Have some Christmas fun with this sweet Nutcracker Craft Christmas Bookmark. Along with a free printable template make it a Merry Christmas.
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This nutcracker craft is so much fun for kids of all ages in celebrations of the nutcracker ballet and the holiday season.
Christmas Craft For Kids
There is so much about the holidays that make us happy! The twinkly lights, yummy treats, smells of a sugar plum fairy, and peppermint — yes, please.
We haven’t even mentioned the crafts! We’ve got enough holiday crafts to carry us into next year (and the year after that). Old ideas, new ideas, we’ve got them all to help you pass down traditions and start new ones.
No matter what you celebrate this time of year, the spirit of the holiday season is all around. We’re here to help spread the jolly!
In addition to this nutcracker craft, you won't want to miss our other popular Christmas crafts for kids including 3D Paper Christmas Tree, Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament, and Paper Plate Reindeer Craft.
What are Nutcrackers?
Christmas nutcrackers or Nutcracker dolls are toy soldier figurines that are designed to open nuts by cracking their shells in the nutcracker's mouth. They are most often decorations during the Christmas season.
History of The Nutcracker
One holiday icon we’re paying tribute to is the nutcracker! Perhaps not as widely popular as the snowman, Santa Claus, or the menorah, nutcrackers have been part of the holiday season since the 1940s.
Nutcrackers were first used in Germany in the late 17th century. They were often given as gifts and played an important role in German folklore. Nutcrackers are believed to be symbols of good luck that frighten away evil spirits.
These early nutcrackers grew in popularity by the late 1800s. Thanks to the work of Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner, known to Germans as “the father of the nutcracker,” mass-produced nutcracker dolls found their way into homes all over Europe.
The Nutcracker Ballet
It was after WWII that nutcrackers became part of American holiday traditions. Soldiers returning from war brought nutcracker dolls back as souvenirs. The popularity of The Nutcracker ballet further cemented the nutcracker as a symbol of the holidays.
Even if you’ve never seen the nutcracker ballet, you likely know some of the music and are somewhat familiar with the trippy plot. Based on the novel, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, by E.T.A. Hoffmann, the story takes place on Christmas Eve night featuring brother and sister Fritz and Clara. Clara receives a nutcracker from a family friend and instantly falls in love with the toy soldier.
After leaving it under the Christmas tree when she goes up to bed, she sneaks downstairs at midnight to get it. She ends up dreaming that the nutcracker becomes a prince, and her fantasy begins. There is a battle with mice, sugar plum fairies, and fairies, dancing until young Clara wakes on Christmas morning with her beloved toy in her hands.
If you haven’t seen it, we promise it’s good! If you have seen it, then you know why we love the nutcracker! It's one of my favorite December activities every year.
Christmas Paper Crafts For Kids
We’re so excited to share the love with this sweet paper nutcracker bookmark. This printable paper bookmark is the perfect addition to any holiday gift for anyone on your list. Kids love bookmarks to color. Add it as a gift tag to a present for any book lover on your list.
Printable Christmas bookmarks make for the perfect stocking stuffer. They can be fun Christmas Day crafts for kids.
If you’re looking for some activities for kids and little hands so you can cook your holiday dinner, or DIY pop-up Christmas tree card, this adorable paper nutcracker bookmark, along with some of our other holiday printables, are great to have on hand for when friends or family pop in.
The paper nutcracker bookmark can be combined with some of our other festive season crafts for kids to make a fun activity book.
Toy Soldier
Once you see this cute toy soldier, you may be inspired to find other uses for him. (Just because he’s supposed to be a bookmark doesn’t mean he has to be one.) Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! He can be glued to a popsicle stick or craft stick and used to decorate a wreath or added to a Christmas planter.
You could create a whole army of paper nutcrackers, string them together and hang them like a garland. Or simply have the kids color them in and tape them to a wall or window for a fun display.
Our paper nutcracker bookmark will add a personal touch to any gift. While gift cards are practical for anyone on your nice list, they aren’t necessarily seen as the most thoughtful gift. Have the kiddos color in a paper nutcracker bookmark and elevate your generic gift from “meh” to merry, merry.
Paper nutcracker bookmarks are great gifts for teachers, grandparents, and even your kids’ classmates. These bookmarks will delight any kid, making them perfect for groups of friends. No matter what they’re into, a festive holiday nutcracker they can color and use is a winner.
Benefits of Crafts For Kids
Like all our MWH printables, the paper nutcracker is completely free. All our crafts are designed to make kids (and parents) HAPPY! Our designs are 100% unique and kid-tested.
While the color, teach them a bit about the history of nutcrackers and even challenge them to come up with their own nutcracker design. Don’t forget to mention that many of the holiday nutcrackers they see on shelves today don’t actually crack nuts. However, remind them that they did serve this purpose at one time.
Another way to extend the fun as you color your paper nutcracker bookmarks is to ask your kids if they can name Christmas-time songs that mention or reference nutcrackers. Or just listen to the soundtrack of The Nutcracker ballet as you work.
We love setting you up with crafts and activities, that will inspire and entertain your kids (and you)! We know this paper nutcracker bookmark will be no different. It’s large enough for little fingers to be able to color and interesting enough to keep older kids engaged.
It can be a wonderful gift, a fun afternoon activity, or a gift your kids can easily give to others. We know they’re going to love it!
Supplies For Paper Nutcracker
We love the idea of basic craft supplies to make this fun holiday craft.
- Colorful Cardstock Papers - To Print Template
- Colorful Craft Papers
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Marker Pens
- Craft Glue
How Do You Make a Nutcracker?
Grab all the listed supplies and print out the PDF templates below. Use the PDF templates to trace and use scissors to cut out the pieces for the nutcracker from craft paper and get all the nutcracker pieces.
Start with the top side of the base cutout and end with the bottom side of the base cutout.
First, join the head with the shirt. Second, glue the hat and its brim together on the short end of the hat. Then, glue the sleeves and their cuffs. Now, Glue the belt buckle with the belt, and glue the shoes with the pants.
Glue the pants on the bottom of the shirt.
Then, glue the sleeves with the shirt.
Glue the nutcracker’s shoulder pads.
Now, glue the hat on top.
Then, glue the mustache and teeth, and finally, use a black gel pen or black sharpie to draw the nutcracker’s face.
Viola, you have an adorable craft tin soldier.
We highlighted this Christmas Craft For Kids along with some other fun kid's crafts in our December Crafts for Kids along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.
You also do not want to miss our 101+ Fun Coloring Pages For Kids and 101+ Free Kids Printables full of Crafts & Coloring Pages.
Other Bookmarks You'll Love
Download The Free Nutcracker Craft Template
Simply enter your name and email address in the form below. You will be taken directly to the pdf file of the free nutcracker printable.
*For Personal Use Only
Nutcracker Craft Christmas Bookmarks
Equipment
Ingredients
- Colorful Cardstock Papers - To Print Template
- Colorful Craft Papers
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Marker Pens
- Glue
Instructions
- Grab all the listed supplies and print out the PDF templates below. Use the PDF templates to trace and cut out the pieces for the nutcracker from craft paper.
- First, join the head with the shirt. Second, glue the hat and its brim together. Then, glue the sleeves and their cuffs. Now, Glue the belt buckle with the belt, and glue the shoes with the pants.
- Glue the pants on the bottom of the shirt.
- Then, glue the sleeves with the shirt.
- Glue the nutcracker’s shoulder pads.
- Now, glue the hat on top.
- Then, glue the mustache and teeth, and finally, use marker pens to draw the nutcracker’s face.
Video
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NUTCRACKER CRAFT
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