This post contains multiple ideas for cross crafts for kids you can do with any age and any budget. Whether you are a teacher, Sunday school leader, Vacation Bible School volunteer, homeschool parent, family devotion leader, or fill one of countless other roles, you may find yourself in an idea slump and needing inspiration occasionally. I’m here to help! For more inspiration and ideas see the post Holy Week Activities for All Ages or check under the Activities tab above. I also have several full lessons – such as Abraham Showed Hospitality and Jesus Is a Chain Breaker – available for download over in the Chasing Those Moments Shop. These craft ideas are also great for small churches, small groups, and classes of any size.
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Cross Crafts for Kids – Recommended ages noted with title
Twig Cross – All ages
This cross themed craft for kids is a lot of fun! Depending on location, weather, and time, you can take the kids on a little outdoor excursion to collect small twigs or gather them yourself before craft time begins. In this cheap to free natural craft activity, kids will take two twigs and attach them together into a cross shape. You can easily adapt this craft to multiple ages.
Supplies
- twigs – at least two per child
- hot glue (optional – adult or older child use only)
- white glue like Elmer’s school glue
- twine or yarn
- scissors
- toothpicks or doll needles (plastic ones like these work great!)
Instructions
- Have each child choose two twigs.
- Younger child option: Have an adult hot glue the twigs perpendicular to each other to form a cross or t shape.
Elementary child option: Have kids use craft/school glue to glue twigs into a cross or t shape.
Older child option: Have kids hot glue the twigs into a cross or t shape. OR move directly to the next step without glue. - Cut a length of yarn or twine to a medium length: 24-36 inches per child should be plenty.
- Child should then wrap the yarn or twine around the joint where the two twigs meet. Wrap three-four times diagonally on one side, then turn and wrap three-four times. Continue wrapping and turning until there is about three-four inches of yarn or twine left.
- Thread the end of the yarn or twine through the needle, then weave the end through the wrapped section several times to hold the end in place. Or use a toothpick to push the end of the yarn or twine through in several places.
- The glue does not have to be dry before beginning to wrap. It just helps to hold the twigs in place as a cross.
Foam Cross – PreK-Younger Elementary Ages
This foam cross craft for kids is easy and colorful. It can be a bookmark, door hanger, Christmas ornament, etc. Great for any occasion including Christmas and Easter! It exercises fine motor skills, imagination, and coordination in a simple but fun way.
Supplies
- craft foam sheets or cross shapes
- foam and jewel stickers
- hole punch
- ribbon or twine
- I have a complete kit with all supplies included for this craft (pre-cut cross, stickers, ribbon, etc.) available in my Shop! Each kit contains what you need to make two foam crosses.
Instructions
- Give each child a foam cross and stickers (foam and jewel stickers work best).
- Have them peel the backs off of the stickers and place where they like.
- Punch hole in top of cross if desired (a regular hole punch works just fine on the foam).
- Thread ribbon or twine through and tie into a loop to hang or leave ends loose for bookmark.
Wrap a Cross – Elementary-High School
This craft is similar to the twig cross above. The main difference is that kids are wrapping the entire thing rather than just the middle. Craft/popsicle sticks or cardboard work better for this craft than twigs.
Supplies
- jumbo craft/popsicle sticks
- scissors
- yarn
- tape
- glue
- doll needle or toothpick
- optional: cardboard
- optional: pen/pencil
- optional: ruler
Instructions
- Give each child two craft/popsicle sticks or pre-cut cardboard cross shapes.
- Optional: Older kids may enjoy tracing out cross shapes onto cardboard and cutting them out. A thick cardboard or doubling up with two pieces cut to match will work best.
- Each child will need quite a bit of yarn. Length will vary depending on how much wrapping the child chooses to do.
- Put craft sticks together into cross shape. A dab of glue will help hold them in place if necessary.
- Tape one end of the yarn onto the craft stick or cardboard.
- Begin wrapping the yarn around the entire length of the cross – up and down, diagonal at the middle (like the twig cross) – as much as desired.
- Use the doll needle or toothpick to weave the end of the yarn into the wrapped layers several times. Then cut the end close.
Craft Stick Cross – PreK-Younger Elementary
This craft stick cross craft for kids also uses craft/popsicle sticks to make crosses. But it does so in a way that is easier for little hands. It can be a little on the messy side. So you may want to provide placemats or butcher paper for easy clean up. Also, gluing the craft sticks or cutting the cardboard in advance will help make the process go more smoothly.
Supplies
- jumbo craft/popsicle sticks
- glue
- washable markers
- optional: pre-cut cross shaped cardboard
- optional: butcher/bulletin board paper
- optional: baby wipes
Instructions
- Give each child a set of pre-glued craft sticks or pre-cut cardboard.
- Have kids use washable markers to color the entirety of their cross. They can do both sides.
- Their hands will most likely end up messy from the markers. Use baby wipes or soap and water to clean kids’ hands after their craft is complete.
Stained Glass Cross – Elementary-High School
This is one of those cross crafts for kids that is sure to please multiple age groups and creativity styles. You can easily adapt it for any age, but it is best for the elementary through high school set. I’d recommend pre-cutting the cross shapes for the younger ones. But older kids could easily cut theirs themselves. After they’re finished, the stained glass crosses look beautiful as they catch light from a window.
Supplies
- self adhesive laminating sheets (I recommend these because of the size and the grid pattern on the back. It is so much easier to cut out the correct shape and straight lines with these.)
- tissue paper in multiple colors
- permanent marker
- scissors
- optional: hole punch
- optional: ribbon
Instructions
- Pre-cut or have older children cut two cross shapes per child out of the self adhesive laminating sheets. Each sheet of the 9×12 or 8.5×11 size should be enough for two crosses.
- Draw or have older children use a permanent marker to draw a thick border on the non-sticky side about 1/4″ from the edge all the way around their cross shapes.
- Pull back off one of the cross shapes, leaving the other for later.
- Instruct children to tear tissue paper into very small pieces – appoximately 1/2″ – and stick the pieces to one of the crosses. Make sure that they stay inside their border so that a sticky edge remains all the way around.
- Once they have the design how they want it, help children peal the back off the other cross. And very carefully lining up the edges, place the 2nd cross on top of the tissue paper covered side. The sticky edge outside the border should serve to make a seal.
- Hold up to light or hang in window to see light shining through.
- Optional: Punch a hole in the top and thread ribbon through to make a loop to hang or leave ends loose for a bookmark.
Did you try out any of these cross crafts for kids? How did they go for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
These cross activities pair perfectly with your Holy Week lessons or any time you need easy cross crafts for kids. The Activities tab above also has so many more age-appropriate activities for families, schools, and churches. I have written the book Resurrection Moments to help families (and churches!) teach their kids about the message of Jesus during the Lenten and Easter seasons. I also have Jesse Tree Moments out for Advent which contains stories of the Old Testament leading up to the birth of Jesus. I’d love for you to check them out! Both books are also available in print and ebook form on Amazon and Jesse Tree Moments is available on Bookshop.org as well.
The posts What Is Ash Wednesday, What Is Lent, What Is Advent, and The Jesse Tree are great resources as you are preparing to teach during these seasons. Feel free to point others to them to help explain these important seasons in the Church year.
Follow Chasing Those Moments on Pinterest for plenty of age-appropriate ideas for your kids.
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