As the holiday season arrives, it can bring up a mixture of emotions, both anticipation and exhaustion. Between finishing up finals and preparing for break, it can feel like you’re running out of time. One simple way to slow down is through holiday crafts. These projects are inexpensive, accessible, and give you a chance to make something with your own hands. In the midst of decorating and gift wrapping, take some time to indulge in your creative side. There is real research suggesting crafting can support mental well-being and satisfaction, giving you a much needed break.
1) Handmade Ornaments
Making ornaments from materials like salt dough or paper is a classic holiday craft. These projects require few supplies and can be completed in an hour or less. While the end result adds charm to a tree or room, the act of creating something personal can also boost your mood. Using the materials you already have at home allow you to be more intentional with your craft, with the added bonus of saving some money. Senior Vivian Montague says that she loves making these, and she still has some hanging on her tree from her childhood!
(A recipe for making salt dough can be found here!)
2) Personalized Holiday Cards
In an age dominated by texts and digital messages, a homemade card stands out. Using markers, recycled paper, and anything else you have laying around the house, you can turn a card into something memorable. Making cards lets you slow your thoughts, express something specific to the recipient, and tap into a meditative feeling. Being present and purposeful when expressing your gratitude towards the people in your life can help foster a closer relationship, helping both you and your loved ones. Quinn Pavnoz, another senior, points out that these also make great gifts!
3) Paper Snowflakes and Garlands
With just paper and scissors, you can make snowflakes, chains, or stars. This activity is simple, and that’s part of the point! The repetitive folding, cutting, and unfolding allows your mind to slow down and focus on something tangible. There’s a small satisfaction in seeing a flat sheet of paper transform into a delicate, intricate shape, from just your actions, and the process itself can be surprisingly calming. In the end, you’re left with a decoration that brightens a space, whether you bring it out just for the holidays or leave it up all year. Making paper snowflakes reminds student Lucinda Anderson of decorating her elementary school classroom, so now she finds the craft very comforting and nostalgic.
4) Mason Jar Snow Globes
Snow globes made from mason jars, water, glitter, and small figures are festive and fun. While some might think of this as a childish craft, the process of making a snow globe is fun at any age. These crafts provide a physical keepsake, and the act of creating one engages multiple senses: the shimmer of the glitter, the sight of tiny figures suspended in water, and the soft tinkle of beads if you include them. All of it comes together to make the experience immersive. There’s something quietly satisfying about shaking the globe and watching the “snow” settle, a small moment of calm that can be enjoyed again and again. Danika Buttron shared that her family loves this craft because of how easy and accessible it is, she always had all the supplies stocked at home.
5) Nature Collages
Collecting leaves and pressed flowers and arranging them into holiday-themed collages can be a very engaging craft, on multiple levels. This craft combines creativity with a reason to get outdoors. Nature collages are flexible, as they can be simple and abstract or more detailed and decorative, and they require minimal materials beyond what you can find outside. It’s important to spend time outside during the winter season, and this craft gives you the perfect excuse to do so! Mia Hart says that this is an underrated craft during the holiday season, and it encourages her to be more connected to her neighborhood.
Crafts are more than activities to fill time. Studies link creative projects, from drawing and sewing to woodworking, with increased happiness, a stronger sense of purpose, and reduced stress. Participating in holiday crafts allows students and adults alike to slow down, reflect, and focus on the present. As The Guardian notes, hands-on crafting has become a popular tool for countering digital fatigue and reclaiming intentionality in everyday life.
At their core, holiday crafts invite presence, creativity, and reflection, just what is needed in a season often defined by rush and obligation. By making something with your hands, even in small ways, you reclaim a piece of the holiday for yourself and the people around you.
