Candy Cane Reindeer

Wrapped Candy Canes
Red or Brown Pipe Cleaners
Paper Plate
Glue
Toothpicks
Tiny Red Pompoms
Tiny Wiggle Eyes
Empty Glass

Wrap a pipe cleaner around the top of the curve of the candy cane and shape it into antlers for the reindeer.  Pour a small amount of glue onto the paper plate. Use a toothpick dipped in the glue to attach a red pompom on the front top end of the candy cane for a nose and two wiggle eyes about an inch or so up from the nose for the eyes of the reindeer.  Put the finished candy canes in the empty glass to dry with the loops of the canes to the outside.

Cinnamon Ornaments

3/4 Cup Ground Cinnamon
1 Tbs. Ground Allspice
2 Tbs. Ground Cloves
1 Tbs. Ground Nutmeg
1 Cup Applesauce
Wax Paper
Rolling Pin
Christmas Cookie Cutters
Plastic Drinking Straw
Ribbon Scissors

Combine the spices and mix well. Add in the applesauce and stir well (mixture will be stiff).  Using the rolling pin, roll out the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness on the wax paper.  Cut the dough into desired shapes with the cookie cutters. Use an ornament hook or paper clip stuck into the shape, or poke a hole with a plastic drinking straw in the top of the shape for a ribbon hanger to hang the ornament.   Dry the ornaments uncovered for 4-5 days on wax paper in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Turn the ornaments over each day, for even drying. Store them in plastic bags until you are ready to use them. To renew the scent, sand the ornaments lightly with sandpaper or an emery board.

Note: These can also be used as air fresheners or package toppers.

Yarn Ornament

2 Craft Sticks
Glue
Assorted Yarn
Scissors

Glue the two craft sticks together in an "X" and let dry.  Glue the end of the first color of the yarn to the back and center of the ornament to hold the yarn in place. Weave the yarn over and under each stick in a basket weave pattern. Change the colors often, but it looks best to use each color for at least three to four rows around the ornament. Glue down each beginning and ending piece of yarn to the back of a craft stick to hold it in place. Weave the yarn to within a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the end of the sticks and glue down the end of the last color of the yarn to the back of the ornament to hold it in place.  Glue a loop of yarn to the back of one of the craft sticks for hanging the ornament on the tree.

Note: Variegated Christmas Yarn can also be used.

Reindeer Clothespin Ornament

Transform an old-fashioned clothespin into a tree ornament that can be either hung or clipped on a branch. They make great party favors.

You'll need these materials:
3 wooden clothespins
brown, red, white, black,and green paint
paint brush
string
craft glue

Let's get started...
Paint all the clothespins brown. Pick two of the clothespins and paint the prong edges black to represent hoofs; let paint dry.  Glue the two clothespins together, this will end up being the deer body and 4 legs.  Take the third clothespin, turn it upside down and paint a face on handle of  the clothespin.
Once the paint is dry, glue the clothespin face to the handle of the                clothespin body. Your ornament should look like a reindeer now.  Tie a thin string or thread around the reindeer neck and tie in a knot, then tie the ends of the sting together in a tight knot.

Christmas Poppers

When you make your own poppers, you get to choose the toy that goes inside. Customize for each guest.

You'll need these materials:
ribbon
small toys, gifts, surprises
wrapping paper or decorative paper
scissors
craft glue
cardboard paper towel roll

Let's get started...
Cut paper large enough to cover paper towel roll and exceed edges by at least 2 inches.   Wrap paper around cardboard paper towel roll and glue in place. Tie a ribbon at one end of the base of the paper towel roll, crimping paper.  Fill the roll with small gifts, toys or surprises then tie a ribbon around the open end, crimping the paper and holding in all the contents. Trim the paper edges if needed. Place a Christmas Popper by each dinner plate to create a festive look.

Magic Reindeer Food

1/2 c. dry oatmeal
1/3 c. sparkly glitter
1 heartful of Christmas hope

Mix ingredients together. On Christmas Eve sprinkle all over your lawn. The glitter will shine in the moonlight and lead Santa to your house before dawn. The smell of the oats will guide the reindeer directly to your rooftop. The Christmas hope in the magic reindeer food guarantees dear Santa will stop.

Reindeer Planter

Using the stencil makes these reindeer planters easy-to-do. Place small poinsettia plants inside for a colorful table top decoration.

You'll need these materials:
Terra cotta pot (about 6" in diameter)
4 small terra cotta pots (about 1" in diameter)
Paint (black, red, green, white)
Glue
stencil (click here to see the stencil, then print !)

Let's get started...
Paint the lip of each of the four small pots black. Print out the stencil, cut out and trace onto your large pot.  Paint the pot according to the stencil numbers.
Once the paint is dry, turn the four small pots upside down. Put two of the small pots side by side; put the other two side by side behind the first two. 
Spread a generous amount of glue on the bottom of the 4 small pots. Place the large pot, with the reindeer painted on it, on top of the 4 small pots (which act as the reindeer's legs). Once the glue has dried, place small plant inside of the pot.

Puzzle Ornament

Children will enjoy making these puzzle reindeer ornaments for their own tree or to take to grandma’s house.

You'll need these materials:
3 old puzzle pieces (center pieces work best)
1 foot long string
small scrap of red felt
brown, black, white, red and green paint
scissors
glue

Let's get started...
Paint the puzzle pieces brown on both sides. Cut out a circle from the felt about 1/4 in diameter. Cut the string to measure 1foot in length. Once the paint on the puzzle pieces has dried, paint eyes on one of the puzzle pieces using the white and black paint. (option: you can paint ivy by his ear to add a little color).  Glue the felt circle to the end of the same puzzle piece to create the reindeer's nose.  Now position the other two puzzle pieces behind the puzzle piece with the face to make antlers.   Carefully glue in place. Once the glue has dried, tie the ends of the string to the protruding end of the puzzle pieces.  Hang on your tree! .