Pot Reindeer:
Christmas Craft Idea

by Twila Lenoir

Copyright © 2004-2008 AllFreeCrafts.com All Rights Reserved

Recycle a terra cotta clay pot, or a plastic plant pot, to make this whimsical pot reindeer Christmas ornament.

Pot Reindeer

Craft Supplies:

terra cotta clay pot or plastic plant pot

Brown medium pompom and a small red pompom

red pom pom or small wad of red tissue paper

Goggle eyes

craft fun foam

Gold pipe cleaner

Red thin ribbon

Silk holly leaves or use what you have

Printed ear pattern (at the bottom of the page)

Pot Reindeer

Project Instructions:

Just five easy steps!

reindeerear (1K)

1. Paint the pot brown if you have to -- I was lucky and bought these at the dollar store, 10 for a dollar.

2. Glue on the goggle eyes and glue on the medium brown pompom and glue the small red pompom on top.

3. Print and trace the ear pattern (shown at right), or draw your own ear pattern onto fun foam and cut out. Starting in the center of the pot, glue the ears on to the pot.

4. Bend the gold pipe cleaner in two loops and glue it in place, in front of the ears.

5. Add the holly leaves or other Christmas foliage, then tie a bow from thin red or green ribbon, and glue the box in front of the leaves.

Suggestion:

Why not make a herd of reindeer and use them as place settings on the Christmas table?

Leave a Comment

1-10 of 13 Comments

Mrs. Bergsten's fourth grade class – Shawnee, OK

Nov 13, 2009 - 09:49

I have used this craft idea in my class several times as a gift for my students to give to their moms. I, too, make a few adjustments to it, but I love the idea just the same. I buy some of the supplies (greenery, ribbon, etc.) at our local dollar stores to save a little money. You can also find the terra cotta pots on sale at home improvement stores, the fun foam on sale at Hobby Lobby stores, etc. This makes the craft reasonably priced as well.

Mary – Michigan

Dec 17, 2008 - 18:44

Hi, i am doing this craft with my kids and i have made a few adjustments with the directions and the outcome. I have decided to turn the pot right side up so the purpose could be a gift basket. I too, used their hands as the ears and placed them on the outer rim of the pot. To hide the glue marks i decided to hot glue a decorative ribbon around the top rim. Then on the rim write a special note such as "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" with a glitter glue pen or just an regular felt pen will work just fine(get creative). Follow the other instructions just the same; attach the google eyes, then the nose just move the whole place ment down a little bit so there isnt such a gap at the bottom where the mouth should be.
**So, once you have created the reindeer, jam pack it with the best chocolate and little knick-knacks. Before you know it you have made your own Potted Reindeer Gift Basket that not only is cheep and meaningful, but you will surly have fun making it with your children...like i have with mine.
ENJOY!!!
(Tell me if you liked it or had any adjustments that you thought were helpful when making this craft)

Reply to Mary

Tammy – Denbigh, Ontario, Canada

Oct 28, 2009 - 08:15

Hey, I love your adjustments to this Pot Reindeer idea. Its great! We made them with the kids and then filled them with Christimas mints and they are beong given out for Christmas gifts, we also did some to hang on the tree..Also we made some, same idea but painted them white and made snowmans out of them!!!

Do you have any more idea, I love doing crafts with the kids and they love it as well, or any good free websites???

Thanks Tammy Marzano

Lorita – Germantown, MD

Dec 15, 2008 - 10:43

I did these for my daycare parents and used the kids hands as antlers

rachel – cornwall

Dec 11, 2008 - 19:59

u can also use paper pot. that way if u want to hang on a christmas tree it not to heavy.

rachel – cornwall

Dec 11, 2008 - 19:56

i made the reindeer for the girl guides for a christmas gift. they love them.

Rosanna – California

Dec 11, 2008 - 03:45

I also liked this reindeer craft. I'm looking for a penguin craft that is made from empty baby formula cans or small coffee cans. I need to know what supplies I need and if there are any cutouts I need to use. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Reply to Rosanna

Michelle – Massachusetts

Jul 26, 2009 - 13:01

Little late but I made a penquin with my daughters pre-school several years back from 2 liter soda bottles. Idea was in either Womans Day or Family Cirlce. Spray 2 liter bottle with white paint. Use black fun foam to cut out wings, yellow for feet and orange for beak. Once dry attach foam cut outs to bottle with glue gun. Attach large googley eyes with glue gun and paint cheeks a rosey pink. Take a old colored sock and tie off at bottom of ankle with yarn. Cut toe of sock to look fringed. Place ankle of sock over top of soda bottle to resemble knit hat and glue in place.
Kids had a lot of fun making these and they do come out cute.

jackie – utah north salt lake

Dec 04, 2008 - 20:03

the reindeer craft was a great idea i loved them.i am a kid so i don't have a e-mail address.