DIY Cat and Santa Hat Christmas Decoration

Turn scrap wood into a charming cat and Santa hat Christmas decoration. Easy to make and perfect for decorating, gifting, or craft markets.

Wood cat painted black peeking around a red wooden Santa hat

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I was racking my brain trying to come up with something I could donate to the Historical Society, where I volunteer for our Holiday Open House and Christmas Craft Market.

The focus is on offering affordable items — ornaments, stocking stuffers, small gifts. Ideally, I didn’t want to spend much on whatever I made (free would be best!), and I didn’t want to invest a ton of time. Quick and easy was the goal.

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How the Idea Came Together

I started wondering if I could turn the project from my Halloween Workshop, Peek-a-boo Paws — the little kitty peeking around a pumpkin — into a Christmas project. But what could the kitty peek around? An ornament? A tree? A bell?

Then it hit me: a Santa hat!

And just like that, Christmas Peek-a-boo Paws was born.

A Cute, Affordable Gift Idea

Need an inexpensive gift for family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers who love cats? This is it. Or make one for yourself.

It stands about 11 inches tall, so it’s small enough for a shelf or mantel but big enough to stand out.

I made mine entirely from scrap wood and craft paints I already had on hand.

Want to see how I organize my craft paints? I made this organizer that keeps everything easy to grab.

Make It Your Own

Customize yours any way you like. I made one with the hat on the left and one on the right. Change the hat color or paint the kitty to match your furry friend. Completely customizable, inexpensive, and quick to make.

Close up of a wooden cat peeking around the top of a red Santa hat

How to Make a Cat and Santa Hat Decoration

Printed Plan

Get the PDF plan here (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips)

Materials

Wood (per the printed plan)
Wood Glue
1-¼” Brad Nails
Double-Sided Tape (optional)

Tools

Miter Saw
Scroll Saw
Brad Nailer or Hammer

Before You Begin

If this is your first time making a project like this, you might want to grab the Halloween Peek-a-Boo Paws Workshop, which walks you through the cutting, sanding, painting, and assembly techniques in detail, step by step. It’s a helpful companion if you’re brand-new to scroll saw-style projects.

Step 1. Trace the Pieces

Print your template (included with the PDF plan) and cut it out. Then trace the cat, paws, and Santa hat onto your scrap wood. You can use carbon paper, but I prefer using spray adhesive to attach the template to a manila folder, making it sturdier and easier to trace.

Tracing a cat template onto a board with a pencil

Step 2. Cut the Shapes

NOTE: I tried something different for this project. I tacked the boards together with my brad nailer so I could cut two cats and two Santa hats at the same time. It worked and saved a little time, but the blade definitely struggled. I’m thinking a different blade would’ve handled the thicker material better.

Take your time, follow your pencil line, and let the scroll saw do the work. Slow and steady cuts make this way more enjoyable. And remember—this is a rustic craft, not fine furniture. A little wobble here or there just adds character.

Hands removing two boards from a scroll saw

3. Smooth the Edges

Grab some sandpaper (120 grit is perfect) and clean up any saw marks. Don’t forget to soften the edges. Rounding them over just a bit gives the whole piece that worn, cozy, handmade look.

4. Add Some Color

Now for the fun part—painting. I painted the cat black and went with a classic red-and-white Santa hat, but feel free to switch things up. Maybe your cat is orange, tabby, calico, or tuxedo. Maybe your hat is green or even plaid. Use whatever craft paint you have on hand.

Hand using a brush to paint the side of wooden Santa Claus hat

Once it’s dry, lightly sand the edges, giving it an aged, distressed look.

Using sandpaper to distress the edges of a wooden Santa hat

5. Put It All Together

Line up the cat and hat the way you want them to sit. I added a couple small dabs of glue along the edge of the cat, then positioned the hat so that it barely overlapped the neck area.

TIP: A piece of scrap wood across the bottom keeps the cat and hat aligned, and a second piece helps support the hat.

This is optional, but I added a little piece of double-sided tape (the glue spots showed me where to place it). The tape helps keep everything from shifting while you flip it over to nail it.

Removing the paper backing from double-sided tape

Then, I pressed the hat into position.

I flipped it over and attached it from the back with brad nails.

Tacking the cat to the hat with a brad nailer

Lastly, I applied glue to the paws, positioned them on the hat, and attached them with brad nails. These parts are small, and brad nails can sometimes go off course, so be sure to keep your hands well out of the way.

Attaching the cat's paw to the hat using a brad nailer.

Includes:

List of tools and materials
Easy-to-follow instructions
Step-by-step photos
Cat and Santa hat templates

I WANT THIS!

Final Thoughts

These little cat-and-Santa-hat decorations come together quickly, don’t cost much to make, and are easy to customize however you like. Whether you’re making a few for gifts, for a craft market, or just for your own holiday decorating, they’re a fun way to use offcuts and leftover paints.