This is one of the cutest preschool or kindergarten Christmas crafts! It’s the best winter fine motor activity for young kids as they get to play with pom poms and place them on the “wreath” ornament. Toddlers and preschoolers love glue and pom poms so this was a fantastic activity for my two-year old this morning. My kid gets to play with pom poms daily so that wasn’t a big deal—but the school glue—now, that was new and exciting to her! Fast forward three years later when my now five-year-old daughter saw this on my computer this morning and she’s just as excited to make a photo wreath at age 5 than she was at age 3!
I love this easy fall or winter Christmas kid’s craft because it’s super cheap and easy to make – it’s so easy that once you set the kids up with the materials needed to make this craft, you can work on another task while the kids have a blast decorating their own photo wreath. If you have a mix of big and small children, let the big kids show the little kids how to make this simple festive craft.
To make a Photo Wreath Ornament, you’ll need cardboard or posterboard, scissors or a craft knife, something round to trace (such as the bottom of a cup or measuring cup), pen or pencil, photo of the child, tape, Christmas craft pom poms, school glue (or a hot glue gun and hot glue sticks), and string or jute twine. If you like this, then you’ll love my Clothespin Reindeer DIY Ornaments, Handprint Keepsake Ornament and Popsicle Stick Ornament crafts!
Tips
- Trace around household items. It’s easy to find two circular objects to trace around. I used a 16.9 oz. water bottle to trace the smaller circle around the photo.
- The circles do not need to be perfect by any means. In fact, you’re going to smother them with pom poms so the shape won’t be fully visible.
- Try to pull off the pom poms after the school glue has dried. If any fall off, use the hot glue gun to re-glue them. A little extra hot glue never hurts. We like this hot glue gun best.
Benefits of Fine Motor Activities
Fine motor skills are imperative in life and toddlers should be constantly practicing fine motor skills daily to prepare them to do things later in life such as buttoning a button, tying their shoes, and writing their name. Fine motor skills enable children to develop their independence as they learn how to eat, speak, create, and are able to do many more things as these skills improve.
According to Early Impact Learning’s article, hand-eye coordination is another fine motor skill that develops from when we are babies into adulthood. When kids interact with fine motor activities, they are continually improving the link between what their eyes see and what they are trying to hold or touch.
One of the biggest reasons fine motor skills are so important is that they allow us to be independent. When kids have good fine motor skills, their self-esteem improves as they are proud after building a tall tower of blocks by using the small muscles in their hands and fingers to make beautiful masterpieces they can take pride in.
Cutting, painting, sewing, threading, and weaving are fantastic ways for kids to use their fine motor skills. Many art and craft activities involve fine motor skills which allows toddlers and kids to express their creativity as they practice doing things independently. This craft is perfect as it involves cutting and using the small hand and finger muscles to glue each pom pom to the posterboard.
Items needed to make a Photo Wreath Ornament
Posterboard. Use any color posterboard or cardboard to make this ornament craft. Something durable and sturdy such as posterboard or cardboard is necessary to withhold hanging glued pom poms and a photo ornament from a tree.
Scissors. If kids are cutting, make sure to use kid friendly toddler scissors.
Cup or water bottle. You’ll need a circular object to trace. I used a 16.9-oz. water bottle and traced the bottom. You can also use a cup or measuring cup.
Pen. A pen or pencil is needed to make this craft.
Photo. Find a headshot(s) of your kid or kids.
Tape. Tape is needed to tape the photo to the back of the ornament.
Pom poms. Feel free to use any color of pom poms. We used mostly green with some red, but you can also add in some festive colors such as silver or gold, if desired. These Christmas pom poms are excellent!
School glue. Use school glue to stick the pom poms on the cardstock.
Hot glue gun. Although optional, I find hot glue necessary to keep the pom poms from falling from the posterboard.
String. String or jute twine is needed to hang the ornament.
How to make the best Photo Wreath Ornament
STEP 1: Grab something to trace around for the photo (a 16.9 oz. water bottle works great if you loosely draw around it) and use a pen to draw around it. You can draw the circle, skipping every few centimeters and still cut a fairly even circle. Find something larger and then trace around the circle you just drew with that larger object.
STEP 2: Use scissors or a craft knife to cut the shapes out.
STEP 3: Use tape on the backside of the ornament to stick the photo to the center.
STEP 4: Pour school glue all over the cardboard or posterboard and have the kids place pom poms all over the wreath. We used predominantly green pom poms, and sparsely used red. Let the glue dry.
STEP 5: Use a hot glue gun and hot glue, if you prefer, to place additional pom poms on top of existing pom poms. Run your fingers through the pom poms and if any fall off, use a dab of hot glue to stick them back. I used a lot of hot glue because a lot of pom poms weren’t sticking as good as I liked.
STEP 6: Place the string on the backside of the ornament in a roughly two-inch horizontal line. Use the hot glue to stick the string to the ornament. Let dry.
STEP 7: If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Recommended items to make this craft
- Pom poms. We love these!
- School glue. This one is the strongest and holds the best.
- String. This is my favorite.
More kid’s crafts and activities you’ll love!
Two-Ingredient Salt Dough Handprint and Footprint
Clothespin Reindeer DIY Ornaments
Easy Christ-Centered Christmas Crafts
Turkey Headshot – Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Craft
Fall Potato Stamp Leaf Tree – Easy Toddler Craft
Clay Bowls—Easy Mother’s/Father’s Day Keepsake Gifts
DIY Homemade Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift—Handprint-Potted Cactus
Vampire Paper Plate Craft – Easy Toddler Halloween Craft
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Photo Wreath Ornament Craft, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this craft a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this craft and always do my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this craft, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your craft photos!
Photo Wreath Ornament (Kid’s Christmas Craft)
Materials
- posterboard can also use carboard
- scissors or a craft knife
- something round to trace such as a 16-9 oz. water bottle or bottom of a cup
- pen or pencil
- photo of the kid
- tape
- Christmas craft pom poms
- school glue
- hot glue gun optional
- string or jute twine
Instructions
- Grab something to trace around for the photo (a 16.9 oz. water bottle works great if you loosely draw around it) and use a pen to draw around it. You can draw the circle, skipping every few centimeters and still cut a fairly even circle. Find something larger and then trace around the circle you just drew with that larger object.
- Use scissors or a craft knife to cut the shapes out.
- Use tape on the backside of the ornament to stick the photo to the center.
- Pour school glue all over the cardboard or posterboard and have the kids place pom poms all over the wreath. We used predominantly green pom poms, and sparsely used red. Let the glue dry.
- Use a hot glue gun and hot glue, if you prefer, to place additional pom poms on top of existing pom poms. Run your fingers through the pom poms and if any fall off, use a dab of hot glue to stick them back. I used a lot of hot glue because a lot of pom poms weren’t sticking as good as I liked.
- Place the string on the backside of the ornament in a roughly two-inch horizontal line. Use the hot glue to stick the string to the ornament. Let dry.
- If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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