Craft Stick Elf Craft for Kids
Add a little holiday cheer to your Christmas crafting with this adorable Craft Stick Elf Hat.
This Craft Stick Elf Hat is a simple, festive project that kids will love creating during the holiday season. Made with easy-to-find supplies, this craft comes together quickly and is perfect for busy days filled with Christmas activities.
This elf Christmas craft is easy enough for preschoolers to make independently, while toddlers may need a little help. Older kids can enjoy personalizing their elf hat too! This popsicle stick Christmas craft is a great choice for mixed-age groups at home, in classrooms, or during holiday parties.
This craft is especially fun for fans of the movie Elf and makes a great activity for an Elf-themed movie night or party.
It also pairs perfectly with Elf on the Shelf activities, giving kids a hands-on way to interact with their elf and extend the holiday magic.
Whether you’re crafting at home, at school, or with a group, this elf hat craft is sure to be a hit.
When to make the Elf craft:
- Christmas crafting at home: This is an easy and enjoyable craft for December afternoons, especially when kids are feeling excited about the holidays and want something festive to make.
- Elf movie party: If you’re hosting a movie night featuring Elf, this craft makes a perfect pre-movie or post-movie activity to keep kids engaged.
- Elf on the Shelf activities: Use this craft alongside your elf for a creative twist on your daily elf ideas and holiday traditions.
- Classroom Christmas parties: The simple steps make it ideal for preschool classrooms or elementary parties, and finished crafts can double as decorations.
Kids of all ages will enjoy making this Craft Stick Elf Hat. Preschoolers love that they can complete it mostly on their own, while toddlers enjoy helping with painting, gluing, or decorating. Older kids can add extra details and personalize their elf hats, making the craft fun and engaging for a wide age range.
Ways to Use the Elf Popsicle Stick Craft
- Christmas tree ornament: Add a hanging loop to turn the elf hat into a festive ornament that looks adorable on the tree.
- Gift tag: Write a name on the elf hat and attach it to a gift. The recipient can then hang it on their Christmas tree as a keepsake ornament.
- Place setting: Add a name and use the elf hat at each place setting for a festive holiday table decoration kids will love seeing at their seat.
- Refrigerator display: Attach a magnet to the back to display the finished craft on the refrigerator throughout the season.
- Elf on the Shelf prop: Use the elf hat as part of a playful elf setup or display to add to the magic of your Elf on the Shelf scenes.
This craft is a wonderful blend of simple steps and festive charm. It’s quick to make, easy for kids to complete, and versatile enough to use in many different ways throughout the holiday season. The elf hat design instantly feels Christmassy and pairs perfectly with other holiday crafts and traditions.
Fun Elf Hat Craft Variations
- Let kids decorate their elf hats with glitter, stickers, or pom-poms for extra personality.
- Write names and the year on the back to turn the craft into a keepsake.
- Add the hanging loop before fully assembling the craft for easier placement.
- Use classic elf colors or let kids choose their own color combinations for a fun twist.
- Add a name to make an adorable Elf place setting during your Elf themed party.
How to Make an Elf Hat with Popsicle Sticks
Now that you’re ready to create your Craft Stick Elf Hat, gather your supplies and follow along with the step-by-step instructions below. This tutorial makes it easy to guide kids through the process and ensures everyone ends up with a festive finished craft.
Materials:
- Jumbo Craft Sticks
- Craft Glue or Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
- Pom Poms (We used white tinsel pom poms)
- Green Craft Paint
- Cardstock – Green, Red, & Tan
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Pencil
- Brown Marker
- Printed Pattern
Instructions:
Gather all supplies. To make the elf hat, create a triangle with three jumbo craft sticks on your work surface, and secure at the corners with glue.
TIP: We used a glue gun and glue sticks for this tutorial, but you can use liquid craft glue for this project if you prefer.
Paint the hat with green craft paint. Let dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary.
Download, print, and cut out the elf hat patterns.
Trace the hat pattern once onto green cardstock with a pencil.
Cut out the hat pattern with scissors.
Trace the hat trim once onto red cardstock, and trace the ears twice onto tan cardstock with a pencil.
Cut out the elf hat patterns with scissors.
Draw a swirly pattern onto the right and left elf ear with a brown marker.
Glue the green triangle of cardstock onto the back of the green craft stick triangle.
Attach the red hat trim to the bottom edge of the triangle, and the ears to the right and left side of the hat.
Attach a white tinsel pom pom to each point in the elf hat trim with glue.
Glue a large white tinsel pom pom to the top of the elf hat.
This Craft Stick Elf Hat is a fun and cheerful way to celebrate the Christmas season with kids. Whether it’s made for a movie party, classroom activity, Elf on the Shelf fun, or a handmade gift, it’s sure to bring smiles. Simple, festive, and full of holiday spirit, this is one Christmas craft you’ll love making year after year.
