We’re back with another DIY holiday gift idea that’s simple, affordable, and charming. Last year we picked up three inexpensive starfish from Michael’s, painted them to look like little Santas, and discovered an easy way to create unique, beach-inspired ornaments. Similar painted starfish were selling in seaside shops for around twelve dollars each, so we figured we could make our own for just a fraction of the price.
Since John’s parents had recently bought a beach house, the starfish theme felt especially appropriate. We painted tiny belts, hats, beards, and boots on the starfish and, just like that, they became Saint Nick with a coastal twist. Seeing John’s parents open their Starfish Santas last Christmas was a highlight—simple materials turned into a memorable, handmade present.
This year we decided to make the painted starfish a small tradition and try a less common version: the Snowman Starfish. Admittedly, starfish don’t exactly resemble round snowmen, but with a little creativity the shape can suggest a whimsical snowman face and body. We bought another starfish at Michael’s, dug out our red, white, and black paint from last year, and got to work.
We began by painting the entire starfish white to form the snowman base. Once the white paint dried, we painted small black boots on a couple of the arms, added three black buttons down the center, and painted a black shape near the top that would become the hat. Simple black dots became the eyes, and a tiny orange or red dab made a cute nose. Finally, a happy red curve completed the smile. The overall effect is playful and makes for a holiday ornament with personality.
To add texture and a handcrafted finish, we tied on a small scarf made from red ribbon and secured it with a tiny dab of glue. For the hat brim, we cut a small oval from black card stock, punched or cut a center hole, and slid it down one of the starfish points so it sat like a jaunty top hat. These little finishing touches make the starfish feel complete and give them instant holiday charm.
This isn’t the most elegant holiday decoration you’ll ever see, but that’s part of its appeal. It’s cute, handmade, and made with love—perfect for gift-giving or as a fun craft to share with kids. The project is very forgiving and child-friendly: painting the base, adding simple facial features, and gluing on small accessories are tasks that little hands can help with, making it a great activity for families during the holidays.
The supplies are minimal—starfish, acrylic paints in white, black, red (and optional orange for the nose), a scrap of black card stock, a small ribbon for the scarf, and craft glue. You can vary each starfish by changing colors, adding glitter, or experimenting with different hat styles. They make thoughtful stocking stuffers, mantel decorations, or little keepsakes for friends who love coastal decor.
If you want to build this into an annual tradition, keep a few extra starfish on hand and store your paints and card stock together so you can pull everything out easily each year. The process is inexpensive and fun, and the finished pieces carry more meaning because they’re handmade. Now we’ll cross our fingers that John’s parents didn’t check the blog today—shh, don’t tell.