These reindeer Christmas decorations are such cute ideas to add to your holiday decorating this year! I love using flower pots for decorations like this! A simple terra cotta pot, some googly eyes, ribbon, and pom-poms turn this into an adorable Rudolf decoration. These make a great addition to your mantle, front porch, or even as a table centerpiece.
If you love this one, then you should check out this cute idea for how to turn a pine cone into a reindeer as another adorable decoration for your mantle this year!
Jump to:
- Reindeer Christmas Decorations
- Where Should I Display This Reindeer?
- Can I Use Plastic Pots Instead?
- Supplies Needed
- How to Make Reindeer Christmas Decor out of Flower Pots
- How to Make the Large Flower Pot Reindeer
- Video Tutorial:
- Printable Step-by-Step Tutorial:
- Materials
- Tools
- Instructions
- Recommended Products
Reindeer Christmas Decorations
Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer is an iconic symbol of the holiday season. You see him on the big screen in movies, as ornaments on the tree, or as stuffed animals in the store. There are tons of places to see a reindeer, so why not create your own unique one to display in your house?
I love making this reindeer Christmas decor out of a simple flower pot and a few craft supplies. They are easy enough that I can make several and share them with friends or turn them into a little family of reindeer you can add to your mantle.
If your kids want to help but aren't old enough to work with hot glue, you can have them make these simple paper plate reindeer crafts, or even fill reindeer treat bags with candy to include in gift baskets for friends.
If you are planning to decorate your mantle this year, you'll love this list of easy DIY signs for Christmas decorating.
Where Should I Display This Reindeer?
I think these look best on your mantle or on a porch railing. They could also be a wonderful addition to a centerpiece or on the backside of a buffet table at a holiday event. They are super easy to make, and since they are so versatile, you can really display them anywhere you wish.
You can also display them next to the snowmen from my tutorial on how to make a snowman out of a flower pot. Another option is setting them up with these simple Christmas jar ideas for more color and holiday cheer. If you want something else to decorate your mantle with? Check out this list of easy to make Christmas stocking patterns!
Can I Use Plastic Pots Instead?
If you can't find terra cotta clay pots when it is time to make these reindeer, you can definitely use a plastic pot instead. Look for them in dark orange or brown colors for the best result. When there aren't any in the color you need, simply paint them like you would the terra cotta pot.
After all of this work crafting, you'll want to taste these delicious frosted reindeer sugar cookies!
Supplies Needed
- Brown cardboard
- Flower pots (1 large and 2 small)
- Brown paint
- Red satin ribbon
- Green satin ribbon
- Bells
- Googly eyes
- Brown pipe cleaners
- Red pom-poms in different sizes
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Candy
How to Make Reindeer Christmas Decor out of Flower Pots
To begin this craft, you will want to paint your flower pots brown or dark orange color. I used simple craft paint, but you can also use spray paint if that is easier for you to manage. Allow the paint to completely dry before moving on to the next steps.
To begin the first design, you will use one of the smaller pots and turn it upside down so the opening is on the bottom and the bottom is on the top. This will be displayed with the flower pot bottom on the top, so keep that in mind as you add the googly eyes and a red pom pom for the nose.
Next, you will take a few of the brown pipe cleaners and shape them into horns. I made them with for this design by creating three "horns" out of each pipe cleaner to glue onto each side of the top of the pot.
Use the red ribbon, and create a small bow out of it to then glue on top of the flower pot between the horns made from pipe cleaners.
Repeat this process on the other small flower pot but use the pipe cleaners to create a slightly different style of horns.
How to Make the Large Flower Pot Reindeer
For the largest of the flower pots, you will begin by tracing your palms onto the cardboard and cutting them out. These will become your horns for this reindeer.
Next, you will add the larger googly eyes and pom pom nose to this pot, with the opening on the top - opposite of the smaller pots.
Glue the horns in place on the top backside of the flower pot.
The final step is to glue a bell onto each of the "horns" on the cardboard for the reindeer.
Fill the large reindeer with candy pieces, and display on your mantle or table as desired.
Video Tutorial:
Printable Step-by-Step Tutorial:
DIY Clay Pot Reindeer Christmas Decorations
Turn simple flower pots into adorable Rudolf Reindeer Christmas Decor! Use a few simple craft supplies and turn these into great Rudlof the Red Nosed Reindeer decorations!
Materials
- Flower pots in 2-3 sizes
- Brown cardboard
- Red pom poms
- Brown paint
- Googly eyes
- Brown pipe cleaners
- Red or Green satin ribbon
- Jingle bells
- Candy
Tools
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
Instructions
- To make these reindeer, you will begin by painting the flower pots brown;
- Set the flower pots aside to dry for around 1 hour or until they are completely dry;
- Once the pots are dry, you will begin by turning the smallest one upside down so the opening is on the table and the bottom is on top facing you. Next, you will attach googly eyes and a red pom pom nose to the front;
- Begin shaping the pipe cleaners into horns;
- Attach the horns to the top of the pot with hot glue;
- Make a small red or green bow and glue between the horns on the top of the pot;
- Continue by making the next smaller pot using the same steps except to make the horns a bit different;
- To make the largest pot, you will start by tracing your hands onto the cardboard;
- Cut out the hands and set them aside;
- Glue a nose and googly eyes onto the flower pot, this time leaving the opening on the top of the reindeer;
- Attach the hands to the top of the flower pot to act as horns;
- Glue the jingle bells onto the cardboard with one on each "horn";
- Finish by pouring candies into the large flower pot reindeer and display as desired.
Recommended Products
My favorite Etsy reindeer items (Affiliate links)
MaryN
For Thanksgiving make 1 small one 1 turkey using the cut out hand pattern. Make 2 other pots pilgrim's hat and maybe a headdress