Turn Stress into Calm with Holiday Bauble Drawing

December is here, and while the holidays bring joy, they also come with a healthy dose of chaos. Between gift lists, school events, and holiday dinners, finding a moment to pause can feel impossible.

This simple creative holiday bauble drawing exercise offers you exactly that—a chance to slow down, breathe, and create something festive.

And the best part? It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about giving yourself a moment of calm and fun.

Why This Exercise Helps Calm Your Mind

Drawing repetitive patterns is a fantastic way to relax, especially during a busy time like the holidays. Here’s why:

• Repetitive Movements: Whether you’re drawing spirals, dots, or lines, these small, repetitive movements help calm your brain and bring you into the moment.
• Focus on the Process: This exercise isn’t about the outcome—it’s about slowing down and letting your mind rest from all the to-dos.
• Mindful Breathing: As you fill your patterns, match your strokes to your breath. It’s an easy way to incorporate mindfulness without even realizing it.
• Playful Creativity: There’s no right or wrong way to do this exercise. The wonkier the patterns, the better! Giving yourself permission to play helps release perfectionism.

Have fun with this holiday bauble drawing exercise! Please let me know if you’ve tried it; I would love to see it.

You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown

Supplies used:

Marker paper 300grs (BeCreativeShop), fineliner (Ohuhu), alcohol markers (Ohuhu), gold acrylic marker (Ohuhu), red and white gelpen (Sakura), a round object to trace.

Alternative supply suggestions:

You don’t need any fancy materials—whatever you have on hand works fine. Watercolor, markers, or crayons, a regular pen or pencil—it’s all about the process, not the result.

Instructions for this holiday bauble drawing exercise:

Step 1 – Start with circles

Find something round to trace, like a cup, a lid, or even a roll of tape. Place it on your paper and trace a few circles.

Don’t worry about spacing them perfectly—let them overlap or stand alone.

Step 2 – Turn your circles into baubles

Turn your circles into Christmas ornaments by drawing a small rectangle on top for the bauble’s cap.

Add a loop and string so they look like they’re hanging.

Step 3 – Add a bit of color

Grab your favorite holiday colors—greens, reds, golds, and silvers. Fill each bauble with vibrant color.

Bonus Tip: To make this part even more calming, try coloring in the same direction or using slow, repetitive movements. This focus on consistency can have a meditative effect.

Step 4 – Fill them with holiday patterns

Now comes the fun part—filling your baubles with patterns! Let your creativity flow, and remember, they don’t have to look realistic. Try these simple festive ideas:

• Tiny holly leaves and berries.
• Stripes in alternating colors (think candy canes!).
• Spirals, dots, and swirls.
• Snowflakes or little stars.
• Triangles for a retro look, like my orange and yellow bauble.
• Little hanging ornaments within the circle (like my green one).
• Scribbly lines, loops, or abstract doodles—keep it playful!

If you want, use a white or metallic pen to add highlights to your baubles. This can make them pop and look a little shiny!