Draw and color simple Christmassy cartoon characters like Santa, reindeer, and snowmen using pencil, markers, and basic shapes to practice creativity and proportion.



Step-by-step guide to doodle Christmassy cartoons
How To Draw A Cartoon Christmas Elf
Step 1
Gather all your materials and sit at a clean flat surface.
Step 2
Pick one Christmassy character to draw like Santa reindeer or a snowman.
Step 3
Lightly sketch the big simple shapes that make up your character using your pencil.
Step 4
Turn each basic shape into body parts by adding a head arms and a body shape.
Step 5
Add facial features such as eyes a mouth and a nose to give your character expression.
Step 6
Draw clothing and accessories like a hat scarf belt or antlers for your character.
Step 7
Trace over your best pencil lines with the black marker to make the drawing bold.
Step 8
Gently erase the remaining pencil lines so only the marker lines show.
Step 9
Color your character using your coloring materials to make it bright and festive.
Step 10
Add a simple background like snowflakes stars or a present to finish the scene.
Step 11
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can we use instead of a black marker or fancy coloring supplies?
If you don't have a black marker for step 6, use a dark ballpoint pen, fine-tip crayon, or gel pen to trace your best pencil lines and color with crayons, colored pencils, or washable markers from your coloring materials in step 8.
My drawing looks messy after tracing or erasing—how can I fix it?
If the marker smudges or pencil lines won't erase after step 6, let the marker dry completely and then erase gently with a soft eraser in step 7 or test tracing on scrap paper first to avoid heavy strokes.
How can we change the activity for younger or older kids?
For ages 3–5 simplify steps 2–4 by choosing one big shape and using chunky crayons or washable markers, for 6–8 follow all steps with light pencil sketches and basic coloring, and for 9+ add detailed clothing, shading with colored pencils in step 8, or a more complex background in step 9.
How can we make the finished doodle more special or keep it after sharing?
To personalize and extend the project after step 9, mount the colored character on cardstock to make a holiday card, add cotton for Santa's beard or glitter glue for snow, or turn several drawings into a flipbook and then share the finished creation on DIY.org as in step 10.
Watch videos on how to doodle Christmassy cartoons
How To Draw Cartoon Santa Claus
Facts about cartoon drawing for kids
🎅 The jolly red‑suited Santa we know was shaped by 19th‑century cartoons and later popularized in modern ads.
🦌 Most of Santa's reindeer are probably female—male reindeer usually shed their antlers before winter, while females keep theirs through Christmas.
⛄ Snowmen are often built from three stacked circles—using simple shapes makes them quick and friendly to draw.
✏️ Doodling can boost focus and memory—sketching simple characters helps your brain stay engaged and creative.
🖍️ Cartoon characters are commonly constructed from basic shapes (circles, ovals, rectangles), which makes practicing proportion easy and fun.