Looking for fun Christmas coffee filter crafts for kids? Then you need to make this cute coffee filter reindeer! They are adorable, making them a perfect addition to your Christmas tree.
Children will enjoy transforming a coffee filter and clothespins into a reindeer’s face. They may even want to create the whole sleigh-pulling team – Rudolph included!
Thankfully, it is an easy project that uses common craft supplies, and only takes 20-30 minutes plus drying time.
Check out our Coffee Filter Christmas Wreath, Coffee Filter Angels, Coffee Filter Poinsettia, Coffee Filter Santa, and Coffee Filter Holly.
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Christmas Reindeer Coffee Filter Craft
Aren’t these coffee filter reindeer adorable? With the red pom pom nose, they look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
They make a great holiday craft project to make at home as a family or at school for a simple holiday art center.
Preschoolers and kindergartners will practice fine gross motor skills as they color the coffee filters and paint the clothespin antlers.
Grade schoolers can practice measuring pipe cleaners and cutting with scissors. Children will love spraying these coffee filters with water and watching the colors blend too.
To add to your child’s Christmas excitement, make this reindeer food recipe while waiting for the coffee filters to dry. It’s another fun activity to do in preparation of Christmas Eve!
You can use these reindeer faces to decorate gift bags or string them together to create a reindeer banner decoration.
They can also be placed on your Christmas tree or made into an ornament by attaching a loop of ribbon to the back.
To mix things up a bit and give your reindeer a little variety, try black and brown pom pom ball noses.
Another really fun project is this reindeer mason jar Christmas craft. Not only is it a super cute holiday decoration, but kids can make them to give as gifts too.
Coffee Filter Reindeer Craft Supplies:
- Wooden Spring Clothespins
- Round White Coffee Filters
- Assorted Googly Eyes
- Washable Markers – Browns and Yellows
- Brown Acrylic Craft Paint
- Assorted Red Pom Pom Balls (brown and black also work)
- Brown Pipe Cleaners
- Tacky Craft Glue
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Water Spray Bottle (for color blending)
- Paper Plate (optional)
- Scrap of Cardboard (optional)
- Glue Dots (optional)
How to Make Holiday Coffee Filter Reindeer:
Start by flattening out the round coffee filters. Draw on them with brown washable markers in a variety of patterns or simply lightly color the entire area.
You can use just one color brown or use different shades of brown. For a lighter fur color, try mixing in a little bit of yellow marker as well.
Place the colored coffee filter on a paper plate, craft mat or large zipper baggie and spray with water. Have fun watching the magic of the colors move and blend!
Set aside to dry. The drying time will vary depending on the amount of water used and humidity.
While the coffee filters are drying, it’s time to paint the clothespins.
Use a scrap of cardboard to clip the clothespins onto for easier painting. Paint all sides of the clothespins with brown craft paint and a paintbrush.
You will need 2 clothespins per reindeer. Set aside to dry.
Fold your dried coffee filter in half and then in half again until the bottom forms a pointed tip.
If making a smaller reindeer, now is the time to cut off the top 1 inch edge of the filter.
Cut brown pipe cleaner into two 3 inch pieces. Attach the 3 inch pipe cleaners to each dried clothespin by wrapping it around and twisting them into place.
For the smaller reindeer head, use two 2 inch pipe cleaner sections.
Clip both of the clothespins onto your folded coffee filter.
Glue on the wiggly googly eyes. Or simply use peel and stick eyes.
Now it’s time to add the reindeer’s nose! Use glue or glue dot to add red pom pom to the bottom tip of the folded coffee filter.
Additional Tips for Making Coffee Filter Reindeer Faces:
If you are making a smaller reindeer, use small 1.5 inch clothespins instead of your standard 3 inch clothespins. This will keep the proportions, otherwise the antlers may look too large with the smaller reindeer face.
Glue dots can be used instead of school or tacky craft glue. It’s a nice option that eliminates glue drying time and is less messy. Another option is to use a low temp hot glue gun.
If you do not have brown paint on hand or would prefer not to paint, you can also color the clothespins with brown markers.
More Christmas Crafts:
- Clay Pot Reindeer Ornament
- Clay Pot Christmas Tree Ornament
- Christmas Tree Cones Edible Craft
- Homemade Gingerbread Scented Playdough
- DIY Christmas Ornaments
- Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids
- Homemade Ornament Christmas Card
Coffee Filter Reindeer
Make adorable Christmas decorations with this easy Coffee Filter Reindeer craft for kids.
Instructions
- Start by flattening out the round coffee filters. Draw on them with brown washable markers in a variety of patterns or simply lightly color the entire area.
- You can use just one color brown or use different shades of brown. For a lighter fur color, try mixing in a little bit of yellow marker as well.
- Place the colored coffee filter on a paper plate, craft mat or large zipper baggie and spray with water. Have fun watching the magic of the colors move and blend!
- Set aside to dry. The drying time will vary depending on the amount of water used and humidity.
- While the coffee filters are drying, it's time to paint the clothespins.
- Use a scrap of cardboard to clip the clothespins onto for easier painting. Paint all sides of the clothespins with brown craft paint and a paintbrush. You will need 2 per reindeer. Set aside to dry.
- Fold your dried coffee filter in half and then in half again until the bottom forms a pointed tip.
- If making a smaller reindeer, now is the time to cut off the top 1 inch edge of the filter.
- Cut brown pipe cleaner into two 3 inch pieces.
- Attach the 3 inch pipe cleaners to each dried clothespin by wrapping it around and twisting them into place.
- For the smaller reindeer head, use two 2 inch pipe cleaner sections.
- Clip two clothespins onto your folded coffee filter.
- Glue on the wiggly googly eyes. Or simply use peel and stick eyes.
- Now it’s time to add the reindeer’s nose! Use glue or glue dot to add red pom pom to the bottom tip of the folded coffee filter.
Notes
Drying time is an estimate and will vary depending on how much water, paint, and glue is used and the humidity.
If you are making a smaller reindeer, use small 1.5 inch clothespins instead of your standard 3 inch clothespins. This will keep the proportions, otherwise the antlers may look too large with the smaller reindeer face.
Glue dots can be used instead of school or tacky craft glue. It's a nice option that eliminates glue drying time and is less messy. Another option is to use a low temp hot glue gun.
If you do not have brown paint on hand or would prefer not to paint, you can also color the clothespins with brown markers.
A. Hager is a lover of books and all things crafty. She enjoys puzzles, board games and puppy snuggling. She is constantly adapting new recipes so her two children with food allergies are able to experience a variety of delicious and fun foods.
Beth
Tuesday 3rd of December 2024
Love all of your coffee filter crafts, but this one is ADORABLE, Darcy! We will be featuring you starting Wednesday at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party! Pinned and shared! Creatively, Beth
Julie Briones
Monday 2nd of December 2024
Thanks so much for sharing at Tuesday Turn About. I'm delighted to be featuring your post at this week's party!
Joanne
Wednesday 27th of November 2024
Aw, that is adorable!
Lisa | Handmade in Israel
Monday 25th of November 2024
This is the cutest! I am sure you had great fun making it.
Darcy Zalewski
Monday 25th of November 2024
Thank you so much, Lisa! It was a lot of fun to make :)