21 Easy Reindeer Crafts for Kids

Kids always ask for “something fun to make” the moment December rolls in, and honestly, most of us are standing there wondering how to pull off a cute Christmas craft without creating a giant mess or buying fifty new supplies. Reindeer crafts have saved me more than once because they hit that sweet spot between easy and adorable. Anything with googly eyes or a bright red nose seems to win instant approval, and the giggles start before the glue bottle is even open.

I noticed the same thing in my classroom years ago when the search for kids Christmas crafts skyrocketed. Parents and teachers kept saying the same thing: make it simple, make it quick, and please don’t make me run to the craft store again. It’s reassuring when a project feels doable and doesn’t require a long shopping list or complicated steps.

This list of 21 easy reindeer crafts for kids is full of those low-prep, high-fun wins. A few can be done in under ten minutes at the kitchen table. Others turn into sweet little ornaments, gifts, or keepsakes that you’ll smile at long after the holidays are over.

So gather whatever supplies you already have tucked in a drawer, wave the kids over, and let the crafting chaos begin in the best way possible.

Cardboard Tube Reindeer Rollies

Kids love these because they turn into little reindeer that actually roll across the table. I save every toilet paper tube in November, which feels slightly chaotic but absolutely worth it. The tubes get wrapped in brown construction paper, and the antlers are made from hand-traced cutouts. Googly eyes always tilt in funny directions, which somehow makes each reindeer look like it has its own personality. I hot-glue the noses on, but kids use glue sticks and way too much enthusiasm. We add tiny paper hooves and the whole thing suddenly looks very alive. If you poke a pencil through the bottom, the kids turn theirs into reindeer puppets. Sometimes they race them, which ends with a herd crashing into the salt shaker. Keep a marker handy because they always want to name them. Mine last year was named Sir Wobblehorn.

Rudolph Spoon Puppets

Wooden spoons turn into the cutest reindeer with almost zero effort. I hand out washable markers and let the kids draw the eyes and smile right onto the spoon face. A red pom-pom nose gets glued on, and for some reason they always press extra hard like the nose needs commitment. Pipe cleaner antlers twist around the handle and stick up like curly branches. We wrap a scrap of felt around the “neck” as a scarf, and it instantly looks festive. The kids make whole families of spoon reindeer, including “grandma reindeer” with giant eyelashes. These puppets end up in pretend plays about sleigh practice and cookie theft. Teachers love them because they’re quiet toys afterward. Display them in a cup on the counter and they look like a tiny troupe waiting for instruction.

Paper Plate Reindeer Masks

This craft gets loud because kids immediately want to wear the masks and stomp around like reindeer. A simple brown-painted paper plate becomes the face. I help cut out the eye holes so nobody ends up looking sideways. Giant antlers are traced from the kids’ hands, which makes these masks secretly adorable keepsakes. A red pom-pom nose goes in the center, bigger than it needs to be but perfect anyway. Staple a popsicle stick to the bottom and suddenly they’re ready for parades. Kids like adding eyebrows for extra emotion, and some craft “angry” reindeer just for fun. If you sprinkle a tiny bit of gold glitter on the antlers, the whole craft looks enchanted. We’ve done whole reindeer dance parties with these masks and parents laugh until they cry.

Reindeer Fingerprint Ornament Discs

These ornaments turn into the sweetest keepsakes because every reindeer face is made from a child’s fingerprint. I use flat wooden discs from the craft store and let the kids press a brown paint fingerprint in the center. Once it dries, they add tiny antlers with a marker. The eyes get dotted on and the nose is almost always red, even if they originally planned black. Kids love adding snowflakes around the edge because it looks like the reindeer is out for a winter walk. A simple ribbon loop turns it into an ornament. Write the child’s name and year on the back so parents can remember how tiny those fingers were. I recommend sealing the front with a clear coat, but only if there’s time. These ornaments always make grandparents tear up in the best way.

Puffy Cotton Ball Reindeer Heads

Cotton balls turn into fluffy reindeer fur faster than you’d expect. Kids paint the cotton balls lightly with brown watercolor, which makes them look soft and textured instead of messy. We glue the puffed-up pieces onto a simple cardboard circle and they instantly look like cozy little reindeer faces. Pipe cleaner antlers get stuck straight into the cotton and stay surprisingly well. I hand out red stickers for the noses so we avoid paint smudges. The eyes can be drawn right on the cardboard base, which keeps this whole project almost completely glue-free. Kids love fluffing up the cotton like hair. These work great on holiday banners because they’re so lightweight. I always save one or two to use as gift tags with names written at the bottom. They’re weirdly cute and super fast.

Sticker Scene Reindeer Jars

This craft is shockingly easy because it’s mostly just decorating clean jars with reindeer stickers. I buy sheets of cartoon-style reindeer stickers and let the kids go wild placing them around the jar. Add a strip of twine around the top and suddenly it looks intentional. Inside the jar, we tuck an LED tea light because real candles with kids feel like chaos waiting to happen. When the light glows, the reindeer silhouettes look magical. Kids often add snowflake stickers just because they can’t resist. These jars make sweet little night-lights or table decorations. No paint, no glue, no mess. Parents usually can’t believe how cute these turn out for how little effort went in.

Mini Cup Reindeer Hats

Turn tiny paper cups upside down and they become the perfect shape for little reindeer “hats.” Kids paint the cup brown using washable paint, which dries faster than anyone expects. The nose is a simple pom-pom glued to the front. Eyes get drawn on with markers, always slightly uneven but charming. For antlers, we use short pieces of craft foam cut into forked shapes. A ribbon on top makes the hat look festive and also acts as a hanger if you want to turn it into an ornament. Kids love wearing them on their fingertips and pretending the reindeer are dancing. These stack easily, so they’re great for group crafts. Parents often end up keeping them as holiday shelf decorations because they’re just that cute.

Reindeer Sticker Dot Pictures

This one is perfect for little hands because the entire craft uses dot stickers. I print a super simple reindeer outline and the kids fill the whole shape using brown, red, and gold circle stickers. The antlers get smaller dots, which makes them look detailed without any real effort. Kids love choosing one giant red sticker for the nose even if it takes up half the face. Since there’s no cutting or glue, the cleanup is basically nonexistent. They’ll usually add “snow” around the reindeer using white dot stickers too. Teachers use this as a calming activity because the repetitive sticking feels almost soothing. You can frame these since they lie totally flat. I once had a kid make a rainbow reindeer just because he “felt artsy.” It ended up being the star of the display wall.

Pinecone Reindeer Buddies

Pinecones turn into adorable reindeer bodies with almost no work. Kids glue a small foam ball to the front as the head. Pipe cleaner antlers twist right between the pinecone layers, which makes them stay put. Add googly eyes and a mini pom-pom nose and suddenly it looks like a woodland reindeer ready for adventure. Kids love balancing tiny felt scarves around the “neck.” You can stand them upright on small wooden slices or cardboard circles. Some kids add tiny paper hooves to the bottom, even though they’re not necessary. These look great nestled into holiday centerpieces. They’re also surprisingly sturdy, which makes them good to send home in backpacks.

Reindeer Cupcake Liner Faces

Cupcake liners flatten into perfect reindeer faces with no cutting at all. Kids glue the brown liner onto a piece of paper, then add eyes and a red sticker nose. I give them pre-cut antlers so all they have to do is press them into place. Some kids flip the liner inside out to show the patterned side, which makes extra cute reindeer. They draw little smiles with markers, some subtle, some huge. Stickers make great last-minute decorations around the edges. This craft takes about three minutes, making it ideal for restless groups. Parents love it because it’s lightweight and easy to store. You can make a whole class set in under twenty minutes without feeling rushed.

Reindeer Button Faces

Kids love digging through a bowl of assorted buttons, and this craft gives them the perfect excuse. I hand them a cardboard circle and ask them to glue brown buttons all over it to build the reindeer’s face. The texture looks amazing even though the effort is tiny. A single big red button becomes the nose, which always ends up slightly crooked but charming. Two medium buttons make the eyes, or sometimes kids use mismatched ones for “silly reindeer.” The antlers are just brown pipe cleaners twisted into relaxed zigzags. Glue dots keep everything in place without drying time. These look adorable on gift bags or hung like ornaments. They’re shockingly sturdy, too. Parents always say these become instant fridge favorites.

Reindeer Sticker Cones

Take a plain brown party hat cone and let kids transform it into a standing reindeer. The cone shape already looks like a body, so all they need are stickers for the face. I give them a sheet of eyes, noses, and little cheek circles. Pipe cleaner antlers poke right through the top and somehow stay upright. Kids love drawing tiny hooves around the bottom rim. The cones can stand in a row like a little reindeer parade. These make great table decorations for holiday dinners. They’re so light and easy that you can make a dozen in minutes. And if someone squishes one, it’s not tragic because they take about ten seconds to redo.

Reindeer Cup Cozy Sleeves

This is one of those crafts kids love because it turns into something useful. I wrap brown cardstock around an empty cup to create a removable sleeve. Kids decorate the sleeve with a reindeer face using stickers and markers. Antlers are cut from scrap cardboard and glued to the back. The sleeve slides onto a water bottle or hot cocoa cup and makes it look festive instantly. Parents always want one for their coffee mugs. Kids like making a whole set with different expressions. This craft stays mess-free, quick, and super fun for groups. Plus it doubles as a classroom “giftable” project.

Reindeer Felt Tag Clips

These tiny crafts double as adorable gift tags. Kids glue a small felt circle onto a wooden clothespin to act as the reindeer face. Two tiny felt triangles make the ears. I hand out pre-cut felt antlers so kids don’t have to cut tricky shapes. A little red pom-pom nose completes the expression. They can clip these onto presents, snack bags, or holiday cards. Kids love making whole sets with different moods: sleepy reindeer, surprised reindeer, “reindeer who ate too many cookies.” They’re low-mess, fast, and surprisingly durable. Parents often ask for extras to use as fridge clips.

Reindeer Shadow Silhouette Boards

This craft looks high-end but uses only black paper and chalk. Kids glue a black reindeer silhouette to the center of a sheet. Then they outline the entire shape with white chalk, smudging it to create a glowing effect. The nose gets dotted with red chalk so it stands out like a soft light. Kids draw snowy hills and stars around the edges, which makes the reindeer look like it’s standing in a winter night scene. The contrast is gorgeous but super simple to achieve. Teachers love it because it teaches negative space without kids realizing it. These dry instantly and don’t bend easily. They look great hung in a long hallway display.

Reindeer Bag Tag Circles

These turn into the cutest backpack or lunchbox tags. Kids start with a brown cardstock circle and add a simple face using stick-on eyes and a red foam dot. I precut antlers from tan craft foam so kids only need to glue them on. A hole punch at the top and a loop of yarn turns the whole thing into a tag. Kids decorate the edges with glitter glue dots, which look like holiday lights around the reindeer face. They love writing their names on the back in big bubble letters. These travel well because they’re flat and bendy. Parents use them as gift-wrap toppers, too. It’s a fast, low-mess craft that feels useful.

Reindeer Snowglobe Bags

This one looks like a snowglobe but uses zero glass. Kids draw a simple reindeer face onto a flat paper circle. I give them foam noses so the reindeer looks a little 3-D. The magic is sealing the circle inside a clear zip-top bag with a pinch of white confetti. When kids shake the bag, the snow falls around the reindeer like a holiday scene. They tape the top edge shut so it won’t spill. Kids love adding stickers on the outside of the bag to make “weather patterns.” These make great take-home decorations because they’re quiet, soft, and safe. Parents always ask how they’re so easy to recreate.

Reindeer Foam Cup Characters

Foam cups turn into 3D reindeer bodies with almost zero mess. Kids flip the cup upside down and glue a brown circle to the front for the face. Stick-on eyes go above it and a big felt nose sits in the center. Antlers are made from two forked pieces of cardstock taped inside the lip of the cup. Kids decorate the bottom edge with little dots of paint or stickers to look like a winter scarf. When finished, the reindeer looks like a little standing character on its own. These work great for classroom centerpieces. Some kids even add tiny hooves drawn onto the cup sides. They’re sturdy enough to take home without falling apart.

Reindeer Napkin Ring Bands

Kids love when crafts turn into something “fancy,” and these napkin rings feel like holiday restaurant decor. They wrap a strip of brown cardstock around a tube to form a ring and tape it shut. A tiny oval for the face gets glued to the front, followed by stick-on eyes and a red gem nose. The antlers are just quick zigzag shapes cut from scrap cardboard. When kids slide the ring onto a rolled napkin, the reindeer looks like it’s hugging it. Some add mini bows or stickers to dress them up. Teachers use these for classroom snack days because they’re functional and adorable. They’re flat enough to store in a folder and sturdy enough to reuse. This one is budget-friendly and takes under five minutes.

Reindeer Watercolor Blot Cards

Kids love the surprise element of blot art. They fold a sheet of paper in half, unfold it, then drip a blob of brown watercolor on one side. After folding and pressing it, the brown shape spreads into a mirrored reindeer-like head. Once dry, they add eyes, a red nose, and drawn-in antlers. Every card looks totally different, which makes kids think they discovered a “secret reindeer species.” Some cards look chubby, others long and skinny. The unpredictability makes it exciting. These make beautiful greeting cards or frameable art. Parents always ask how they were made because they look like abstract holiday prints.

Reindeer Sticker Mosaic Boards

Kids turn a printed reindeer outline into a mosaic using tiny square stickers. The outline is simple, but the sticker placement makes it look like pixel art. Brown, tan, gold, and red stickers fill the entire face. Kids choose their own patterns, sometimes making striped reindeer or ones with rainbow antlers. The nose is a single big red square in the middle. The craft is calm and methodical, great for groups needing a quiet moment. You can frame the finished mosaics because they look surprisingly polished. Teachers love this for fine motor work. Cleanup is just peeling sticker backing off the table.

Reindeer crafts have this funny way of bringing everyone together, mostly because they’re cute, but also because they’re easy enough for kids to tackle without anyone feeling overwhelmed. If you’re hunting for a quick classroom filler, a calm weekend activity, or something festive to launch the holiday season, these 21 easy reindeer crafts for kids will serve you well. Gather a few supplies, call the little ones over, and let the room warm up with creativity. Your holiday craft streak can start the moment you’re ready.