31 Christmas Things to Draw (Easy Ideas for Every Skill Level)

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Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by Dee

December is here, and you know what that means—it’s time to fill your sketchbook with all things festive. Whether you’re looking for simple doodles to add to your sketchbook, working on holiday cards, or just want to sketch something cozy while sipping hot chocolate, this list has you covered.

I’ve taught art for 18 years, and here’s what I know: you don’t need to be “good at drawing” to enjoy this. Some of these ideas take 30 seconds. Others might have you lost in creative flow for an hour. The magic happens when you stop worrying about perfection and just let your pencil wander.

Download the free Christmas drawing templates at the end of this post.

Start with the Right Tools (But Don’t Overthink It)

Before we jump in tour list of Christmas things to draw, let’s talk supplies. You really don’t need much—a pencil and paper will do. But if you want to explore different effects, here’s what I keep within arm’s reach:

• Basic sketching pencils like this affordable set work beautifully for everything on this list
• Fine liner pens (I’m obsessed with these Micron pens) for adding crisp details
• A simple sketchbook like this one with smooth paper
• Colored pencils such as these Prismacolors if you want to add color
• Brush pens like this set for loose, painterly effects

Want more detail on what tools work best? Check out my full guide on drawing tools.

Classic Christmas Symbols (Start Here If You’re Feeling Stuck)

1. Christmas Trees

The easiest starting point. Draw a simple triangle, add some wavy horizontal lines for garland, stick circles on for ornaments. Done. Or get fancy with individual pine needles and perfectly placed baubles. Your choice.

2. Ornaments

Circles with little caps on top. Add patterns inside—stripes, dots, snowflakes, whatever. String them together on a curved line and suddenly you have a garland. These are perfect for filling awkward white spaces in journals.

3. Candy Canes

Two curved lines, add stripes. Honestly, candy canes might be the most forgiving thing you’ll ever draw. Even if they’re wonky, they still look like candy canes.

4. Stockings

A boot shape with a fluffy cuff at the top. Fill them with tiny wrapped presents peeking out, or keep them empty and waiting. Add patterns, patches, or knit textures if you’re feeling it.

5. Wreaths

Draw a circle (or an imperfect, organic one—even better). Add leaves, berries, pine branches, ribbons. Layer until it feels full. These look gorgeous even with the simplest execution.

6. Stars

Five-pointed, eight-pointed, wonky hand-drawn ones. Stars belong everywhere in December. Scatter them across pages, string them on invisible garlands, or make one big statement star with intricate details inside.

7. Bells

Two rounded shapes connected at the top, add a little ball clapper at the bottom. Throw in some holly leaves and berries. If you want to get fancy, add motion lines or musical notes floating around them.

Cozy Indoor Scenes (My Personal Favorites)

8. Mugs of Hot Cocoa

Draw a simple mug shape, add a mountain of whipped cream on top, throw in some marshmallows, maybe a candy cane stirrer. Steam curls rising from the top make it instantly cozy. These are ridiculously fun to draw while actually drinking hot cocoa.

9. Candles

Tall tapers, chunky pillars, tea lights in holders—candles scream December. Add melting wax drips for character. The flame is just a simple teardrop shape with a little glow around it.

10. Fireplaces

This one’s more involved but so worth it. Brick pattern, a mantel with stockings hanging, fire inside (or logs waiting to be lit). Add details like family photos on the mantel or a sleeping cat nearby.

11. Gift Boxes

Rectangles with ribbon and bows. Seriously, you can draw a hundred of these and they’ll all look different. Vary the sizes, stack them in piles, add patterns to the wrapping paper. These work beautifully in fun drawing ideas collections.

12. Books Stacked with Holiday Titles

Rectangles on their sides, spines showing. Write cozy winter titles on them or leave them blank. Add a mug of tea balanced on top and maybe some fairy lights draped around.

13. Snowglobes

Circle (or dome shape), a little scene inside—tree, house, snowman, whatever you want. Add snow dots floating inside. The base can be as simple or detailed as you like. I love drawing tiny worlds trapped in glass.

Nature & Botanicals (For a Vintage Feel)

If you’re into the botanical route like I am, you’ll love these. They pair beautifully with my vintage Christmas botanicals collection.

14. Holly Leaves and Berries

Three pointy leaves arranged in a spray, red berries clustered in the center. Classic, elegant, and deceptively easy to draw.

15. Pine Branches

Draw a center line, add short needle clusters along both sides. Throw in a pine cone or two. Instant winter greenery.

16. Poinsettias

Start with a center circle, add overlapping petal shapes radiating out. The top petals are red, the leaves underneath are green. These look fancy even when you keep them simple.

17. Mistletoe

Two curved stems crossing, add rounded leaves, white berries clustered where the stems meet. So simple, so festive.

18. Oranges with Cloves

Draw a circle, add little dots all over for cloves. Include a ribbon wrapped around it. These smell amazing in real life and look charming on paper.

19. Cinnamon Sticks

Bundles of thin rectangles tied together with twine or ribbon. Add some texture lines to show the bark. Pair them with star anise or orange slices.

Winter Critters (Because They’re Adorable)

20. Cardinals

Round body, pointed crest on top, wings folded against the body, stick legs. Add a branch underneath. Cardinals are the official bird of cozy winter illustrations.

21. Reindeer

Oval body, four stick legs, round head with big ears, antlers branching off the top. Add a red nose if it’s Rudolph. Or give them scarves and hats for extra personality.

22. Penguins

Egg-shaped body, white belly, black back, triangle beak, flippers at the sides. They’re basically impossible to mess up and always look cute.

23. Winter Rabbits

Round body, long ears standing up, fluffy tail. Add a scarf or a tiny Santa hat. Place them in snow or sitting by a tree.

24. Owls

Round body, round head, big circular eyes, small triangle beak, feather tufts on top if you want. Perch them on pine branches or tuck them into wreaths.

Food & Treats (Makes Me Hungry Every Time)

25. Gingerbread Cookies

Person-shaped or house-shaped, add icing details—buttons, smiles, windows, candy decorations. Give them personality with different facial expressions.

26. Christmas Cookies on a Plate

Circles, stars, trees, all piled on a round plate. Add little icing details or leave them simple sugar cookies. Throw in some crumbs for realism.

27. Candy and Peppermints

Swirled circles, wrapped candies with twisted ends, striped patterns. These are perfect gap-fillers when you need something quick and festive.

28. Fruit Cake or Pudding

Round dome shape on a plate, add little dots for fruit, drizzle icing over the top. Or draw a slice with layers visible. I know fruitcake has a reputation, but it draws beautifully.

Finishing Touches

29. Snowflakes

Six lines radiating from a center point, add details on each arm—dots, crosses, little branches. Every snowflake is unique, so there’s literally no wrong way to do this.

30. Winter Hats and Mittens

Knit caps with pom-poms, pairs of mittens connected with string. Add cable knit patterns or fair isle designs. Hang them on a clothesline or scatter them across a page.

31. Festive Banners and Garlands

Triangular pennants strung on a line, write festive words inside or leave them patterned. These work perfectly as headers for journal spreads or greeting cards.

Mix and Match for Maximum Coziness

Here’s where it gets fun. Don’t just draw these things in isolation. Combine them:

• A cardinal perched on a holly branch
• Mugs of cocoa next to stacked books
• Gift boxes piled under a Christmas tree
• Mittens hanging by a fireplace
• Snowflakes falling around a winter hat

The best Christmas drawings tell little stories. They don’t need to be complicated—sometimes a simple mug and a book say “cozy December evening” better than an elaborate scene.

Quick Tips Before You Start

Don’t worry about symmetry. Real Christmas decorations are never perfectly symmetrical, and hand-drawn ones shouldn’t be either. Wonky stars and lopsided ornaments have more character.

Layer your elements. Overlap holly leaves, stack gift boxes, cluster ornaments together. This creates depth without needing fancy shading techniques.

Add texture with simple lines. A few parallel lines suggest knit fabric. Tiny dots create snow. Short dashes show wood grain. You don’t need to be precious about it.

Repeat shapes in different sizes. Draw one star small, one medium, one large. Same with trees, ornaments, anything. Variation makes things interesting.

Use reference photos guilt-free. There’s no shame in looking at a picture of a poinsettia while you draw. That’s how you learn what they actually look like. I keep a Pinterest board just for this.

Grab a set of gel pens and add white highlights to your finished drawings—instant magic. Trust me on this one.

When Perfectionism Creeps In

Listen. I’ve been teaching art for nearly two decades, and I still draw wonky Christmas trees. Sometimes my wreaths look more like green blobs with berries. That’s fine. That’s actually better than fine—it’s human.

The goal here isn’t to create museum-worthy illustrations. It’s to fill your December with small creative moments. Some drawings will turn out adorable. Others will be weird. Both are good.

Keep your sketchbook messy. Draw multiples of the same thing until you figure out what works. Mess up and draw over it. Add too many details or not enough. This is how you find your style.

Make It a December Drawing Challenge

If you want some structure, try this: draw one thing from this list each day leading up to Christmas. Or pick ten favorites and repeat them in different ways. Or ignore the list completely and draw whatever Christmas thing makes you happy that day.

The point is the practice, the cozy ritual of sitting down with your supplies and making something with your hands. No pressure, no rules, just you and your sketchbook and the smell of pine somewhere in the background.

Your Turn

What are you drawing first? I’m betting it’s either a Christmas tree (because classic) or hot cocoa (because relatable). Or maybe you’re diving straight into something ambitious like a fireplace scene. Whatever it is, enjoy the process.

And if you’re looking for even more inspiration, grab some vintage botanical prints to reference, or check out ready-made Christmas junk journal stickers if you want to skip the drawing and jump straight to decorating.

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These templates work beautifully for:

• Tracing practice if you’re building confidence
• Quick coloring pages for a creative break
• Starting points to modify and make your own
• Adding to junk journals and scrapbooks

Grab them, print as many copies as you want, and fill your December with festive doodles.

Now go make something. Your Christmas sketchbook is waiting. ✨