Cotton Pad Christmas Crafts: 9 Ideas to Hold, Hang or Send
Choose cotton pad Christmas crafts by what your child wants to hold, hang or send: puppets for play, ornaments for the tree, or cards and pictures to share. The snowman card is the easiest starting point, with glued pads and dotted pen details. For a project to play with afterward, follow the cotton pad snowman puppet step by step, then try the penguin or Santa. These Christmas crafts for kids with cotton pads use flat rounds.
To hold: stick puppets
How to make a cotton pad snowman puppet
Cotton pad snowman puppet. Build this cotton pad snowman with 3 round pads, 1 jumbo craft stick, white school glue, felt, scissors and mini pom-poms. Leave the bottom of the stick uncovered for a handle, and let the glued pads dry before adding the face and clothes. The felt hat and scarf give the flat white circles a clear snowman shape; follow the five steps below. Glued To My Crafts
- Glue 3 cotton pads in a row onto 1 jumbo stick, leaving a handle exposed.
- Let the glued pads dry completely.
- Cut a hat, scarf, square eyes and triangular nose from felt.
- Glue the felt details onto the snowman.
- Glue mini pom-poms along the body as buttons.
Penguin stick puppet. Start with 1 black paper plate, 1 large cotton round, cardstock, school glue, scissors and 2 wiggle eyes. Cut a wedge from the plate, then add the white cotton belly, paper beak and eyes. Glue a craft stick behind the plate as a handle. This winter character can join the snowman in a puppet show, with the plate framing its white middle. Glued To My Crafts
Santa finger puppet. Cut an egg-carton cone, paint it, let it dry and trim a cotton pad into a crescent beard. Glue on a paper face, 2 optional googly eyes, a bead nose, a white felt hatband and a pom-pom. Slip the finished cone over a finger for play. The source presents this project for preschool through early elementary and recommends precutting carton pieces for younger children. Ocean Child Crafts
To hang: ornaments
Stitched snowman ornament. Set out 2 cotton pads, 2 pom-poms, felt, stickers, sewing thread, a needle and hanging yarn. Cut a felt triangle hat and 3 thin strips as long as a pad's diameter. Stitch the pads and hat together, sew the strips into a star on the body, and add the pom-pom nose and sticker eyes. Thread a separate yarn hanger through the finished snowman. Eva Monleon, Handmade Charlotte
Cotton pad angel. Use a white bead at least about 1/2 inch (12 mm) wide, string, glue, scissors and cotton rounds. Thread the bead onto the string, then fold 1 glued round around the string for the dress below. Cut another round in half and glue a half behind the dress for wings. The hanging string runs through the head and body of this ornament. Easy Peasy and Fun
Layered cotton pad tree. Cut a wedge from each of 3 cotton pads, then wrap and glue them as downward-facing cones around a cotton swab. Stack the cones up the stem, leaving the lower edges visible. Add a knotted string loop and a gem or sequin at the top. The source lists 10 minutes and recommends larger pads for primary-age children; use craft glue from its list. Now thats Peachy
Watch DIY Christmas IDEAS make a Christmas angel doll from cotton pads in this video tutorial. It offers another way to turn the same flat material into a hanging decoration, alongside the smaller angel and layered tree described above.
To send or pin up: cards and pictures
Snowman thank-you card. Glue 2 cotton pads onto white card with PVA glue, then use black and orange felt-tip pens to dot on the snowman's features. Add silver sequins around the figure as snowflakes. The soft circles make the snowman stand out against the card while leaving space for a message. Cathy James shares a version made by her 3-year-old, with dots forming the facial details. Cathy James, NurtureStore
Painted cotton pad wreath. Cut a cardboard ring and cover it with overlapping flat cotton pads, using glue. Mix food coloring with water and use a dropper to color the cotton, let it dry completely, add a ribbon bow or loop, and wait 24 hours before hanging it. The ring sets the finished size, and the pads follow its outline. Gina, A Play Filled Life
Cotton pad snowflake picture. Arrange 6 cotton swabs into a six-point star on blue paper and glue a cotton pad over the center. For a more detailed flake, swabs cut in half and again into quarters fill the gaps; a grown-up does the cutting. Paper provides the backing, so the finished snowflake stays a flat picture to pin up. Its center covers the point where rays meet. A Crafty Life
More cotton pad decorations
Browse these cotton pad angels, snowmen, trees and snowflake decorations for more shapes, colors and ways to arrange the finished pieces.
Continue your Christmas crafting with paper Christmas stars for the tree and DIY lace Christmas decorations to bring another soft texture into your holiday display.
