Rustic and Pioneer Christmas Crafts for Kids (2024)

Published: Nov 6, 2022 · Modified: Nov 14, 2023 by Sarita Harbour · This post may contain affiliate links and Amazon links

As a child, I loved reading about the pioneer days. Pioneer life, focusing on self-reliant living skills, homesteading, and family values, appealed to me.

I imagined living in a log cabin, baking bread over a wood fire, and sewing by candlelight. I especially loved reading about pioneer Christmas crafts for kids and pioneer Christmas books.

Christmas Crafts for Kids

Now, like many homeschooling families, we take a break from our regular homeschool curriculum during December.

This year, we’re doing the Christmas schooling activities through Sarah Mackenzie’s Read Aloud Revival platform. Just LOVE everything she does.

I also focus on more hands-on activities in the long, cold days of winter.

And around here, winter starts in September!

Over the past ten years, we’ve had fun making vintage Christmas ornaments, pomanders, chains, and other rustic Christmas crafts together as part of our homeschool each December.

And if you're looking for some fun and festive Christmas crafts to do with your kids, then you'll love these Rustic and Pioneer-themed Christmas Craft ideas for kids.

From brown paper chains (like Ma Ingalls made!) to fabric-and-cinnamon-stick ornaments, there's something here for everyone.

And many of these projects use items and supplies you already have at home.

Rustic and Pioneer Christmas Crafts for Kids

Enjoy some screen-free family time with these rustic and pioneer Christmas crafts for kids and adults alike.

12 Days of Christmas: Day 1: Woven Placemats

Photo Credit: www.thriveathomecentral.com

Learn how to make these fun checkerboard Christmas construction paper placemats.

Popcorn and Cranberry Strings

Photo Credit: onlypassionatecuriosity.com

Popcorn strings are synonymous with pioneer Christmases, and adding cheery red cranberries makes them even prettier.

Now over the years, I've found it can be tough on little hands to try to push a needle through the tough popcorn kernels. So be prepared to jump in and lend a hand.

Punched Tin Lids

Photo Credit: www.frugalupstate.com

If you have any old canning tin lids around, here's an easy craft for older kids to try. Punch out the design using a yarn needle and paper before tackling the tin.

We've used our oldBall mason jarlids for this craft. Especially the ones that were a bit dented. You can also use the same method to make punched tin can lanterns - so pretty!

Orange & Clove Pomander

Photo Credit: thehomesteadsurvival.com

An orange, some whole cloves, ribbon, and a ball-point pen (or large, blunt needle) to help little hands pierce tough orange skins. That's all you need to make this simple, frugal, and fragrant pioneer Christmas craft.

Brown Paper Star Chain

Photo Credit: littlehouseontheprairie.com

Save that brown paper from your Amazon packages! Trace a simple pattern, fold it over a few times, cut out the shape, and then just unfold it.

You'll have a pretty chain of stars, angels, snowflakes, gingerbread men shapes, bells, or whatever you choose.

Make sure your folds are at least three inches wide and start with simple shapes. This will help your children gain confidence in cutting along the lines.

Homespun Fabric Christmas Ornaments

Photo Credit: www.makingmanzanita.com

Strips of old fabric and a modern-day styrofoam ball make these pioneer Christmas crafts for kids a little easier than they were in the olden days!

This is one of those reallysimple Christmas activities for kids.

And by the way, if you're a time-strapped mama looking for Christmas fun in less than 30 minutes a day, visit my other site. At Thrive at HomeI'm sharing 12 Days of Simple Christmas Activities.

Cinnamon Stick Ornaments

Photo Credit: theseamanmom.com

Now, this may be the easiest DIY pioneer Christmas craft you'll see!

Just bundle three or four cinnamon sticks in fabric strips and fill a bowl for a fragrant and pretty rustic Christmas centerpiece.

It's a simple addition to your table when you're trying tohave a green Christmasas well.

Fabric Scrap Garland

Photo Credit: lifeatcloverhill.com

How easy is this? All you need is a ball of twine, a pairof scissors, and some scrap fabric in Christmassy colours to create a rustic Christmas garland.

Looking for More Fun Winter Activities?

We cover Christmas crafts and more on my 12 Days of Christmas page at our sister site, Thrive at Home. You'll find instructions for making old-fashioned paper chains, toilet paper Christmas crafts and also construction paper placemats too.

So get creative and have some fun this holiday season.

The snow has arrived here, and winter is already in full swing!

And that means it is time for planning and preparing with our favorite activities in mind: learning games & projects that help fill up those cold days before “real” homeschool lessons start up again.

Today some of my favorite fellow homeschool bloggers and I have joined together to bring you all sorts of great tips, resources, and even FREEBIES.

I hope these winter fun resources will help you and your homeschoolers enjoy celebrating winter.

You’ll find all sorts of Christmas crafts, activities, and unit studies, plus winter-themed projects & games, too. Enjoy!