Christmas crafting in the 1990s meant sitting around the kitchen table with colored construction paper, blunt scissors, glue sticks, glitter, and whatever bits and pieces could be found in the craft cupboard.
Paper chains stretched across living room ceilings, handmade angels hung from Christmas trees, and homemade Christmas cards were proudly displayed on mantelpieces. There was no pressure to create perfectly coordinated decorations. The fun was in making something yourself.
If you grew up in the '90s, you might remember making Christmas decorations at school, covering everything in glitter, and bringing your creations home to hang on the family tree.
These 25 nostalgic '90s Christmas crafts are inspired by those simple childhood activities. Most use inexpensive materials, and many can be made with things you already have at home. Making these 90s inspired Christmas crafts makes for great screen-free Christmas activities for kids too.
They're perfect for bringing back a little old-fashioned Christmas magic while making new memories with your own children.
If you're decorating your home with a nostalgic theme this year, don't miss our guide to how to recreate a '90s Christmas on a budget.
1. Colorful Christmas Paper Chains
Nothing says Christmas in the '90s quite like brightly colored paper chains hanging across the living room ceiling.
These were a staple of school Christmas craft sessions and one of the easiest decorations children could make themselves.
You'll need: Red, green, yellow, and blue construction paper, scissors, and a glue stick or tape.
How to make them:
Cut the paper into strips approximately 1 inch wide.
Form the first strip into a loop and glue the ends together.
Thread another strip through the first loop and secure it.
Continue until your chain is as long as you like.
Hang your finished chains across doorways, along shelves, or above the Christmas tree.
For a particularly nostalgic look, mix lots of bright colors rather than sticking to traditional red and green.
2. Salt Dough Christmas Tree Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments were a favorite homemade Christmas decoration long before the 1990s, and many children remember making them at school.
They're inexpensive, easy to personalize, and lovely to bring out year after year.
You'll need: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, approximately 1 cup water, cookie cutters, paint, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.
Gradually add water until a firm dough forms.
Roll the dough to approximately ¼ inch thick.
Cut out Christmas shapes using cookie cutters.
Make a small hole near the top of each decoration.
Bake at 200°F for approximately 2–3 hours, or until thoroughly dry, checking regularly.
Allow to cool completely before painting and threading with ribbon.
Stars, Christmas trees, hearts, and gingerbread people are all lovely traditional shapes.
Salt dough is not edible, and adults should supervise preparation and baking. Keep the finished ornaments away from pets, as their high salt content can be dangerous if swallowed.
3. Paper Plate Christmas Angels
Paper plate angels have that unmistakable old-fashioned school Christmas craft charm.
They're simple enough for younger children to enjoy and make sweet decorations for the Christmas tree or mantel.
You'll need: White paper plates, scissors, glue, crayons, and gold or silver paper.
How to make them:
Cut a paper plate in half and roll one half into a cone for the angel's dress.
Cut wings and a circular head from the remaining plate.
Glue the pieces together.
Draw a face and add a halo cut from gold paper.
Decorate the dress with stars, glitter, or colored paper.
You can also make smaller angels using white construction paper.
4. Cotton Ball Snowmen
Cotton ball snowmen are one of those wonderfully simple Christmas crafts that children can make without expensive supplies.
You'll need: Blue construction paper, cotton balls, glue, black paper, orange paper, and crayons.
How to make them:
Draw three circles on a sheet of blue paper.
Fill each circle with glued-on cotton balls.
Cut out a carrot nose, hat, buttons, and eyes.
Add paper arms or draw them with a marker.
Finish with white crayon snowflakes around the snowman.
These make lovely homemade Christmas pictures to display on the refrigerator.
5. Toilet Paper Roll Santas
Saving empty cardboard tubes for Christmas crafts was practically a tradition in itself.
Turn them into cheerful little Santas using scraps of paper and cotton wool.
You'll need: Empty cardboard tubes, red construction paper, cotton balls, glue, and markers.
How to make them:
Cover the cardboard tube with red paper.
Cut out a small circle for Santa's face.
Add a cotton ball beard and eyebrows.
Make a pointed red paper hat.
Draw on eyes and a nose.
Display the finished Santas on windowsills or bookshelves.
6. Glittery Pinecone Christmas Decorations
Collecting pinecones and transforming them into Christmas decorations was a wonderfully inexpensive holiday activity.
You'll need: Dry pinecones, white craft glue, glitter, ribbon, and a small paintbrush.
How to make them:
Brush a little glue onto the edges of the pinecone scales.
Sprinkle glitter over the glue.
Allow the pinecones to dry completely.
Tie a ribbon around the top to create a hanging decoration.
Silver and gold glitter create a classic Christmas look.
For less mess, use metallic paint instead of loose glitter.
7. Handmade Christmas Cards
Before digital Christmas greetings became commonplace, handmade cards were a lovely part of the holiday season.
Children often made cards at school using folded construction paper, glitter, stickers, and simple Christmas drawings.
You'll need: Cardstock, crayons, glue, festive paper, stickers, and ribbon scraps.
How to make them:
Fold a piece of cardstock in half.
Draw or cut out a Christmas tree, snowman, or Santa.
Decorate the front with glitter, stickers, or paper shapes.
Write a Christmas message inside.
Encourage children to make cards for grandparents, neighbors, teachers, or friends.
8. Paper Snowflakes for the Windows
Paper snowflakes were a classic winter classroom activity and an easy way to decorate windows for Christmas.
You'll need: White paper and scissors.
How to make them:
Fold a square of paper diagonally into a triangle.
Fold it again into a smaller triangle.
Cut small shapes along the folded edges.
Carefully unfold the paper to reveal a snowflake.
Every snowflake will look slightly different, which is part of the fun.
Tape them to windows or hang them from a length of string.
9. Foil Christmas Stars
Shiny silver and gold decorations were everywhere during the '90s, making foil stars a perfect nostalgic craft.
You'll need: Cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, scissors, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Draw and cut out large stars from cardboard.
Wrap each star in aluminum foil.
Smooth the foil around the edges.
Decorate with glitter or small paper shapes.
Attach a ribbon for hanging.
These look lovely on Christmas trees, bedroom doors, or hanging from the ceiling.
10. Homemade Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers were a familiar part of holiday celebrations in many families, especially in Britain and Ireland.
Making decorative crackers at home is a fun activity that also works beautifully for Christmas table settings.
You'll need: Cardboard tubes, wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, and small paper jokes.
How to make them:
Place a cardboard tube in the middle of a sheet of wrapping paper.
Roll the paper around the tube and secure it.
Tie ribbon at one end.
Add a paper joke or small surprise.
Tie the other end closed.
These are decorative crackers without the snapping mechanism, making them simpler for children to assemble.
11. Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees
Popsicle stick crafts were a staple of childhood crafting and are perfect for making inexpensive Christmas decorations.
You'll need: Craft sticks, green paint, glue, buttons, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Glue three craft sticks into a triangle.
Paint the triangle green.
Add a small piece of craft stick as the tree trunk.
Decorate with buttons, sequins, or small paper circles.
Attach ribbon to hang the tree.
You can also write the year on the back as a keepsake.
12. Paper Christmas Lanterns
Folded paper lanterns are a traditional craft that many children remember making at school.
They look especially festive when made with red, green, and yellow paper.
You'll need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, and string.
How to make them:
Fold a rectangular sheet of paper in half lengthwise.
Cut evenly spaced slits from the folded edge, stopping before the opposite edge.
Unfold the paper.
Roll it into a cylinder and glue the short edges together.
Add a paper handle.
Hang the lanterns along a mantel or doorway.
Use them as unlit decorations only, keeping them away from candles and other heat sources.
13. Handprint Reindeer Christmas Cards
Handprint crafts make lovely Christmas keepsakes because they capture how small children's hands once were.
You'll need: Brown construction paper, glue, googly eyes or paper eyes, red paper, and cardstock.
How to make them:
Trace your child's hand onto brown paper.
Cut out the handprint.
Turn it upside down so the fingers become antlers and part of the reindeer's outline.
Add eyes and a red nose.
Glue it onto a folded Christmas card.
Write your child's name and the year inside.
14. Paper Christmas Tree Garlands
Brightly colored paper decorations were a big part of Christmas decorating in the '90s.
Make a cheerful garland using paper Christmas trees, stars, and bells.
You'll need: Construction paper, scissors, string, glue, and crayons.
How to make them:
Cut several Christmas tree shapes from green paper.
Cut out red stars, yellow bells, or other festive shapes.
Decorate each shape with crayons or stickers.
Attach the shapes to a long piece of string.
Hang the garland across a shelf or wall.
This is a lovely alternative to store-bought Christmas bunting.
15. Egg Carton Christmas Bells
Old egg cartons can be transformed into charming little Christmas bells.
You'll need: A clean cardboard egg carton, paint, ribbon, and small jingle bells.
How to make them:
Cut individual cups from the egg carton.
Trim the edges neatly.
Paint each cup red, green, gold, or silver.
Make a small hole in the top with adult help.
Thread ribbon through the hole and attach a jingle bell inside.
Hang them on the Christmas tree or use them to decorate wrapped gifts.
Keep small bells away from children who might put them in their mouths.
16. Homemade Christmas Wrapping Paper
Decorating your own wrapping paper is a fun way to create the cheerful, colorful presents many of us remember from the '90s.
You'll need: Plain paper, washable paint, potatoes or sponges, and cookie cutters.
How to make it:
Spread a large sheet of paper across the table.
Cut simple Christmas shapes into potato halves with adult help, or use festive sponge stamps.
Dip the stamps into washable paint.
Press the designs onto the paper.
Allow the paper to dry before wrapping presents.
Try alternating red Christmas trees with green stars.
17. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments
Candy cane ornaments made from pipe cleaners and beads are simple, colorful, and wonderfully nostalgic.
You'll need: Red and white pony beads and pipe cleaners.
How to make them:
Twist one end of a pipe cleaner to stop the beads from sliding off.
Thread alternating red and white beads onto it.
Bend the pipe cleaner into a candy cane shape.
Secure the other end.
These make lovely Christmas tree decorations.
Because beads are a choking hazard, this craft is best for older children with appropriate supervision.
18. Homemade Christmas Bookmarks
Making Christmas bookmarks was a popular classroom-style activity and a lovely inexpensive gift for family members. They're also a lovely craft for children to have to bookmark the pages in their favorite Christmas books.
You'll need: Cardstock, markers, Christmas stickers, ribbon, and a hole punch.
How to make them:
Cut cardstock into long rectangles.
Decorate each bookmark with Christmas pictures.
Write a festive message or the recipient's name.
Punch a hole at the top.
Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole.
Children can make personalized bookmarks for grandparents, teachers, or friends.
19. Paper Plate Christmas Wreaths
Paper plate wreaths are an easy Christmas craft for younger children and look lovely hanging on doors.
You'll need: Paper plates, green construction paper, red paper, glue, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Cut the center from a paper plate, leaving a ring.
Tear or cut green paper into small pieces.
Glue the green pieces around the ring.
Add red paper berries and a paper bow.
Attach ribbon for hanging.
You can also use painted handprints as the greenery.
20. Homemade Christmas Tree Toppers
Making a Christmas tree topper was a special project for many children.
A simple cardboard star covered in glitter can look just as charming as an expensive store-bought decoration.
You'll need: Cardboard, gold or silver paper, glue, glitter, and a cardboard tube.
How to make it:
Cut two matching stars from cardboard.
Cover them with metallic paper.
Decorate with glitter or sequins.
Glue the stars together, leaving space at the bottom.
Attach a short cardboard tube or suitable support to fit over the tree's top branch.
You can also make a smaller version for a tabletop Christmas tree.
21. Christmas Paper Dolls
Paper dolls and cutout characters were a simple way to enjoy creative play before tablets and smartphones became everyday entertainment.
You'll need: Cardstock, crayons, scissors, and glue.
How to make them:
Draw Santa Claus, elves, snowmen, or Christmas characters.
Color the characters with crayons or markers.
Cut them out.
Make paper outfits or accessories.
Use the characters for imaginative Christmas play.
Children can create an entire Christmas scene using their finished paper characters.
22. Homemade Snow Globes
Snow globes were a popular Christmas decoration, and making a simple version is a fun holiday project.
You'll need: A clear plastic jar with a secure lid, waterproof miniature decorations, glitter, water, and waterproof adhesive suitable for the materials.
How to make them:
Have an adult secure a small waterproof decoration inside the lid.
Allow the adhesive to cure fully according to its instructions.
Fill the plastic jar with water and a small amount of glitter.
Secure the lid tightly.
Turn the jar upside down and gently shake it.
Choose a shatter-resistant plastic container and keep the finished snow globe away from young children who might open it. Adult supervision is essential.
23. Christmas Pom-Pom Decorations
Colorful yarn pom-poms make cheerful Christmas tree decorations and are a great way to use leftover yarn.
You'll need: Red, green, and white yarn, cardboard, scissors, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Cut two matching cardboard rings.
Wrap yarn around both rings until thickly covered.
Carefully cut the yarn around the outer edge.
Tie a piece of yarn tightly between the cardboard rings.
Remove the cardboard and trim the pom-pom into shape.
Make several pom-poms and hang them around the Christmas tree.
24. Homemade Christmas Gift Tags
Handmade gift tags are another simple craft that brings back the charm of an old-fashioned Christmas. If you're looking for Christmas gift inspiration check out these affordable Christmas gifts for families on a budget.
You'll need: Cardstock, scissors, markers, a hole punch, and ribbon.
How to make them:
Cut cardstock into small rectangles or traditional gift-tag shapes.
Draw Christmas trees, stars, or snowmen.
Write the recipient's name.
Punch a hole at the top.
Thread ribbon through the hole.
These look especially lovely attached to presents wrapped in colorful, traditional Christmas paper.
25. Make a Christmas Memory Decoration
One of the loveliest things about childhood Christmas crafts is discovering them again years later.
Create a special decoration that captures a memory of this Christmas.
You'll need: Cardstock, a family photograph or drawing, glue, ribbon, and markers.
How to make it:
Cut a festive shape from sturdy cardstock.
Glue a small photograph or your child's drawing onto the front.
Decorate the edges with paper stars or festive stickers.
Write the year and your child's name on the back.
Attach ribbon for hanging.
Bring the decoration out every Christmas and watch your collection of family memories grow.
How to Decorate Your Home With Homemade '90s Christmas Crafts
Once you've finished making your decorations, the next step is finding somewhere to display them.
One of the defining features of a nostalgic '90s Christmas home was the mixture of handmade decorations, family keepsakes, and store-bought ornaments.
Here are a few easy ways to display your creations:
Hang paper chains across doorways. Mix colorful chains with traditional Christmas garlands.
Decorate the Christmas tree with handmade ornaments. Combine salt dough shapes, cardboard stars, and beaded candy canes with your existing ornaments.
Display homemade cards on the mantel. Add them alongside evergreen garlands and Christmas figurines.
Create a festive window display. Hang paper snowflakes and lightweight stars where they can be seen from indoors.
Make a Christmas craft shelf. Display paper Santas, snowmen, and handmade decorations together.
For more decorating inspiration, take a look at our 25 nostalgic '90s Christmas living room ideas.
Tips for Keeping '90s Christmas Crafts Budget-Friendly
The beauty of these nostalgic Christmas crafts is that they don't require expensive supplies.
Many can be made with materials you already have at home.
Save cardboard tubes and boxes. They're useful for making Santas, bells, stars, and other decorations.
Use leftover wrapping paper. Even small scraps can be turned into Christmas cards, paper chains, and gift tags.
Reuse old craft supplies. Buttons, ribbons, yarn, and fabric scraps are perfect for homemade decorations.
Choose inexpensive basics. Construction paper, glue sticks, crayons, and washable paint can be used for dozens of activities.
Make crafting part of your Christmas traditions. Instead of buying new decorations every year, spend an afternoon making a few together.
The decorations don't need to look perfect. The homemade, slightly mismatched appearance is exactly what gives them their nostalgic charm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Christmas crafts were popular in the 1990s?
Many children made paper chains, salt dough ornaments, paper snowflakes, handmade Christmas cards, paper plate wreaths, cardboard stars, and decorations using recycled materials. These crafts were especially common in schools and family homes because they were inexpensive and easy to make.
How can I recreate '90s Christmas crafts with my kids?
Start with simple materials such as construction paper, glue, scissors, crayons, and cardboard. Choose traditional projects like colorful paper chains, handmade ornaments, paper angels, and Christmas cards. The goal is to enjoy creating decorations together rather than achieving a perfectly polished result.
What are the cheapest nostalgic Christmas crafts?
Paper chains, paper snowflakes, homemade gift tags, cardboard stars, and recycled cardboard tube decorations are among the most affordable options. Many require only paper, scissors, and glue.
Are '90s Christmas crafts suitable for toddlers?
Some simple activities, such as decorating paper Christmas trees or sticking large paper shapes onto cards, can be adapted for toddlers with close adult supervision. Avoid small beads, loose decorations, sharp tools, and other choking hazards.
How can I make Christmas feel like the 1990s again?
Combine traditional handmade Christmas crafts with colorful lights, tinsel, mismatched ornaments, nostalgic Christmas movies, and simple family traditions. For more inspiration, read our complete guide to recreating a '90s Christmas on a budget.
Bring Back the Magic of a '90s Christmas
The best Christmas crafts from the 1990s weren't expensive or complicated.
They were the paper chains hanging across the ceiling, the glitter-covered stars brought home from school, and the handmade decorations that appeared on the Christmas tree year after year.
Recreating these simple activities with your own children is a lovely way to share a little of your childhood Christmas magic and they're easy quiet time activities to enjoy also.
Choose a few favorite crafts, gather your supplies, and enjoy an afternoon making decorations that might become treasured family keepsakes.
And if you're planning a whole nostalgic Christmas theme this year, explore our guide to 30 ways to recreate a '90s Christmas on a budget.
