This fun paper articulated reindeer puppet printable comes ready for your children to colour or is already in full colour. It is fab fun for kids to play with and perfect for having some fun over the festive season. It is a fun Christmas Craft for little hands. All you need to our free printable template and a few materials.
Our monkey puppet is a perennial favorite so this year we decided to make a reindeer Christmas puppet and yes, the coloured one has a bright red nose so it is Rudolf the Reindeer, but you could colour the others any way you want to make Vixen, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Commit or Cupid (Have I got all of Santa’s Sleigh pullers there)?
How to Make a Paper Articulated Reindeer Puppet Printable
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Materials
- Hole punch (UK Link/US Link)
- Reindeer paper puppet template (print on cardstock or why not print on paper and recycle a cereal box by sticking the paper to it)
- Brads/ split pins (UK Link/US Link)
- Bakers/Butchers Twine (UK Link/US Link)
- A large blunt needle (UK Link/US Link)
- Scissors
- Pens or crayons
Find Our Articulated Reindeer Pup on Cricut Design Space
If you have a Cricut you can find these projects in Design Space – Already coloured or to colour in.
We have two Reindeer puppet templates for you, a coloured one or a black and white one so you can colour it in or paint it yourself.
If you have a laminator then you can use cardstock and laminate your puppet. Otherwise, print it on paper and stick to a cardboard cereal box. Firstly decided which reindeer template to use. Children will adore colouring their own monkey in.
Then print it out and cut out all the parts. If you are using the pre-coloured reindeer then now is the perfect time to laminate. Alternatively using a glue stick adhere the paper to your cardboard cereal box and cut out.
Using your hole punch, make holes for the moving parts. There are four in the reindeer’s body, one each in the arms and legs. These are marked on the template for ease. I love how easy it is to customise the puppet by adding a pom pom nose or wiggle eyes. You could even add some jingle bells so you can hear the reindeer coming.
Now you need to thread your bakers/butchers twine on to your needle. This is why it needs to have a large eye!
Next, take the thread and put from one arm to the next using the marks provided (If you are unsure how to thread your puppet there is a great tutorial here with video too). Make sure the Reindeer’s arms are down not outstretched and tie off the twine. Then do the same for the legs. Add a brad/split pin to connect your Reindeer’s arms and legs to the reindeer’s body.
Finally, you have to tie a piece of your twine from the piece connecting the arms to the piece connecting the legs. It needs to be a long piece so it dangles down for you to pull to make the Reindeer’s dance! This might take a little trial and error, but it is worth it and you can make adjustments with some sticky tape. If you have young kids then you will have to help them make it, but it helps with fine motor skills and toddlers will have so much fun with a puppet this Christmas Season.
Other Reindeer Craft Ideas and Ornaments
- Classic Clothespin Reindeer Ornament
- DIY Clothespin Reindeer Ornaments
- Popsicle Stick reindeer ornaments
- DIY Mini Plant Pot Reindeer Ornaments
- Dishwasher safe Reindeer thumbprint mugs
- Reindeer Fingerprint Christmas Cards
- Reindeer cookies using gingerbread men cutters
- Animal Safe Magic Reindeer food and free template printable labels
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