Santa Claus Craft

This Santa Claus craft really brings the big guy to life. It starts with a simple paper lunch bag and then becomes an adorable Santa that you can use as a Christmas decoration or play with, making up all kinds of amazing stories about the journeys he’s been on. There is no limit to the fun you can have with this one.

Note that if you’re planning to do this craft with a little one, lots of help will be needed. There are plenty of steps and some more advanced scissors skills required. But it can still be an enjoyable craft that you complete together. Be sure to let your kiddo be as independent as possible without the task leading to frustrations (for both of you).

Get the templates for our trio of Christmas characters and make them all this holiday season…

Fun Facts about Santa Claus

• Santa didn’t always have a round belly. His current image comes from the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore .
• His favorite reindeer, Rudolph, is more than 80 years old.
• He has many nicknames, like Saint Nick, Jolly Old St. Nick, Kris Kringle and more.
• Leaving milk and cookies for Santa is a tradition that started during the Great Depression.
• There are othere gift givers, aside from Santa Claus, around the world. Swiss and German children have Christkind. Scandinavian children have an elf named Jultomten who is said to deliver presents in a sleigh pulled by goats. And in France, children are told Père Noël fills their shoes with goodies.
• To learn more about Santa Claus and his history, check out this article by Fun Kids Live.

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Combine Reading with Crafting

The best way that I can think of to elevate any crafting experience is to combine it with reading a good book. And there are so many fun books about Santa Claus for kids. Here are a few of our favorites.

SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

• Paper lunch bag
• Newspaper
• Pompom
• Clothespin
• Red paint
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Cotton balls
• Glue stick
• Scotch tape
• Markers
• Santa Claus craft template

The master list that we use for every single craft project we make here is like a capsule wardrobe…but for crafts. Once you fill your bag with the basic, just mix and match for hundreds and hundreds crafts…so much creativity. No more running to the store ten times and then never actually getting around to crafting in the end.

Save this Santa craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

How to make a Santa Claus Craft

Step 1: Paint the Bag

• Lay out some newspaper on your crafting surface.
• Pinch a pompom with a clothespin to form your “paint brush”.
• Place your paper lunch bag on the newspaper, flap side down.
• Paint the front of your lunch bag red, leaving the top inch or so unpainted.

*If you really don’t want to get out the paint, use crayons or markers instead. It will look somewhat different but will still be just as cute.

Step 2: Use the Santa Craft Template

• While your paint is drying, download and print your Santa craft template.
• Use the template to cut out all of the parts for your Santa Claus craft.
• We cut the boots and mittens from black, the cuffs from white and the hat from red.
• For the head, use whatever tone of flesh colored paper you would like for your Santa.

Step 3: Decorate Santa’s Head

• Glue the hat onto your Santa’s head.
• Now pull some cotton balls to make them fluffy.
• Use the fluffy cotton to create Santa’s beard, bottom of his hat and tip of his hat.
• Go in with some markers to draw on his face and any other details that you would like.

Step 4: Create the Legs and Arms

• Cut 4 strips of red paper about an inch wide each.
• For 2 of the strips, fold them into an accordion. These are his legs.
• Attach a boot to each of the accordion folded strips of paper.
• Now attach your mittens and cuffs to the other 2 strips of red paper.
• Use your markers to embellish in any way that you would like.

Step 5: Trim the Top

• Now that the paint has dried, cut the top 2 inches or so off of your paper lunch bag.

Step 6: Add Santa’s Belt

• Cut a thin strip of black paper, about 1/2 wide, to form Santa’s belt.
• Glue it in place about 2 inches from the bottom of the bag and trim away any excess.
• Now cut a yellow buckle for Santa’s belt and glue it in place (as pictured).

Step 7: Build the Body for Your Santa Claus Craft

• Using your glue stick, attach the legs to the back of your paper lunch bag at the bottom.
• Then trim down the arms until they are a length that will reach around and just barely touch in the front when the bag is fully opened.
• Glue each of the arms in place so that they are sticking out at a 90 degree angle on each side of the paper bag, just above the belt. *Be carefull not to glue them onto the bag’s flap.

Step 8: Stuff It

• Open up your paper lunch bag fully.
• Tear strips of newspaper and crumple them into balls.
• Place the balls one at a time until the bag is stuffed but not over-filled.

Step 9: Attach the Head

• Gather the top of the lunch bag,twist it and put scotch tape around the top.
• Then use tape again to attach Santa’s head to the gathered up top of the bag (as pictured).

Step 10: Have Him Hold Something

• Now cut out something for Santa to hold. We chose a little gift that we also decorated with washi tape.
• Use the glue stick to place his hands on each side of the item.

Now that you know how to make this Santa Claus craft, it’s time to make him some friends. Get the entire collection of Christmas character templates to make Rudolph and an Elf too. They make great DIY Christmas decorations or play things.

Enjoy this reading of “The Night Before Christmas” together…

Save this Christmas Craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…