Snow days can turn “I’m bored” into a competitive sport. These winter art ideas for kids give everyone something to do, whether your craft cupboard is full or you have only paper, paint, and a few cotton balls.
Pick a project that suits your child’s age and interests, cover the table, and get started. Young children need close supervision around scissors and small supplies; the CDC’s choking hazard advice offers more guidance.
1. Watercolor snowflake resist
Press firmly with a white crayon to draw large snowflakes on white paper. Brush blue, purple, or teal watercolor across the page and watch the snowflakes appear. Thick watercolor paper handles wet brushes best, but sturdy cardstock works for a quick experiment.
Can your artist spot the hidden lines before the paint reveals them? Once the background dries, add a few dots of white paint for extra snowfall.
2. Cotton ball snowy trees
Cut a simple tree trunk and branches from brown paper, then glue them onto a blue background. Pull cotton balls apart into fluffy pieces and glue them along the branches to give the tree a fresh coat of snow.
For a flatter collage, use torn white paper instead. Keep cotton balls away from children who still put craft materials in their mouths, and supervise the whole activity.
3. Paper plate snowy owl
Give a paper plate white paper feathers, yellow paper eyes, and a small orange beak to make a wide-eyed winter owl. Kids can tear the feathers instead of cutting them for a delightfully scruffy look.
Ask your child where the owl might perch, then draw a snowy branch behind it. You can find more ideas in these fun owl crafts for kids.
4. Salt-painted snowflakes
Draw a snowflake with liquid school glue on sturdy paper, sprinkle salt over the lines, and gently shake off the excess. Let the glue dry, then touch a watercolor-loaded brush to the salt and watch the color spread.
Adult tip: Place the paper on a tray to catch stray salt, and remind little artists to paint with the salt rather than taste it. The raised lines can crumble, so display the finished piece flat.
5. Northern lights chalk art
Draw sweeping bands of green, blue, pink, and purple chalk pastel across black construction paper. Blend the colors gently with a fingertip or cotton pad, then add white stars and a dark mountain silhouette.
Encourage kids to invent their own colorful sky instead of copying a photograph exactly. Work over a tray, wash hands afterward, and choose nontoxic supplies that suit your child’s age.
6. Painted pinecone winter forest
Dab white washable paint onto clean, dry pinecones to give them a snowy look. Once the paint dries, arrange the pinecones on a sheet of blue paper and draw a forest around them.
Older kids can add paper animals or tiny painted tree trunks. An adult should check collected pinecones for dirt and sharp edges and supervise younger children around the finished project.
7. Bubble wrap snow prints
Brush a thin layer of white paint onto bubble wrap, then press it onto blue paper. Lift the wrap carefully to reveal a flurry of round snow prints. That leftover packing material makes a surprisingly good art tool.
Cut paper houses or trees and glue them over the dry background. An adult should handle the cutting and keep plastic wrap away from very young children because it can pose a suffocation hazard.
8. Torn paper polar bear
Tear white paper into small pieces and glue them inside a simple polar bear outline on blue cardstock. Add paper ears, a black nose, and a snowy setting to give the bear a place to roam.
Tearing paper lets little hands practice controlled movements without scissors. For younger artists, draw a large outline and offer bigger pieces that they can grip easily.
9. Coffee filter snowflakes
Fold a coffee filter into a wedge, cut small shapes along the edges, and unfold it to reveal a snowflake. Kids can color the filters with washable markers before folding or leave them white.
Offer child-safe scissors and help with the cutting when kids need it. Tape the finished flakes to a window or string them into a garland for an indoor snowstorm.
10. Winter birch tree painting
Place strips of low-tack painter’s tape vertically on sturdy paper to form tree trunks. Paint a blue or purple winter sky around them, let it dry, and slowly peel away the tape.
Add short black marks to the white trunks with a crayon or paintbrush. Test the tape on a paper scrap first, since some tape can tear the surface when you remove it.
11. Fingerprint snowfall scene
Draw a row of houses on dark blue paper, then let kids add white fingerprint snow above the rooftops. A few larger fingerprints can become snowdrifts, snowmen, or some very round clouds.
Use washable, nontoxic paint intended for children, and keep a damp cloth nearby. For guidance on product labels, check the Art & Creative Materials Institute.
12. Penguin shape collage
Cut a black oval body, a smaller white oval belly, and orange paper feet to build a penguin. Kids can arrange the shapes before gluing, then add paper eyes and a beak.
Make a whole penguin family in different sizes and talk about the shapes that make up each bird. For a simpler preschool activity, prepare the pieces ahead of time and let kids decide where they go.
13. Snow globe self-portrait
Cut a large paper circle and glue it above a rectangular paper base to create a snow globe. Ask kids to draw themselves inside, wearing their dream winter outfit, then add white paint dots for snow.
Would they build a snow fort or sip cocoa inside their globe? Let their answer guide the scene. Add their name and the year to the base so you can remember when they made it.
14. Ice cube watercolor painting
Freeze water in an ice cube tray, then use the melting cubes to wet watercolor paint and move color across thick paper. Kids can push the ice with a spoon or hold it briefly to feel its slippery texture.
Set the paper on a rimmed tray and keep a towel handy. Use plain water for the ice, supervise closely, and stop if cold fingers need a chance to warm up.
15. Foil-stamped winter moon
Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a loose ball, dip it lightly into white or gray paint, and stamp a moon onto dark paper. The foil gives each print a different texture.
Add stars with a small brush and draw a snowy hill along the bottom. An adult should prepare the foil and supervise its use, especially around children who put objects in their mouths.
16. Paper mitten pattern art
Trace a mitten shape onto cardstock and cut it out. Decorate it with stripes, zigzags, dots, or repeating shapes using crayons, markers, or torn paper.
Challenge kids to make a matching pair, or let them give each mitten its own personality. Punch a hole in each one and add a short length of yarn for display. An adult should supervise children around cords.
17. Winter cardinal silhouette
Paint a pale blue wash across paper and let it dry. Add a dark branch with a marker, then cut a simple red bird shape and glue it onto the branch.
A tiny black paper face and an orange beak give the cardinal its familiar look. Afterward, kids can watch for real birds through a window. Bring binoculars if you have them, and perhaps a snack.
18. Snowy mountain sponge painting
Cut a household sponge into a triangle and dip it lightly into blue, gray, or purple paint. Press overlapping triangles across paper to create a mountain range, then dab white paint onto the peaks.
Use different shades to make some mountains stand out from the rest. An adult should cut the sponge. Kids can experiment with the texture by pressing it more or less lightly.
19. Handprint evergreen tree
Trace your child’s hand several times onto green paper and cut out the shapes. Layer the handprints with fingers pointing downward to form an evergreen, then add a brown paper trunk.
Dot the branches with white paint for snow or use colorful paper circles for decorations. If your family enjoys seasonal projects, try these easy kids Christmas crafts for more ideas.
20. Melted snowman collage
Cut an uneven puddle shape from white paper and glue it onto a bright background. Scatter a paper carrot nose, stick arms, a hat, and a few drawn buttons across the puddle.
This silly project takes the pressure off making a perfect snowman. Ask kids to tell you what happened to their character, then write their story beside the artwork.
21. Winter window tissue paper art
Cut a large snowflake or mitten frame from cardstock, leaving the center open. Glue overlapping pieces of colorful tissue paper across the opening, then hang the finished art where daylight can shine through.
Blue and white tissue creates a frosty look, but rainbow mittens look great in a window too. For more colorful projects, browse these rainbow crafts for kids.
22. Snowy village collage
Cut simple squares, rectangles, and triangles from colored paper to build a row of houses. Glue them onto a dark background, then add white paper roofs, yellow windows, and falling snow.
Kids can use cereal-box cardboard to make thicker buildings or draw a winding road through town. Try working together on a large sheet of paper so each artist can design a house.
23. Crayon and watercolor icicles
Draw long, pointed icicles with a white crayon on sturdy white paper. Brush cool watercolor shades over the drawing. The wax lines will resist the paint and reveal an icy pattern.
Mix dark and light blues for contrast, then add a few silver pencil marks once the paper dries. Encourage kids to vary the icicle lengths instead of lining them up like suspiciously tidy teeth.
24. Winter landscape texture collage
Gather scraps of blue paper, white paper, cardboard, and fabric to create a layered winter scene. Tear the materials into hills and clouds, glue them onto a sturdy base, and draw trees or animals over the scene.
Compare the smooth, rough, and soft materials as kids arrange them. Skip loose buttons and other small decorations for young children. The scraps already offer plenty of textures to explore.
Make every snow day a little more colorful
You don’t need fancy supplies or a picture-perfect result to enjoy winter art for kids. With a few scraps, washable colors, and room to experiment, kids can spend an afternoon making snowy trees, playful penguins, and scenes from their imaginations.
Pick one project, adapt the steps for your child, and enjoy the creative mess together. The snow outside might melt, but the artwork can brighten the fridge long after winter ends.