Making your own Christmas paintbrushes is a wonderful painting – sensory – art idea for kids under the age of about 9 years.
Older children will use the different brushes to create patterns – the result being a picture of a garden or of ‘something.’
Younger children will just paint! And that is perfect! It is a wonderful process art idea that focuses more on the process and enjoyment of painting than any end result!
We have done this before during the summertime after a walk to gather everything we needed! You can read about that here! This post also includes a short video of the children painting with the brushes! You can see them in action.

Supplies need to make your own Christmas paintbrushes
- Wooden or plastic pegs/clothing pins
- Christmas themed items to use as the brushes. We used spices, dried oranges, a Christmas bauble, tinsel, ribbon, and a fir tree! Let the kids walk around and find Christmas items – that is an activity in itself!
- To paint you can use any paint you prefer! With younger children and process art something washable is always a good idea!
- Paper or cardboard to paint on! The bigger the better!

Looking for further interesting ways to paint:
- Create your own stamps like these sunflower stamps and these flower stamps made from cardboard tubes. Makes perfect spring-time crafts!
- Here is a wonderful activity for toddlers exploring circles.
- Spray painting is the perfect fun outdoor summertime activity – an easy washable spray paint recipe.
- Paint wonderful things with a fork! Here are 22 ideas.
- Painting with magnets is interesting and incorporates a little science!
- Ice painting is also a great summer idea!

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