This coffee filter reindeer craft is one of our favorite holiday projects for little hands. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to turn a plain coffee filter and your child’s handprints into a cheerful Rudolph with sparkly, light-strung antlers.
It’s simple, low-mess, and uses supplies you probably already have. Best of all, those tiny handprint antlers make it a keepsake you’ll want to pull out every December.
Craft Supplies:
- 1-2 round BROWN coffee filters (basket-style)
- Brown construction paper
- Gray construction paper
- 2 large googly eyes
- 1 red dot stickers (for the nose)
- Elmer’s school glue
- Dot markers (we used green and red)
- Silver Sharpie marker
- Pencil and scissors
Directions:
1. Trace and Cut the Handprint Antlers
Fold a sheet of brown construction paper in half. Have your child place one hand flat on top with fingers spread wide, then trace around it with a pencil. Cut through both layers so you get two matching handprints at once.
- Tip: Spread fingers make the best antlers. They look more like branches.
- Avoid: Cutting too close to the line. A little extra border keeps skinny fingers from tearing.
2. Draw on the “Christmas lights”
Use a silver Sharpie marker to draw a loopy, wavy line that winds across each handprint, from finger to finger. This becomes the “wire” for your string of Christmas lights.
3. Add Red and Green Paint Dots
Use your dot markers to stamp dots along the silver swirls. Switch to green and fill in between the red dots. Alternate colors so it looks like a strand of twinkling lights.
4. Assemble the Reindeer Face
Flatten the coffee filter{s} on your work surface. Glue them to the center of your gray construction paper.
Now glue two googly eyes in the upper middle of the filter. Then add the red circle nose just below and between the eyes.
5. Add the Antlers
Grab your two, decorated handprint cutouts and school glue. Add a line of glue along the bottom (palm end) of each handprint and add them to your coffee filter design.
At this point in time you can add any other embellishments you see fit.
When done decorating, allow it to dry completely before displaying proudly for all to see!
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We would love to see your little one’s Rudolph come to life. Snap a photo of your finished coffee filter reindeer and tag @GluedToMyCrafts on social media so we can cheer you on and share our favorites.
Save this tutorial for your next rainy day, holiday classroom party, or cozy weekend at home – it’s the kind of craft that never gets old. You can even make it a yearly tradition and watch those tiny handprints grow a little bigger each December. Happy crafting, my friends!
