Imagine opening a bowl of peanuts and finding Santa waiting inside. That’s the playful magic this craft brings.

You can see each shell, painted with a jolly red hat and snowy beard, becomes a tiny messenger of Christmas cheer.

Hanging them on your tree or gifting them to loved ones feels like passing on little sparks of joy, reminders that even the simplest things can carry holiday wonder.

Materials Needed

• 10-15 whole peanut shells (cleaned and dried, around 1.5-2 inches long)
• 1 set of acrylic paints (red, white, black, peach or light beige)
• 3-4 fine-tip paintbrushes (sizes 0, 1, and 2)
• 1 small round brush (size 4-6)
• 1 fine-tip black permanent marker
• Craft glue (optional, if adding cotton or felt)
• Small cotton balls or white felt
• Ribbon or string (cut into 6-8 inch pieces)

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Pick peanut shells with an elongated shape. These naturally resemble Santa’s body and face.

Step 2: Paint the top section red to form Santa’s hat. Let the paint dry before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Use peach or beige paint for the face area. You should leave a space under the hat for the forehead and eyes.

Step 4: Add white paint for the beard and the fluffy brim of the hat. You can dab the brush for a textured effect.

Step 5: Paint small black dots for the eyes and add a tiny red dot for the nose. Then use your fine marker to outline the beard and hat, making the features pop.

Step 6: (Optional) Glue on small bits of cotton or felt for extra fluff on the beard or hat brim.

Step 7: Once completely dry, attach a ribbon loop at the back with glue to hang them as ornaments.

Tips:

I found that mixing a touch of glitter into the white paint gives the beard a magical sparkle under Christmas lights.

You can also personalize each Santa with slightly different facial expressions, some smiling, some winking for extra charm.