Papercraft Ideas

Suppose your creative fingers are itching as the nights draw in, and you can’t think of anything better than getting crafty, drinking hot chocolate, and unashamedly eating all the mince pies. In that case, this list of Christmas papercraft ideas will give you plenty of festive inspiration.

Whether you're looking for fun and simple Christmas crafts for kids, or something slightly more advanced for yourself, read on to discover the festive magic you can create with just a few sheets of paper.

1. Santa’s Enchanted Key

If your home doesn’t have a chimney and the kids are wondering how Santa will get in on Christmas Eve, this charming Santa key papercraft is the perfect solution. It’s a lovely way to combine creativity with a sprinkle of festive magic.

You will need: Card (festive colours work best), Scissors, Stickers, Glitter, Hole punch, String or ribbon

How to make it:

Find or draw a key template. There are plenty of free templates online, or you can create your own.
Trace your key shape onto the card and cut it out.
Decorate with stickers, glitter, pens, and any festive embellishments.
Punch a hole at the top and thread through your ribbon or string to create a hanging loop.
On the back, write a small poem or message explaining that this is Santa’s special key.
Hang it on your front or back door on Christmas Eve for Santa to see.

2. Reindeer Wrapping Paper

Get the children involved in making handmade Christmas wrapping paper with this fun and easy reindeer design. It adds a delightful personal touch to your gifts.

You will need: Kraft paper, Ink pad (brown works well), Mini red pom-poms, Glue, Black pen

How to make it:

Lay out the Kraft paper on a protected surface.
Press your finger onto the ink pad and then stamp it onto the paper.
Allow fingerprints to dry.
Glue a red pom-pom to the base of each fingerprint to make a reindeer nose.
Draw on eyes and antlers with a black pen.

Tip: Get the whole family involved for a festive wrapping session!

3. 3D Spiral Snowflake

These 3D paper snowflakes are perfect for hanging in windows, on walls, or from the ceiling to create a magical winter wonderland indoors.

You will need: 6 square pieces of paper (white, metallic or festive colours), Scissors, Tape, Stapler

How to make it:

Fold a square piece of paper diagonally into a triangle, then fold again to make a smaller triangle.
Trim any uneven edges to maintain a perfect triangle.
Cut three slits from the bottom fold towards the top point, leaving around 1 cm uncut at the top.
Unfold your paper and position it as a diamond.
Roll the innermost two paper strips towards each other and tape them into a tube.
Flip the diamond over and repeat with the next two strips. Continue flipping and taping until all strips are joined.
Repeat steps 1–6 with the remaining five squares.
Join the three completed sections together at one end and staple. Do the same with the other three.
Staple both sets together in the centre, and where the arms meet to form your snowflake.

4. Origami Gift Box

This origami gift box is a thoughtful and eco-friendly way to present small gifts. It’s ideal for Secret Santa, homemade treats, or keepsakes.

You will need: Two square sheets of scrapbook paper or card, Ribbon, A small gift

How to make it:

Fold the first sheet in half horizontally and vertically to create a cross.
Fold each corner into the centre.
Keeping the corners folded, fold the top and bottom edges into the middle, then unfold.
Do the same with the left and right sides.
Unfold two diagonal corners and lift the sides to form the box walls.
Fold the remaining corners inwards and tuck the flaps to secure the sides.
For the base, repeat steps 1–6 using a slightly smaller square (e.g. 11.5" if your lid is 12").
Decorate as desired and tie with ribbon.

5. Handmade Christmas Card

Design your own DIY Christmas cards with this simple and effective idea that adds a lovely personal touch.

You will need: Acrylic paint, Paintbrush, Kraft glue, Blank cardstock, Wooden embellishments (stars, trees, snowflakes, etc.)

How to make it:

Paint your wooden shapes and allow them to dry.
Arrange them on your blank card and glue them in place.
Add festive messages and finishing touches with metallic pens or stamps.
Looking for more Christmas card inspiration? Check out our article on Creating the Perfect Christmas Card.

Explore More Papercraft Ideas

If this festive collection didn’t quite hit the spot, have a look at our full selection of papercraft essentials and browse our other creative articles. Whether you’re looking to try Christmas origami, easy kids' crafts, or more advanced DIY Christmas decorations, there’s plenty more to discover.

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