Looking for a fun and festive holiday craft that will keep the kids entertained? Look no further than our Free Printable Articulated Realistic Reindeer Puppet! This charming reindeer puppet is the perfect DIY project for children and parents alike. With the option to choose between a color-in version and a pre-colored design, this craft offers creative flexibility and festive fun for everyone. We also have a cute cartoon Simple Reindeer Puppet which is perfect for little hands!
What You’ll Need:
- Printable Template: Download the free reindeer puppet template (available in both color-in and pre-colored versions).
- Scissors: Carefully cut out each part of the reindeer.
- Split pins (brads): To attach the reindeer’s legs and other movable parts.
- Thread to articulate the puppet and make it movable.
- Coloring materials: If using the color-in version, grab your favorite crayons, markers, or colored pencils to bring the reindeer to life.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make any purchases after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!
I always print my printables directly onto 160 gsm cardstock using my Epson Ecotank Printer rather than regular paper, this way they are a little more durable and the pens do not bleed through to the other side. However, if you do not have a home printer then just pop to a library and use theirs. To extend the life and suitability of paper puppets I like to laminate them, but if you don’t need a laminator self adhesive laminating sheets are amazing.
No products found.
How to Make Your Reindeer Puppet:
- Print the template: Choose the color-in or pre-colored version, depending on your preference, and print it out. We gave our reindeer a red nose like Rudolph.
- Color (if needed): Let your creativity shine with the color-in version by decorating your reindeer in vibrant shades or sticking to a classic, realistic color option. You could even glue fur fabric on to the puppet.
- Cut out the pieces: Carefully cut along the outline of the reindeer’s body and legs. Don’t forget to cut out the small holes where the split pins will go.
- Assemble the reindeer: Attach the legs to the body using split pins. This will allow your reindeer to move its legs, giving it a dynamic, articulated appearance.
- Make the Puppet Movable
Make sure the arms are in the “down position” and that the thread runs straight across before knotting the other end.
Repeat for the legs.
Add a connecting piece of string between the arms and the legs – this mustn’t be too tight (the arms won’t move) or too loose (the legs won’t move). PS – this is our monkey puppet!
Display or Play: Hang the reindeer on your Christmas tree as a fun decoration, or use it as a festive puppet to entertain the kids.
Why Articulated Puppets Are Great for Kids:
Articulated puppets like this realistic reindeer provide more than just holiday fun; they also help children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. The movable parts of the reindeer bring an interactive element to this craft, making it not only a decoration but also a toy to play with during the holiday season. Puppets are also great for storytelling and older children can use them to create stop-motion animation.
Download Your Free Template:
Get started on this festive craft by downloading the free them plate for our Articulated Realistic Reindeer Puppet printable today! You can choose between a color-in version to customize or a pre-colored red-nosed reindeer version for easy assembly.
We’re thrilled to offer these charming paper doll puppets as a free gift to you and your family. It’s our way of sharing the wonders of the christmas season.
These printables are offered for your non-commercial personal use only. Mass-production of this printable is not permitted, even for non-profit purposes. Please do not upload these free paper puppet reindeer template to other sites – instead, if you want to let people know about these freebies, post a link to this page. Pinning is okay as long as the pin links back to this page. Thanks!
All you need to do is add click on add to cart and the free printable coloring pages will be added to your shopping cart. When you are finished click on the orange cart menu at the top right of your page and follow the instructions on the screen. You will not be charged and the free pdf file will be available for you to download immediately and will also be emailed to your inbox.
This reindeer puppet is a delightful way to celebrate the season and create lasting holiday memories. Perfect for both home and school activities, this craft is sure to spread some holiday cheer and keep little ones entertained.
If you enjoyed making this Reindeer puppet craft, it is part of a wider set of Christmas puppets, check out more of our festive craft ideas to keep the holiday spirit alive: