Foil Coloring: Create Beautiful Aluminum Foil Christmas Ornaments with Kids!

How to Make Aluminum Foil Christmas Ornaments with Kids

Step 1: Choose Your Shape

Start by deciding what to create. For Christmas, try simple shapes like trees, ornaments, or candy canes. Trace or draw your shapes onto cardboard. For younger kids, bigger shapes are easier to handle.

We made round ornaments (about 4.5 inches / 11 cm in diameter) and triangle Christmas trees (about 5.5 inches / 13 cm tall). Cut out your shapes and make sure your cardboard is smooth and firm, no air pockets or creases. See images A and B for reference.

Step 2: Add Your Design Lines

Use a pencil and ruler to draw abstract lines or patterns across your shapes. These will guide where your twine will go later. Keep your sections large enough for kids to color in easily. See images C and D for reference.

Step 3: Attach the Twine

Make tiny cuts (about 0.3–0.5 cm deep) around the edges of your shape, see image D above. Thread twine through these notches, following the lines you drew earlier. Tape the ends of the twine to the back of your shape to secure them. See images E and F for reference.

This step gives your ornaments a raised “stained glass” texture that looks beautiful once covered in foil.

Step 4: Wrap in Aluminum Foil

Now for the fun part, shiny foil time. Gently wrap your shape in aluminum foil, folding the edges neatly around the back. The good side of the cardboard should face the front so your design shows clearly. See images G and H for reference.

Use a soft cloth to gently rub the surface and make the twine texture stand out (see image I below). Both the shiny and matte sides of foil work great, choose your favorite.

Step 5: Color Your Foil

Use broad-tip markers to color between the raised lines. Darker shades like blue, red, green, purple, and pink pop beautifully against the foil background.

Avoid pastel shades, as they don’t show up well on foil. Encourage kids to use contrasting colors for extra shine.

Step 6: Add Details and Decorations

Once the coloring is done, personalize your ornament. Add a small cardboard trunk to your Christmas tree, or a paper cap and bow to your round ornament. A touch of ribbon, sequins, or glitter glue adds even more sparkle. See the images below for fun color inspiration.

Step 7: Hang Your Ornaments

Turn your foil shapes into hanging decorations by attaching a loop of twine or yarn to the back. We used a festive red ribbon. Now they’re ready to shine on your Christmas tree.

You can also glue them to greeting cards or gift tags for an extra personal touch.

Educational Benefits

This project isn’t just pretty, it’s educational too. Kids strengthen their fine motor skills, explore color theory, and experiment with texture and reflection. It’s also a mindful, calming activity that encourages focus and creativity.

Final Thoughts

This aluminum foil ornament craft is the perfect mix of art and Christmas spirit. It’s shiny, colorful, and easy enough for kids of all ages to enjoy. Whether you’re making Christmas decorations, classroom art projects, or heartfelt homemade gifts, these foil creations are sure to brighten your holiday season.

So grab your foil, markers, and cardboard—and let the holiday crafting sparkle begin.