12 Winter Art Activities Your Team Hasn’t Tried Before

Winter is the perfect moment to slow things down and let your team’s creativity take center stage. Whether you’re painting, crafting, or building something hands-on, winter art activities help everyone unplug from deadlines and tap into their imaginative side. These projects bring out personal expression, boost collaboration, and give teammates something they can proudly display at home or on their desks. 

In this blog, we’ve rounded up the 12 best winter art and craft activities for both remote and in-office teams. They’re designed to get everyone involved and collaborate naturally outside of work. So let’s dive in. 

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Are Winter Art Activities a Fun Pick for Seasonal Team-Building?

Yes, winter themed art activities​ offer a creative way for teams to connect during the holiday and help reduce stress at the workplace. According to Gallup, creativity can boost employee engagement by 28% in the modern workplace. While games are a classic choice, arts and craft projects are simple and easy to follow, making them inclusive for teams. Plus, you get to take away personalized keepsakes, whether it’s a custom photo frame, a decorated batch of sugar cookies, or a holiday succulent.

12 Fun Winter Art Activities for Teams

Looking for creative winter team building activities? Here are 12 engaging art projects, like hand-painted, scented candles, mini snowmen, and more, for teams to collaborate and enjoy the season together.

1. Winter Canvas Art🖼️

Winter Canvas Art is a fun, hands-on activity for teams to get creative while painting festive artwork on canvas together.  For hybrid teams, choose an event that lets remote workers each paint a section of a mural, which is later combined into a single image.  You and your team can paint snowy landscapes, frosted trees, snowfall, misty mornings, or even a soft winter sunrise and sunset. Everyone ends up with a handmade masterpiece that can brighten their space, feature in a team gallery wall, or serve as a keepsake.

If you want a guided experience for your team, the Virtual Holiday Canvas Paint Party includes a host who leads everyone step by step.

Materials needed: An easel, paintbrushes, a canvas panel, a large palette, and acrylic paints.

2. Hand-Painted Mugs🍵

Painting coffee mugs for a holiday makeover is an easy, feel-good winter activity that brings teams together. Teams can transform ceramic mugs with popular winter trends like pastel palettes, minimal doodle-style art, gingerbread houses, or bold hand-lettered holiday phrases. You can follow a live instructor or look up inspiration on Pinterest or YouTube. A quick bake sets the design, and everyone ends up with a cozy winter mug perfect for hot cocoa season.

Materials needed: A plain ceramic coffee mug, acrylic paints, brushes or markers, stencils or design templates, and sponges or dabbers, food-safe sealant (optional).

3. Wool Macramé Wall Hanging🧶

A wool macramé wall-hanging workshop offers teams a calming, hands-on way to create a beautifully textured piece for the season. Teams can experiment with simple motifs, geometric designs, or explore creative styles like macraweaves and layered tassel designs. You can also use different yarn colors to make your wall hangings stand out. Bring in an expert who can demonstrate different knitting techniques and offer tips to improve your craft. 

Materials needed: Wool yarn, macramé cord, a dowel or branch, scissors, and a measuring tape.

4. Winter Wreath Making💮

Wreath making gives teams a cozy, hands-on way to craft their own seasonal decor using winter greens, textured accents, and festive details. Teams can deck out their wreaths with pinecones, dried citrus, berries, ribbons, velvet bows, and other trendy winter touches. Everyone can experiment with colors, layering, and placement to add a unique and personal flair to their classic winter decoration. By the end, each person has a holiday decoration to hang at home or give as a gift.

Materials needed: A wreath base, seasonal greenery, pinecones, berries, dried citrus slices, velvet or satin ribbons, floral wire,tape, wire cutters, and hot glue sticks..

5. Mini Snowman⛄

Winter fun doesn’t have to wait for the first snowfall. Teams can build their own adorable mini snowmen indoors with zero snow required. Using socks and rice, teams have to shape the snowman’s body and then decorate it with buttons, scarves, hats, or other little touches. To add a competitive twist, everyone can showcase their creations in the end and vote for their favorite design.

Materials needed: White socks, rice or stuffing, rubber bands, glue, scissors, fabric scraps or felt, buttons, ribbon, twine, mini hats or accessories, and fabric paint.

6. Mug Coasters Painting🎨

Painting mug coasters offers your team an artful pause from the workday while giving them a cozy winter craft to enjoy together. Teams can transform plain wooden coasters with winter-themed designs like mittens, snowmen, snowy mountains, or pine trees. Add personalized touches, such as initials, short quotes, tiny doodles, or symbols that reflect each team member’s unique personality.  Once the painting is done, finish with a clear sealant to protect the artwork and give each coaster a polished, glossy look.

Materials needed: Wood coasters, stencil, acrylic paints, sealant, paint pens, and cotton swabs. 

7. Scented Candles🕯️

Crafting winter-inspired scented candles offers teams a calming, sensory break that’s perfect to embrace the season’s slower pace and create something wellness driven and gift-worthy. Teams can mix warm, wintery scents like vanilla, cinnamon, pine, peppermint, or spiced citrus, then personalize their candles with dried flowers, herbs, glitter, or minimalist jar designs.

Materials needed: Containers, organic soy wax, color dyes, fragrance oils (vanilla, cinnamon, and spices), wicks, wick tabs, and a stir stick.

8. Gingerbread House decorating🏠

Looking for winter art activities that are both festive and fun? Gingerbread house decorating brings all the nostalgic holiday charm while letting teams get creative with their own delicious designs. Teams assemble pre-baked gingerbread panels into cute structures like cozy cabins or cocoa cottages, then bring them to life with icing details, candies, powdered sugar, coconut flakes, and sprinkles.

Materials needed: Pre-baked gingerbread house pieces, royal icing mix, piping bags, candies, sprinkles, fondants, decorative add-ons.

Pro-Tip: Opt for a hosted session where a professional host will guide you and share tips and tricks to make unique holiday decor.

9. Holiday Ornaments Painting🧅

Holiday ornament painting taps into one of the season’s biggest decor trends which is DIY ornaments, letting teams craft stylish, custom pieces. Teams paint plain ornaments made of wood, glass, plastic, metal, or fabric in unique styles, like winter skies, trees, bows, or geometric patterns. You can use metallic accents, ombre palettes to match current holiday decor trends and make each piece stand out. Bring in an experienced artist who can guide your team step by step and offer design tips to make the session more fun and creative.

Materials needed: Plain holiday ornaments, twine and bells, paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and a small palette.

10. Mason Jar Snow Lanterns🏮

Mason jar snow lanterns are an easy, cozy winter craft that lets your team create a beautiful seasonal keepsake together. Using simple materials, teammates transform plain jars into glowing winter decor by layering faux snow, adding textured accents like pinecones or dried oranges, and finishing with ribbon, twine, or a touch of sparkle. Drop in fairy lights for a soft warm glow, and decorate the rim with pine sprigs or tiny charms for that rustic, picture-perfect finish. In the end, everyone walks away with a cozy lantern they can use on their work desk or gift to a loved one.

Materials needed: Mason jars, Mod Podge (satin finish), faux snow, pine or fir sprigs, twine, assorted embellishments, scissors, glue sticks, and battery-operated fairy lights.

11. Succulent Globe Terrarium🌱

If you’re looking for nature-themed winter art activities, crafting a succulent globe terrarium is a great choice. Everyone builds their own glass globe by arranging small succulents with seasonal accents like pebbles, moss, twigs, or tiny winter-themed charms. Teammates can design their layout with themes like mini forests, desert scenes, snowy landscapes, or tiny fairy gardens. Bring in an instructor who can guide layouts and plant care (watering, sunlight, and soil tips) so everyone takes home a small ecosystem they can actually keep alive.

Materials needed: Globe, succulent plants, wintry greens, seasonal ornaments, soil blend, preserved moss, bamboo spoon, and water pipette.

12. Upcycled Winter Craft♻️

Upcycled eco-friendly crafts  is one of the trendiest winter art activities of the season, and perfect for teams that love sustainable creativity. Teams can use materials like cardboard, jars, bottles, scrap fabric, paper rolls, or old gift bags and turn them into holiday-themed craft projects. A few ideas you can try are wall hangings, 3D snowflakes, candle holders, wreaths, novelty snow globes, winter hats, and more. It’s budget-friendly, planet-friendly, and packed with creative freedom that gets everyone thinking outside the box.

Materials needed: Any useful items you can find around you. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What winter art is trending right now?

Currently, winter art trends focus on hands-on, creative projects that are both fun and approachable for everyone. Needle felting, mirrored mosaics, and nature-inspired designs are especially popular, as they combine texture, color, and seasonal themes. There’s also a big focus on using natural or sustainable materials, giving each project a cozy, artisanal feel.

What are some classic winter crafts to make?

Classic winter crafts can be decorating mugs, making paper snowflakes, building small snowmen, creating holiday ornaments, or crafting festive garlands.

What are some winter art activities using only natural materials?

Winter art activities using only natural materials focus on creativity without any artificial supplies. Teams can make pinecone decorations, leaf or twig wreaths, dried berry garlands, or pressed leaf and flower art.

How can winter art activities bring your team closer?

Easy winter art activities bring teams closer by giving everyone a chance to relax, collaborate, and share a hands-on experience outside of regular work. These art and craft projects help people connect naturally and bond with each other while having fun.

Can art really help your team beat the winter slump?

Yes, winter art activities can help your team beat the winter slump. Hands-on creative activities break the routine and encourage everyone to interact and connect with one another through hands-on experiences. 

How can winter art help teams unwind and recharge?

Winter art activities help teams unwind by giving them a hands-on way to focus on something fun and creative outside of work. Working on art and craft projects helps teams share ideas and enjoy a relaxing activity together. It gives the team a chance to recharge and return to work with a fresh perspective and energy.