12 Days of Christmas Art Projects for the Classroom | Ms Artastic
Bring calm and creativity to your classroom this December with 12 FREE Christmas art ideas, printable activities, and teacher tips in the December 12 Days of Christmas Art Inspiration Guide.
✨ The Magic (and Mayhem) of December in the Classroom
December in the classroom is a season all its own. There’s a buzz in the air — a mix of excitement, exhaustion, glitter, and peppermint-scented chaos. Teachers are balancing concerts, assemblies, and crafts that somehow multiply overnight, all while trying to keep lessons meaningful and manage the energy of twenty-something sugar-fueled kids who are counting down the minutes to winter break.
You’re juggling report cards, parent emails, end-of-term reflections, and last-minute “We forgot to add one more student to the Secret Santa” moments. The snow outside is falling (or maybe it’s just rain, depending on where you live), but inside your classroom, it feels like a snow globe of noise, joy, and sheer determination to finish strong.
It’s the most magical — and the most demanding — time of the teaching year.
And amid that whirlwind, it’s easy to lose the very thing we all need most: joy in the process.
That’s what inspired me to create something special — something to help teachers bring calm, creativity, and connection back into their classrooms this December.
It’s called the December Art Inspiration Guide: 12 Days of Christmas Edition, and it’s a cozy, printable art guide designed to help you plan and create without the overwhelm.
🎁 Download it here: https://www.artasticcollective.com/pl/2148714344
🌟 Why I Created the 12 Days of Christmas Guide
Every year, when December rolled around, I’d feel it — that tug-of-war between wanting to make magic and just trying to survive until break.
I’d spend late nights searching for “easy art projects,” scrolling through Pinterest boards, trying to piece together something fun and festive that didn’t require ten hours of prep, a room full of glitter, or twenty-five reams of construction paper.
I wanted to give my students something meaningful — something that wasn’t just filler for the final days before the holidays, but that still captured the joy and creativity of the season.
That’s when I realized that teachers everywhere were craving the same thing: art ideas that feel special, but are still doable. Projects that make classrooms feel alive, but don’t take over our sanity.
The 12 Days of Christmas Art Inspiration Guide was born out of that need — to make art accessible, meaningful, and magical again in one of the busiest months of the year.
🎨 What You’ll Find Inside
The December Art Inspiration Guide is a celebration of creativity — packed with 12 festive art ideas, printable activities, sketchbook prompts, and December teaching tips designed to help you end the year with purpose and ease.
Each “day” in the guide introduces a new theme — from cozy winter cottages to reindeer, snowflakes, and twinkling holiday lights. You’ll find fresh, classroom-tested art ideas that can fit into 30-minute lessons or expand into full-day projects depending on your schedule.
But this guide is more than just a list of art projects. It’s an invitation to pause — to bring mindfulness and wonder into your classroom through creativity.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Printable art activities that can double as sub plans, early finisher work, or creative extensions.
- Sketchbook prompts that let students reflect, dream, and explore their own artistic voice.
- Clickable links to my YouTube tutorials and project ideas so you can extend or adapt each lesson however you like.
- December classroom management tips to help you maintain calm and flow when everyone’s energy is climbing.
- Ideas for student displays and winter showcases, because celebrating their creativity should be easy, not stressful.
- SEL-inspired reflection activities that tie art to gratitude, kindness, and mindfulness — essential during the holiday rush.
It’s the kind of resource that brings you back to what made you love teaching art in the first place — watching kids light up with creativity.
🎨 Grab your copy here: https://www.artasticcollective.com/pl/2148714344
🖌️ How to Use It in Your Classroom
The best part about this guide is its flexibility. Whether you’re a specialist art teacher, a general classroom teacher, or even a substitute filling in during the holidays, it fits effortlessly into your day.
Start your morning with a quick creative warm-up — a simple art or sketchbook prompt that helps students settle in and refocus after a busy assembly or concert rehearsal.
Use the printable art activities as easy, no-prep lessons on days when your schedule feels unpredictable. (You know the ones — when there’s a surprise pancake breakfast or the class next door is rehearsing “Jingle Bells” for the third time in a row.)
Turn the 12 Days of Christmas into a countdown — a fun classroom ritual where each day, students reveal and complete a new art activity. You could even let them decorate the classroom with their finished pieces, creating a cozy, collaborative winter wonderland.
Or, if you want to emphasize connection and kindness, use the reflective writing prompts to spark conversations about gratitude, giving, and creativity as an act of joy.
Whether you use it for a week, two weeks, or all December long, this guide will meet you where you are — no extra planning required.
💖 A Note to Teachers Everywhere
I know this time of year can feel heavy. You’re carrying so much — supporting your students, managing your classroom, and often taking on the emotional weight of the holidays, too.
You want to make the season special, but you’re tired. You want to do something creative, but you’re stretched thin.
And I see you.
That’s why this guide isn’t about perfection. It’s about peace.
It’s about giving yourself permission to create moments of calm — for your students and for yourself.
When you hand out those brushes, pencils, or crayons, you’re not just teaching art — you’re teaching presence. You’re giving your students a way to process their world, express their joy, and find stillness in a season that can sometimes feel too loud.
The 12 Days of Christmas Guide was made to help you rediscover that quiet joy — the kind that comes from watching a room full of students lost in color, imagination, and creativity.
You deserve that joy, too.
🌟 Why December Art Matters
Art has always been more than a “special.”
It’s how students find their voice, how they learn to see the world differently. During December, art becomes something deeper — a way to channel excitement, emotion, and energy into something beautiful and meaningful.
When you make space for creativity in your classroom this season, you’re not just filling time — you’re giving your students something they’ll remember.
That painting of a snowflake with uneven edges? That’s confidence.
That collage of stars and patterns? That’s self-expression.
That messy, joy-filled art project that somehow got glitter on your elbow? That’s learning in its purest form.
And that’s what the December Art Inspiration Guide helps you capture — art that connects, restores, and celebrates the magic of the season.
🎁 Final Thoughts
December doesn’t have to be chaotic. It can be cozy, creative, and full of small, beautiful moments that remind you why you teach.
You don’t need to plan everything from scratch or spend hours searching for ideas. You just need something that helps you create those moments of joy — something simple, flexible, and inspiring.
That’s what this guide is here for.
So, take a deep breath, grab your coffee, and let’s make this December one to remember — not for the chaos, but for the creativity.
🎨 Download your 12 Days of Christmas: December Art Inspiration Guide for Teachers here:
👉 https://www.artasticcollective.com/pl/2148714344
About Ms Artastic
Ms Artastic is run by Canadian artist and educator Kathleen McGiveron, who is passionate about making art education accessible, inspiring, and stress-free for teachers and homeschooling families. With years of experience in the classroom and a deep love for creativity, she designs engaging, ready-to-use art resources that help students of all ages build skills, explore their imagination, and connect with the world of art.
In her TeachersPayTeachers Store, Ms Artastic offers hundreds of resources—from fully planned art units and seasonal projects to sketchbook prompts, art history lessons, and assessment tools. Each resource is carefully crafted to save teachers time while still delivering meaningful, high-quality art experiences for students. Whether you’re looking to teach the Elements of Art, integrate art into core subjects, or spark joy in the classroom with creative projects, Ms Artastic has everything you need to bring art to life with confidence and ease.
Recommendations:
If you’re looking for resources to help you plan or teach either at home or in your classroom, then check out these resources to help you get ahead!
🖌️Streamline your lesson planning! Get on the waitlist for the Artastic Collective Art Curriculum, a treasure trove of resources designed to empower art educators: https://www.artasticcollective.com/membership
✏️Sharpen your teaching skills! Join the Art Teacher Academy for professional development specifically designed for art educators: https://www.artasticcollective.com/artteacheracademy
🖍️Need engaging art lessons? Explore the Art Project Membership library to find creative resources for Teachers and Homeschooling Families: https://www.artasticcollective.com/artproject
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