Rudolf the Woodland Reindeer

One more woodland project never hurt anybody. This is Rudolf the Woodland Reindeer and he was inspired by a metal reindeer found in my Pottery Barn catalog. Below is a tutorial on how to make him.

I numbered the materials so it would be easier to refer to in the directions.

Materials needed:

~ Sticks that look similar to the numbered sticks above. #1 and #2 sticks were cut to be identical in length. #5 and #5a's are for the antlers, however if you can find a stick that has great twig off shoots, then you won't need all of the #5a's.

~ Fake red berry (#4) or something red for the nose.

~ Perle cotton (#6), embroidery floss, or bakers twine

~ Wood glue or some type of strong crafting glue.


And away we go....

1) Place piece #3 in the V shape of piece #2. Secure the pieces together by wrapping it in perle cotton.

(Notice the majority of the wrapping was done in the front. When I was finished with the project, I had to wrap it again in the back, so as to pull the legs back and in position.)

3) Glue the red berry to piece #1 (see pic for placement). I used a fake berry that was attached to wire. When I cut the berry from the wire, I left a little bit of the wire attached to the berry so as to push the wire into the stick for extra support.

4) While the nose is drying, construct the antlers. Piece #5 was a straight stick that I bent to achieve the v shape. All of the 5a pieces were bent as well. Generously dab glue onto the 5a pieces and place them on piece #5 or place #5 on the 5a pieces, then put your right hand on the blue circle and left foot on the yellow circle....just joking, please don't do that.

(note: I didn't glue the pieces together for this pic, but let's just pretend I did.)

5) Once the glue has dried on all of the pieces, attach the antlers to piece #1 (see pic for placement). First, glue the pieces together, wait for them to dry and wrap the pieces together.

( I forgot to take a picture of the antlers wrapped to the head... but again, lets pretend they are wrapped.)

6) Attach #1 to #3 by wrapping it with the cotton floss.

7) Make any needed adjustments, such as: cut legs to be even, or pull legs back or forward and wrap with more floss for stability.

Now, you too have a Woodland Rudolf Reindeer.

Is it just me, or do you too think he looks a little like The Karate Kid?

Jamie