Put a twist on your traditional holiday crafts by making three-dimensional reindeer crafts that are perfect for decorating the classroom or your home! These crafts are easy for online distance learning or at-home activities, making them perfect for this holiday season. For instructions on how to make 3D reindeer crafts, like pop-up cards, ornaments, and more, keep reading!

Rudolph Pop-up Card

 

This craft will make a fun and simple Rudolph pop-up card! In addition to the free activity page, you will need:

• Construction paper (6″ x 8″ any color for folder)
• Scissors and glue
• Crayons/colored pencils

Follow these easy and simple steps to make this fun craft:

1. Color your reindeer brown with a red nose.
2. Cut out the reindeer pieces, pasting the ears and antlers to the reindeer head.
3. Cut out form A.
   
   1. Fold it in half, hamburger style.
   2. Cut on the dotted lines.
   3. Fold back the small middle tab.
   4. Open the paper and push the tab to the reverse side.
4. Cut out form B.
   
   1. Cut on the dotted lines.
   2. Fold on the fold lines.
   3. Open and reverse folds by pushing them inside.
5. Put the card together.
   
   1. Fold your construction paper in half.
   2. Paste A inside the construction paper.
   3. Paste B on top of form A.
   4. Put paste on the tab and attach the reindeer so that the bottom of the reindeer touches the fold line.

Download your free Rudolph pop-up card template here.

Reindeer Card Holder

 

This is a practical and cute craft for storing Christmas cards! You will need:

• Red butcher paper
• Construction paper
  
  • Brown (7″ x 12″ for body, 5″ x 3″ for ears)
  • Black (6″ x 8″ for antlers and eyes)
  • Green (7″ x 3″ for halter)
  • Red (2.5″ x 2.5″ for nose)
• Hanger
• Scissors, glue, stapler

Step-by-step instructions:

1. With the paper portrait style, place the hanger at the upper side with the hook sticking out above the paper.
2. Fold the corners of the paper down and staple the red paper to the hanger.
3. Fold up the bottom three times in 4″ segments, then staple the edges to create a pocket. Do this so the back of the staples are on the same side as the folded top edges of the paper.
4. Cut your reindeer pieces (body, ears, antlers, eyes, halter, and nose) from construction paper.
   
   1. For the antlers, use your handprint outline to make it fun and personal!
5. Paste the pieces on the butcher paper so that the reindeer head is just below the hanger hook.
6. Store Christmas cards in the fun reindeer pocket.

Pinecone Reindeer Tree Ornament

For this classic craft, you’ll need:

• Pinecones
• Googly eyes
• Brown pipe cleaner
• Red pompoms
• Hot glue
• String or twine to hang ornament

Once you have all your materials, follow these simple steps to make your cute Rudolph tree ornament:

1. Using the pinecone as the base, hot glue the googly eyes and red pompom on the center of your pinecone ornament.
2. Use the brown pipe cleaners to make antlers by wrapping short pieces to a long piece so there are several short pieces sticking out.
3. Hot glue the antlers to the pinecone.
4. Tie or glue the string/twine to the back of your pinecone and hang it on your tree!
5. You can also use the same materials and substitute a toilet paper roll for the pinecone!

Milk Carton Reindeer/Rudolph Craft

This is another creative and original craft using leftover juice or milk cartons. For this activity you will need:

• Milk or juice carton
• Brown, white, and black construction paper
• Red and brown paint
• Glue
• Markers
• Scissors

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to make this craft:

1. Cover the entire carton in either brown paint or paper.
2. Take off the cap and paint it red. For extra sparkle, cover it in red glitter.
3. Trace you or your child’s handprints in brown construction paper and cut them out.
4. Glue the handprints/antlers and paste them to the back of the top tab of the carton.
5. Cut out eyes using white and black cardstock and paste them to the top tab of the carton.
6. Using the brown paper, cut out the ears and paste them to the sides of the carton.
7. Draw or paint on a smile!
8. You can also use red paper or paint to paint a collar, halfway down the carton.

Reindeer Books to Pair with Your Crafts

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Little Golden Book) by Rick Bunsen: This is a classic story of Rudolph, retelling the animated 1964 TV special.

Reindeer (A Day in the Life: Polar Animals) by Katie Marsico: Using vivid photos and descriptions, this is a great book to teach kids about the real-life creatures that pull Santa’s sleigh.

How the Reindeer Got Their Antlers by Geraldine McCaughrean and Heather Holland: This fun story describes how the reindeer, embarrassed and ashamed of their funky antlers, became heroes of Christmas.

Use these fun books and 3D crafts to bring reindeer cheer to your home or classroom this holiday season! Don’t forget your Christmas or holiday cookies to finish off your festive theme.

Check out 10 Holiday Activities from Around the World for more free holiday activities! 

 

 

 

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Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.