Celebrate a silly summer holiday with your family by doing a few Christmas in July crafts. These easy kids’ activities use everyday items.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associates participant we earn from qualifying purchases.
It’s summertime and hot outside. You might be wishing the weather was a bit cooler, but you’re probably not thinking about Christmas.
But why not? If you want to throw a Christmas in July celebration, it’s the perfect silly summer activity!
Turn on some festive music, decorate the house, and make a few of these simple Christmas in July crafts with your family.
Become a Happy Camper!
Subscribe to Backyard Summer Camp emails & get a free sample lesson plan.
Paper bag luminaries
Christmas decorations don’t have to cost much at all. Lil Tigers made paper bag luminaries that look like snowmen. Use electric tea lights to make them safer and cool for summer.
Pipe cleaner Christmas trees
If you have some green chenille stems in your craft stash, you can make these pipe cleaner Christmas trees. Two Kids and A Coupon has the most adorable craft tutorial. These would be a cute addition to a holiday village display or as a centerpiece on your dinner table.
Reindeer ornaments
Little kids love jingle bells and the soft tinkling sound they make. Visit Fluxing Well to see how to turn them into reindeer ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree. You could make 8 with brown noses and one with a red nose to guide them.
Fingerprint ornaments
You’re going to want to make a bunch of these cute fingerprint ornaments from Mommy Snippets. We love crafts that can become keepsakes. It would be fun to make a bunch and add kids’ names, then send to grandparents.
Milk carton holiday house
Recycle empty paper milk and juice containers to make a milk carton holiday house. Boulder Locavore makes the cutest little village of houses. And they would look great with a few of the pipe cleaner trees above.
Water bottle bowling
Water bottle bowling is a DIY craft project that becomes a game. Follow the tutorial from Sustain My Craft Habit to upcycle empty plastic water bottles into bowling pins that look like Santa Claus, an elf, and a snowman.
Mini Buddy the Elf
“Elf” is one of our favorite Christmas movies and these mini Buddy the Elf characters from Simple Everyday Mom are adorable. Grab their template and turn your kids into elves. If you added a popsicle stick to the back, they could be puppets!
Felt Christmas trees
Crafts by Amanda shares how to make felt Christmas trees that are made from wine corks. We love the fake snow addition! The finished trees stand on their own for display or could be hung up as ornaments.
Chocolate candy sleigh
Turn a few pieces of candy into a chocolate candy sleigh, via Get Your Holiday On. You might be able to find Christmas candy online in July; if you can’t, swap the Santa for a non-candy driver, like a LEGO minifigure.
Origami water balloons
Once your kids learn the paper folding technique, they’ll want to make a bunch of these origami water balloons at Origami Expressions. They can be filled with water if you use sturdy paper, or strung together as ornaments or garland.
Salt dough ornaments
Making salt dough ornaments is a perfect craft for a group of kids. It’s fun for all ages and easy for beginners. Get the recipe and all the tips from Mod Podge Rocks; then set up a place for kids to bake and paint their ornaments.
DIY snow globes
Turn a clear glass or plastic jar into a DIY snow globe with dollar store supplies and this idea from Swanky Den. If you don’t have any Christmas figures, use your kids’ old action figures or other small toys.
Paper plate snowman
Build a snowman in July that won’t melt with this easy idea from Frugal Mom Eh. All you need to make this paper plate snowman is a paper plate and craft paper.
Popsicle stick reindeer
While your kids are enjoying a box of popsicles, be sure to rinse and save the sticks. They can be used to make popsicle stick reindeer from Honey and Lime. The rest of the supplies needed are probably things you have in your craft supply stash.
Christmas tree printmaking
This hands-on art activity is perfect for toddlers and kids who love sensory activities. Visit The Salty Mamas to learn how to do Christmas tree printmaking using bubblewrap for a unique pattern.
Pop-up card
Pop-up cards are one of those crafts that seems tricky but is so easy. Make a cute snowman pop-up card with instructions from Easy Crafts for Kids. Send a Christmas in July card to your family for a fun surprise.
Christmas tree slime
Squishing slime between your fingers is so satisfying and makes a great sensory activity for little ones. Learn how to make this Christmas tree slime that smells like a real tree from The Soccer Mom Blog.
LEGO Christmas tree
LEGO is a great activity for quiet downtime. This LEGO Christmas tree from Hunny I’m Home DIY is easy! It uses basic bricks in primary colors that you probably already have in your kids’ LEGO sets.
Cut and paste reindeer
Download this cut and paste reindeer from Craftidly for an easy kids’ activity. Use this as a busy activity for preschoolers to practice fine motor skills or have older kids make several to embellish another craft project.
Yarn-wrapped Yule goat
The Yule goat is a Scandinavian holiday tradition. Get a template from One Mama’s Daily Drama to make a cute and colorful yarn-wrapped Yule goat using scrap yarn pieces.
Christmas in July is meant to be silly and fun. It’s also a great way to get a jump start on the upcoming holiday season. Hang onto your kids’ finished crafts to decorate in December or gif them to friends and family members.
Play, craft, and learn all summer long
Plan your summer with the DIY Summer Camp Planner! Our step-by-step guide will help you organize a day, a week, or a whole summer of fun activities for your kids.
