Delicious Christmas cookies are one of the best things of the season. Whether they're frosted, cut, or have sprinkles, they're great to eat and wonderful to give as presents. If you're going to give Christmas cookies as a gift, you're going to want a nice jar so your friends and family can display your handiwork.

Try It!
Here are some Christmas cookie recipes from our collection:

In this section, we'll show you how to make Christmas cookie jars and tins. We've also provided some Christmas cookie recipes to fill the delightful jars you're decorating.

Using Patterns

When individual project instructions direct you to cut out a shape according to the pattern, begin by downloading the pattern as a PDF. All patterns are at actual size, unless otherwise noted. Print the pattern from your computer.

If the pattern has an arrow with the word "fold" next to a line, it is a half pattern. Fold the printed pattern at the line. Then cut along the line, going through both layers of paper. Open for the full pattern.

To attach a pattern to felt, roll two-inch lengths of masking tape into circles with the adhesive side out. Attach the tape to the back of the pattern in several places. Place the pattern onto the felt, and cut through both the paper and felt layers along the lines. If you are using a half pattern, open the pattern and similarly tape it to the felt before cutting.

Christmas Cookie Jar is an Christmas craft that makes a great Christmas gift.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Christmas Cookie Jar

Christmas Cookie Jar

You'll Need:
  • Glass cookie jar
  • Tracing paper
  • Pencil
  • Clear tape
  • Transfer paper
  • Stylus
  • Acrylic enamel: chocolate, Christmas green, Christmas red, white
  • Brushes: #8 shader, 10/0 liner, #1 liner
To Make Christmas Cookie Jar:
  1. Download Christmas cookie jar pattern here. Print pattern. Position and tape pattern over jar. Slide transfer paper under pattern, over jar. Using stylus, trace pattern to jar. Remove pattern paper and transfer paper.

  2. Using #8 shader, basecoat gingerbread man in chocolate and holly in Christmas green. If these two shapes need a second coat, wait 1 hour between coats to allow paint to dry completely. Using 10/0 liner brush and Christmas red, paint the word "Cookies."

    Color in the gingerbread man.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Color in the gingerbread man.

  3. Make a mix of equal parts white and Christmas green and using #1 liner brush, outline holly. Add veins and curly vines to holly. Using 10/0 liner brush, add Christmas red hearts and white details to gingerbread man. Using the handle of the liner brush, dip in Christmas red and add dots to holly.

  4. Using stylus dipped in white, add highlights to holly. Let dry 24 hours. Follow manufacturer's instructions on paint to make jar dishwasher safe.

    Create the holly and then let dry when making Christmas cookie jar.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Create the holly and then let dry.

Reindeer Christmas cookie jar is a fun Christmas craft that makes a great Christmas gift.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Reindeer Cookie Jar

Reindeer Cookie Jar

You'll Need:
  • 9 x 6-inch sheet double-sided, super sticky tape    
  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • Plastic storage tub
  • Tiny glass bead mix: ruby red, crystal clear
  • Tiny glass marbles: ruby red, silver, light bronze, dark bronze
  • 4 x 63/4-inch glass candy jar with lid
  • Straight pin
  • 2 wiggle eyes, 25mm each
  • 36 inches red chiffon ribbon, 13/4 inches wide
To Make Reindeer Cookie Jars:
  1. Download Reindeer Cookie Jar pattern here. Print out patterns and trace onto super sticky tape using pen. Be sure to trace a reverse inner and outer ear and an antler. Cut out patterns.

  2. Peel 1 liner only from nose piece, and place nose sticky side up in plastic storage tub. Pour red bead mix over tape to coat; turn nose facedown into bead mix to fill gaps. Return excess bead mix to container. Fill small gaps by pouring red tiny marbles over nose piece. Press with fingers to ensure good contact between tape and beads. Return excess marbles to container.

    Pour red bead mix over tape to make Reindeer Christmas Cookie Jars.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Pour red bead mix over tape.

  3. In same way as you did in step 2, coat 1 side of antler pieces with crystal clear bead mix followed by silver tiny marbles.

  4. Peel, then cover top side of inner ear pieces with light bronze marbles. Peel top liner from outer ear piece and back lining from inner ear piece. Press inner ear onto center of outer ear piece, then coat outer edge of large ear pieces with dark bronze marbles. Peel 1/2 inch of tape from back top of ear pieces, and coat with dark bronze marbles.

    Peel off tape.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Peel off tape.

  5. Unpeel 1 inch of side of uncoated head piece. Aligning bottom of head piece along bottom of jar (before jar curves in), attach side of head piece to jar. Using your palms, press piece to jar while gradually removing back lining as you affix head around jar. Smooth out air bubbles. Use a straight pin to pop stubborn air pockets, then smooth tape onto jar.

  6. Remove top liner from head. One at a time, remove back liners from beaded nose and antlers, and attach to jar. Press wiggle eyes onto tape. Place jar inside plastic storage tub and pour dark bronze marbles to coat head. Use your fingers to press marbles onto head until tape is completely coated. Remove liners from ears, and attach to head.

    Use your fingers to press marbles onto head to make Reindeer Christmas cookie jars.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Coat head.

  7. Tie a bow around jar top.
Slip, Slide, and Skate Penguin Jar

Slip, Slide, and Skate Penguin Jar are easy to make Christmas crafts that are great Christmas gifts.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Slip, Slide, and Skate Penguin Jar

You'll Need:
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Clear glass sealable jar with 4-inch square side surfaces
  • Enamel paint: white, green, yellow, red, black
  • #2 round paintbrushes
  • Bottle-tip nozzle pen set
To Make Slip, Slide, and Skate Penguin Jar:
  1. Download Slip, Slide, and Skate Penguin Jar pattern here. Print it out. Cut pattern paper to 3 x 31/2 inches. Position and tape pattern inside glass jar.

  2. Thin small amount of white enamel paint with water. Hold jar in your hand with pattern side up and level. Using pattern as your guide, paint inner body of penguin white, leaving beak shape clear.

  3. Thin small amount of green enamel to ink consistency, and paint tree shapes. Repeat with yellow to paint beak and feet, red to fill in red hat stripes, and black to paint penguin's body. Let dry; repeat if necessary to achieve opaque coverage.

    Use enamel to paint the penguin on the jar.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Use enamel to paint the
    penguin on the jar.

  4. Using pen set, attach extension cap and fine metal tip to black enamel bottle. Practice squeezing enamel from bottle, then paint skate blade lines and 2 small dots for eyes. (Quickly and thoroughly rinse out cap and metal tip after each use and change of color.)

  5. Attach extension cap and fine metal tip to white enamel bottle. Apply enamel thickly to achieve look of textured snow along bottom edges of trees, beneath penguin's skates, behind penguin, and around sides of jar. Paint hatband, pom-pom, and lines between red stripes white. Paint snowflakes around upper portion of jar with white enamel.

    Use the white enamel to paint the details on the Penguin cookie jar.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Use the white enamel to paint the details.

  6. Follow manufacturer's instructions on enamel bottles for drying, baking, and curing enamel to the glass (be sure to remove rubber stopper from jar before baking).
In the next section, we'll show you how to make Christmas plates and dishes.