Out of all the crafting mediums, paper is one of my favorites. You can make almost anything. Any design. Any color. Any size. It’s so perfect. Every mantle needs decorations at Christmas. Seriously. This is where I go a little nuts. There are garlands-galore, candles, glitter, snowflakes, antlers, etc. I can tell you that Logan really enjoys it… This Santa & Reindeer Garland is the second project in Mission: Merry 2012! It’s easy-peezy and can be hung many different ways. Just take some scissors, an afternoon, and prepare yourself for the cutest little reindeer to have ever lived. Download at the bottom of this post!
To make your own Santa & Reindeer Garland you’ll need:
- Downloadable template for sleigh and reindeer
- 5 large sheets of light brown cardstock
- 4 large sheets of dark brown cardstock
- 1 large sheet of red cardstock
- brown or red twine
- jingle bells
- scissors and hot glue
Download the template for the sleigh and reindeer. Trace the reindeer onto the brown cardstock and cut out. Be gentle with the antlers! They’re fragile! Trace the sleigh on the red cardstock and cut out.
Wrap the twine around the reindeer’s necks (this isn’t animal cruelty) and hot glue in place if necessary. Hot glue the twine to the back of the sleigh to keep it upright. Hot glue one small red jingle bell onto Rudolph’s nose, and thread extra bells onto each end of the garland. Drape over your mantle. Tape in place with some cute washi tape. Sing Wham’s “Last Christmas” while dancing around the living room. Merry Christmas indeed.
And if you’re feeling like getting the house in tip-top holiday shape, consider taking a dive through our archives for more printables & projects to get you in the merry mood!
Download the template here: Santa & Reindeer
photo cred: Ashley Swapp Photography
**no reindeer were harmed in the creation of this garland**
Lexy is a prop stylist,party enthusiast, and recent transplant from Colorado to Arizona. Her work has been featured by 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Daily Candy, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living Magazine, BuzzFeed, and more! She is the founder of creative event series, EAT DRINK CREATE. 
Amazing. This actually makes me giddy. I love it!
You and me both. I stinkin’ love this thang.
This is adorable, the little bell on Rudolph adds a nice touch. Your “animal cruelty” disclaimer is pretty funny too.
Ha! Thanks, Maria!!! That bell on Rudolph’s nose was only fitting! Stick around! There’s some pretty great stuff coming. 🙂
I’m usually only online during the day on my phone so easier to comment on IG or FB but for this I’ll actually leave a real, live, blogpost comment too. 🙂 This turned out so great! So simple and so fun. I have one of those huge Ikea wall maps and this would look super festive hung across the top.
Heck yes! I’m so lucky you left one! It honestly turned out SO CUTE! I think it would be adorable over the wall map! You’ll have to take a pic with it over it! 🙂
This turned out so stinkin cute! I just may have to attempt to make one. Although I think Monica’s mad scissors skills are way better than mine 🙂
Kinz! Monica has madder scissor skills than all of us. 🙂
So adorable! I love the jingle bell nose!
Laurel! So glad you stopped by! The jingle bell nose just MAKES this project. 🙂
Craftgawker posted your WONDERFUL Santa and friends and I immediately went to your site……THANK YOU so much for giving us this template….this is one of my most favorite images of the Christmas season!
Hi Nancy! I’m so glad you clicked over! And I’m happy you were able to download the template! This project could NOT be any easier. OR any cuter. 😉 I hope you’ll stick around to see some of the other projects coming this month! We’ve got a whole series for December called Mission: Merry 2012!
I want that little reindeer in house.
Thank you! It is so cuteeeeeeeee!!
Elli!!! You are welcome! So glad you stopped by to download. 🙂
that’s awesome! thanks for the template and tutorial.
Amber, you are SO welcome! I hope you make it! 🙂
LUUUVE this! So smart, simple and fun. And love your sense of humor too. Cheers!
Ha! Thanks, Elizabeth! I’m glad someone appreciates my humor. Logan doesn’t really. 🙂
Where did you get the mirror? I love that.
Hi Nicole! The mirror belongs to my friend, Ashley! I believe it came with a dresser she bought off of Craigslist. 🙂
This is the most adorable idea ever! I’ve got to make one of these today!
Awe, thanks, Rhonda!!! You better make it! I’d love to see a picture!
Just had to show you my completed one! Thanks for the awesome idea & template. http://www.flickr.com/photos/49767639@N07/8261677238/in/photostream
I also used your templates (sans Santa, sorry Santa!) while wrapping some gifts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49767639@N07/8260615405/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49767639@N07/8260614617/in/photostream
Thank you and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 😀
Girlfriend! These look so great! I love the presents. The patterns you chose are perfect! I love it all. Thank you so much for sharing! It make me SO happy to see people making these projects! Woo!
This is so cute! I’m only worried that it’s gonna go all tangled up when I take it down after Christmas.
Elena! I stacked them on top of the other in an accordion-style fold and then placed them in a manila folder. Hoping yours don’t tangle up! 🙂
Where are those two lovely chairs from?!,
Rylee!!! They were a craigslist find in Park City, UT!
So cute! I think I’ll try that this year! And I *LOVE* the pretty green trees on your mantle! Where did you get those? Or did you make them? I also love the turquoise chairs with the red and white pillows!! I want to copy this. 🙂
Denise! The trees are from Home Goods! They’re so perfect for the holidays! And the pillows were from IKEA last year! 🙂
Love this, but wish them templates were outlines so I could print them directly on the cardstock and cut!
Amazing!
Hi! Great project! Where is that fabulous rug from?
I adore this craft and have included a link back to this page in my Ultimate Reindeer Craft and Activity Guide for Busy Parents! http://bit.ly/1dW3iht
Hi! I think this is so cute but for some reason every time I open up the link it goes to a PDF viewer but the actually document never shows up. I haven’t had trouble with other PDFs so I’m wondering if maybe you could email it to me? I would love to do this with some of my adults with disabilities next week! Thanks (:
This is my FAV decoration I’ve seen this year!! Making it even though we are just a few days out. Thanks so much 🙂
Hi there! I made one of these adorable garlands years ago. Now i’m back to make more (thanks to my saved Pinterest Pin) but the template link seems to be missing. Can you email that template? THANKS SO MUCH
[email protected]
Hi Rachael! We’ve updated the pdf! It’s totally ready for downloading! Happy holidays! 🙂
Is this template still available?
Hi Tamara! We’ve recently updated the pdf so it’s all ready to download and cut! Please let me know if you have any trouble with the file. Happy crafting! 🙂
I love that these are black and white templates, not black silhouettes, not something I need a cutting machine for. I am going to trace these on cream card-stock and have the grandbabies color and decorate them. This is going to be a blast! This may become something we do every year. LOVE! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your talent. Blessings to you and yours, from Port Huron, Michigan.
Ahhhh, Susie! Your comment just warmed my heart! Thank you so much for your sweet words! I’m so happy this template will work for crafting with your grandkids! I’d love to see how everything turns out! Thank you for being a reader! 🙂
These are super cute! The printables are great, but I think fun construction paper is really what makes this pop. Either way, these would make a great gift for someone around Christmas time!
-Andrew
Thank you so much, Andrew! Totally agree about the construction paper!