Of all the ornaments on our tree, the ones made by little hands always get the best branches. They’re a bit crooked, a little glittery, and absolutely priceless. This Handprint Reindeer Poem Keepsake Ornament fits right in with those treasures, and it might become your new favorite.
A tiny handprint turns into a sweet reindeer with googly eyes, paper antlers, and a shiny red heart nose. Then we add a short poem that will tug at your heart every December. Laminate it all together, tie on some baker’s twine, and you have a keepsake that will last for years.
This craft works well at home, in the classroom, or at a holiday party. It’s quick, it’s budget-friendly, and the free printable poem makes it extra easy. Let’s make some reindeer magic!
Craft Supplies:
Gather these supplies before you call the kids to the table. Having everything ready makes this craft go much smoother, especially with little ones!
- Brown paper or cardstock (for the handprint reindeer body)
- Black cardstock (for the antlers)
- Googly eyes (self-adhesive ones)
- Red heart gem (for Rudolph’s nose – self-adhesive ones)
- Clear contact paper
- Hole punch
- Baker’s twine
- Scissors
- Free poem printable – from box.com – password is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
- Pencil (for tracing)
Directions:
Step 1: Trace and Cut the Handprint
Have your child lay their hand flat on the brown paper with fingers slightly spread. Trace around it with a pencil. Keep the thumb spread out a bit, since it will become the reindeer’s tail!
Cut out the handprint carefully. Older kids can do this part on their own, but you’ll want to handle it for toddlers and preschoolers.
Step 2: Cut the Antlers
Draw two simple “Y” shaped antlers on black cardstock and cut them out. They don’t need to be fancy. A basic branch shape with one or two points looks adorable.
Step 3: Assemble the Reindeer – minus the eyes and gem!
Now the fun part, when the handprint turns into a reindeer!
- Flip the handprint upside down. The four fingers point down to become the legs.
- Find the head. The thumb sticks out to one side to make the head.
- Glue on the antlers. Tuck them behind the top of the head so they stick up at a jaunty angle.
Step 4: Attach the Poem Printable
Cut out a poem slip from the free printable. Write your child’s name on the “Love, ____” line, or let them sign it themselves. Add the year if you’d like.
Glue the poem slip just below the reindeer’s legs. Leave a tiny gap or let the legs overlap the top of the slip slightly so everything stays together as one piece.
Step 5: Seal with Clear Contact Paper
Cut a piece of clear contact paper slightly larger than your reindeer and poem. Peel off the backing and carefully press it over the front, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. Then flip everything over and repeat on the back side.
Once both sides are covered, trim around the reindeer shape. Leave a clear border of about ¼ inch around the edges so the contact paper seal stays strong. You don’t need to follow every finger exactly. A soft, rounded outline looks lovely and is much easier to cut.
At this point in time you should add your googly eyes and red nose gem.
Step 6: Punch a Hole
Use a hole punch to make a hole at the top center of the ornament, just above the reindeer’s back.
Step 7: Add the Baker’s Twine
Cut a piece of baker’s twine about 8 inches long. Thread it through the hole and tie the ends in a knot to form a loop.
That’s it! Your Handprint Reindeer Keepsake Ornament is ready to hang on the tree or wrap up as a gift.
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Some ornaments get packed away and forgotten. This one won’t be. Each year when you unwrap that tiny handprint reindeer, you’ll remember how small those fingers once were. And just like the poem says, you’ll have a piece of your little one every year.
Grab the free printable, gather your supplies, and make some memories this holiday season. We’d love to see your reindeer! Share your creations and tag @gluedtomycrafts so we can cheer you on. Happy crafting, my friends! ❤️
