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Aunt Annie's Crafts

Christmas Crafts

Candy cane reindeer with brown antlers and red ribbon or blue antlers and ribbon

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Friday Fun

Candy Cane Reindeer

What you will make:

Children will enjoy transforming a candy cane into a reindeer using a few craft supplies and a bit of glue. This reindeer is a great decoration for the tree or a fun party favor. It's a craft that has long been a holiday favorite for kids and teachers alike.

This project is perfect for family, classroom or group craft time. It is very inexpensive, even when crafting in large numbers for a class. With a little preparation by the adult or teen leaders, this craft can be completed in no time.

Related craft: For another Edible Craft for holiday fun check out Chocolate Spoons!

Here's what you need:

Candy cane (6", individually wrapped)
Ribbon (¼" wide or less)
Chenille stem (pipe cleaner) (12", any color)
Sturdy scissors or wire cutters

Wiggly eyes (5 to 8 mm)
Red or brown pompom (very small)
White glue (PVA, Elmer's)
Optional: For younger children, use hole punches (1/4" and 1/8") in place of wiggly eyes and pompoms.

This project is rated EASY to do.

How to Make Candy Cane Reindeer

Read all of the steps before starting.

Step 1: Project Preparation

Read through the project and gather the materials needed for making the candy cane reindeer. If you are doing this craft with a group, precutting the chenille stems and ribbon will make the craft go faster. Tip: For younger children, the wiggly eyes and tiny pompoms are choking hazards. Reindeer with eyes and noses made with hole punches are just as cute. To make eyes from cardstock, glue black circles punched with a 1/8" hole punch to white circles punched with a 1/4" hole punch. Use the 1/4" hole punch to punch circles for noses.

Decide whether you want the reindeer's face to be on the front or the back of the candy cane hook. It is usual to make the candy cane reindeer with the face on the front of the hook, but it looks better hanging on the Christmas tree with the face on the back of the hook.

Step 2: Glue Eyes

Illustration of how to make a Candy Cane Reindeer

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Glue two wiggly eyes (or punched eyes) on the front or the back of the candy cane hook. Tip: Leave the wrapping on the candy canes, so they can be eaten later.

Step 3: Glue Nose

Glue a brown or red pompom (or punched circle) below the eyes as a nose.

Step 4: Tie Ribbon

Cut a length of ribbon 8" to 12" long. Tie the ribbon into a bow on the straight part of the candy cane.

Step 5: Cut Chenille Stems

Cut a 12" chenille stem in half, then cut one half in half again to make three pieces total.

Step 6: Make Antlers

Bend the longer piece of chenille stem in half, place the top of the candy cane hook in the bend, and twist to secure. Be sure to make both sides equal lengths. This is the main part of the reindeer's antlers.

Take one of the shorter pieces of chenille stem and wrap it around the left antler. Repeat on the right side. Adjust the chenille stem pieces to look like antlers.

You're all done! It wouldn't take long to make a candy cane reindeer for everyone in the family and for all of your friends.

Before you start:

Make a place to work.
Read all of the directions.
Gather everything you need to do the project.
Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.

Are you ready?
Okay, get started!!!

Thanks to...

Thanks to Kim for sharing this craft idea with Aunt Annie's Craft Exchange in 1997.

Kim shared, "This craft project makes a great class take-in and doesn't cost a lot. Even the teachers like it. It can be used to decorate the tree, packages, or just as a fun piece of candy for the kids to eat, and it is so easy the kids can help make all you need for the season."