It’s the most wonderful time of year! The holidays are full of whimsy and magic, which makes them so fun for kids and adults alike.

A Christmas favorite filled with magic, The Nutcracker, inspired our newest craft. We love how the nutcracker comes to life to journey through magical lands with Clara, so our nutcracker comes to life, too!

Kids will love how they’ll be able to move the arms and legs on their photo nutcracker craft that’s customized with their own picture. They’ll have fun putting together their nutcracker soldier, and our template will make it really easy. 

Continue the holiday fun with more photo crafts for kids that they will love. Be sure to check them out and save the ones you’d like to create with the kids this December!

This nutcracker craft encourages their creativity and imagination when they move them into different poses. With each pose, they can pretend he’s fighting off the Mouse King!

This photo craft documents your kid’s sweet little face as a favorite Christmas character, so it makes a wonderful keepsake as well. Grab the template to get crackin’ on making memories.

Moveable Photo Nutcracker Craft

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Supplies

• White cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue
• Brads
• Photo of your child
• Small hole punch
• Crayons or markers (if using the color in version)
• Nutcracker template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

Download the nutcracker template and print it out. If you’re using the black and white version, have the kids color in the nutcracker. Cut out the pieces.

Begin by gluing the hat to the top of the child’s photo.

Take the hole punch and punch out all four of the circles on the nutcracker’s body, the circles on the nutcracker’s arms, and the circles on the nutcracker’s legs.

Attach the arms by stacking the arm on top of the body and push the brad through to the back. Flip the nutcracker over and push both prongs of the brad down, towards the center of the body. Repeat for the other arm.

Next, attach the legs by placing the legs behind the body and pushing the brad through. Flip the nutcracker over, open the brad, and push them both down. Repeat for the other leg.

Finish up by gluing the head to the top of the nutcracker’s body.

Your kids will love displaying their photo nutcracker craft all Christmas season! Be sure to check out our other Christmas crafts this year to create even more memories!

Looking for some more fun Christmas activities to keep the kids busy? We’ve got you covered with this Christmas printables bundle! There are color by numbers, pattern block mats, do a dot printables, letters from Santa and so much more. No more hours of screen time – these activities will keep them engaged and happy!

Christmas Ideas For Kids

If you’re looking for more Christmas ideas to make this time of year special for the kids, then you’re in the right place!

We have lots of crafts and activities that are fun and educational that will keep them engaged and excited for the holiday.

Keep reading below to check out some of our favorite Christmas projects to do this holiday season.

Christmas Books For Kids

Reading Christmas books to your kids is a great way to get into the holiday spirit! It’s a fun activity that can spark their imagination and bring a bit of magic to the season. Plus, it’ll give them something to look forward to each night before bed.

What kid doesn’t love reading about elves and reindeer? Not only that, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity for them—and you—to slow down from all the hustle bustle of the holiday season and connect with one another.

Christmas books are an easy way to spend quality time with your children while getting lost in an enchanting story at the same time.

Below are some of the top Christmas books to read to your kids!

Dasher: This wonderfully illustrated Christmas book for kids gives you the back story on one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, Dasher! Girls will especially love to read this since Dasher is a girl.

Construction Site On Christmas Night: Fans of the fun characters of the construction site books have to add this Christmas-themed story to their collection. See how the trucks get ready for Christmas!

How To Catch An Elf: Kids everywhere love the silliness of this Christmas story. The rhymes and the illustrations will draw the kids in as well. This is a Christmas book kids will want to read every year!

Christmas Crafts For Kids

Crafting is an activity that kids love to do that also helps them learn.

They’re able to develop important skills such as fine motor skills, problem-solving, following directions, scissor skills, and more when they put a craft together.

It’s a great creative outlet that boosts children’s self-confidence and will even reduce stress for them. Get your kids inspired to craft today with some of our favorites below.

Paper Bag Grinch Craft – Dress the Grinch up in his Santa suit with this fun and easy puppet craft. Take some household craft supplies and transform them into a holiday favorite, Mr. Grinch! It’ll be a fun addition to play pretend with!

Angel Handprint Christmas Craft – Your little angels will love making this special craft and personalizing it with their own handprints. This craft is a great way to incorporate the nativity at home or be a perfect addition to a Sunday school lesson.

Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Man Craft – The gingerbread man decided to hide out at Disneyland as Mickey Mouse this year. He thinks this is the best disguise to keep him from being eaten this holiday season. Grab our template to see how easy it is to give your gingerbread man the same costume to keep him safe.

Handprint Reindeer Card – This will be the cutest handmade card anyone receives this Christmas. Rudolph is made from your little one’s handprints and decorated to look like he’s harnessed with bells ready for Santa’s sleigh.

Christmas Activities For Kids

There are a few quintessential plants we think of at Christmastime. This free set includes poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe coloring pages your kids will love to color in! It’s also great for them to learn the difference between holly and mistletoe!

These cute reindeer worksheets are a fun holiday-themed activity for kids to work on. Rudolph will help kids with their letter recognition, handwriting practice, scissor skills, and more! It’s a merry way to bring some fun to learning!

These gingerbread man color by number printables are a great way for kids to stay entertained and build their skills simultaneously. They’ll work on number and color recognition, plus their fine motor skills when they color in these pages to reveal the sweet gingerbread pictures.

For a fun and easy Christmas game, be sure to check out this roll a Santa game. The kids will love to play it with siblings or friends this holiday season. While they’re having fun playing the game, it’s also teaching them how to take turns, to count, and match colors. All you’ll need to get started is this free printable, a die, and pom poms!

Christmas Fun

• This personalized Christmas book for kids is so cute and sweet!
• Get the kids excited about bathtime with these adorable snowman bath bombs!
• Kids will love this personalized Santa’s Christmas plate to set out all the goodies.

Share With Us

Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

Photo Nutcracker Craft Template