9 Easy Christmas drawing ideas using basic shapes

Easy Christmas drawing ideas begin with shapes you can sketch before adding color. Circles make snowmen, triangles make trees, and curved lines make candy canes.

Use a pencil for the outline, then add crayons, markers or colored pencils. Keep an eraser nearby for guide lines. A folded sheet of plain paper also works for a handmade card.

Choose one subject and draw it large enough to color without squeezing details together. Light pencil outlines are easier to erase without leaving dark traces.

Choosing easy Christmas drawing ideas by tool

Pick a subject that matches the tool you have. A rounded crayon fills large shapes, while a sharp pencil handles small details.

Tool	Start with	Practice
Crayon	Gingerbread person	Broad curved outlines
Colored pencil	Striped bauble	Light and dark shading
Marker	Wrapped present	Straight edges and white gaps
Pencil	Santa hat	Curves and grey shadows

In this post: 9 ideas

1. Smiling gingerbread person
2. Holly leaves with red berries
3. Red Santa hat with a folded tip
4. Round striped Christmas bauble
5. Stocking with a white cuff
6. Wrapped present with a large bow
7. Candy cane with curved stripes
8. Crayon tree with round ornaments
9. Snowman with a scarf and top hat

1. Smiling gingerbread person

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A brown gingerbread person has rounded hands, a red bow and green buttons. White icing lines follow the wrists and ankles. The broad body leaves enough room for crayon strokes without tiny gaps.

Try a 2-inch head circle when adapting easy Christmas drawing ideas for a large practice sheet. Draw a circle for the head, then join curved arms and legs beneath it. Sketch the whole outline before coloring. Add a curved smile after the brown area is complete, so the face stays clear.

Leave a narrow white border at each wrist before coloring the body. This saves the icing lines without white paint.

2. Holly leaves with red berries

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Three red berries overlap at the center of pointed green holly leaves. Darker lines mark the leaf edges and veins. This subject needs fewer shapes than a full wreath, so it fits a card corner.

For easy Christmas drawing ideas on cards, draw berries first so leaves do not cover their outlines. Draw the berries first, then place the leaves behind them. Build each leaf around one curved center line. Color near that line with darker green, and leave a lighter strip beside it to suggest a fold.

Test one subject on scrap paper before folding a card. These handmade gift projects include other paper uses.

3. Red Santa hat with a folded tip

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A red Santa hat bends toward a round white pompom. Pencil shading gives the wide white cuff a furry edge. The fold creates a darker red area without adding another object. These easy Christmas drawing ideas need only light grey strokes to suggest white fur.

Sketch the cuff as a long rounded rectangle. Raise one curved side, then bend the other side toward the pompom. Add short grey strokes around the cuff after coloring the red fabric. Keep the white areas mostly uncolored.

4. Round striped Christmas bauble

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A red bauble has green and gold stripes, a gold cap and a hanging loop. The stripes bend around the circle, which makes the ornament look rounded. A pale patch on one side suggests reflected light. For easy Christmas drawing ideas, a round outline helps you compare both sides before coloring.

Trace a jar lid lightly for the outline. Draw gently curved bands across it instead of straight bars. Color with light pressure near the pale patch, then darken the lower edge. Add the metal cap last.

Rotate the paper while drawing the loop. A comfortable hand angle helps keep small curves steady.

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5. Stocking with a white cuff

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A red stocking has a green heel and toe beneath a broad white cuff. Small snowflakes decorate the body. Pine sprigs and a candy cane project above the opening. Stocking shaped easy Christmas drawing ideas leave a broad middle area for snowflake patterns.

Start with an angled boot shape, then draw the cuff across its top. Mark the heel and toe before filling the red area. Leave room between snowflakes, so each design remains readable. Add the contents after the stocking outline is complete.

6. Wrapped present with a large bow

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A green gift box has red ribbon crossing its front and a large bow above it. White spots break up the green surface. Straight edges make the box easier to sketch than a rounded ornament.

For easy Christmas drawing ideas on cards, leave a blank border around the box instead of filling every corner. Draw the box first and mark two ribbon strips across it. Add the central knot, then draw each bow loop as a broad curve. Keep both loops wider than the ribbon strips. Leave the white spots blank while coloring.

7. Candy cane with curved stripes

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Red stripes wrap around a hooked candy cane. A dark outline separates the white sections from the paper. The repeating bands make this one useful for practicing curved lines. These easy Christmas drawing ideas use alternating colors to make the hooked shape clear.

Draw the outside hook, then add a second line inside it. Keep the gap between the lines similar along the stem. Angle the stripes slightly, and curve them around the hook. Color alternate bands red after checking the spacing.

Try the hook on scrap paper before drawing the final version. Tight curves need slower pencil movement. Try Christmas painting projects after sketching the outline.

8. Crayon tree with round ornaments

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A green tree has overlapping branch edges, round ornaments and a yellow star. Visible crayon strokes fill the branches. A brown trunk anchors the tree near the bottom of the page. Crayon based easy Christmas drawing ideas can show branch texture without drawing individual needles.

Sketch a tall triangle and add short outward points along both sides. Place the ornaments before coloring the greenery. Use the side of a crayon for broad areas, then its tip for the branch edges. Leave space above the star.

9. Snowman with a scarf and top hat

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A snowman has a black top hat, red scarf and thin twig arms. Pale blue shading follows the lower edges of its body. Small snowflakes fill the surrounding white paper. Circle based easy Christmas drawing ideas let you adjust the body size before adding clothes.

Draw stacked circles, making the bottom one widest. Add the hat and scarf before drawing the twig arms. Press lightly with blue near the edges, so the snow stays pale. Use small black circles for the buttons and eyes.

Supplies for easy Christmas drawing ideas

Plain drawing paper suits crayons and dry colored pencils. Markers need paper that can handle their ink without bleeding through.

Test each marker on a spare sheet. Place another sheet underneath your drawing if the ink reaches the back.

Christmas drawings for handmade cards

Fold the card before drawing, then keep the picture away from the crease. A bauble or holly sprig leaves room for a message.

For another paper project, try these Christmas crafts for gifts.

Easy Christmas drawing ideas with crayons and pencils

Fill large areas with light pressure before adding darker edges. Heavy pressure at the start makes pencil lines harder to change.

Keep a scrap sheet under your drawing hand to reduce smudges. Brush away eraser crumbs before adding marker outlines.

Questions about easy Christmas drawing ideas

How do I keep pencil outlines light before coloring?

Use light pressure for guide lines, then erase spare lines before coloring. Pressing harder can leave grooves in the paper.

Can I make the snowman with only two circles?

Yes. Draw one larger body circle beneath a smaller head. Keep the scarf between them, then add the hat.

How can I keep the candy cane the same width?

Mark the stem width in pencil first. Carry that gap around the hook before adding the diagonal stripes.

Why will my colored pencil not cover an earlier dark patch?

Heavy pressure can fill the paper surface, leaving less room for another color. Start pale and build the darker areas gradually.

See Crayola’s pencil shading guide for pressure and highlight examples.