Inside: A fun and simple Rudolph paper plate craft to make with your kids using their handprints.
Looking for a quick, festive, and budget-friendly Christmas craft for kids? This Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer paper plate craft uses simple supplies to create the cutest glowing reindeer your kids will absolutely love.
This easy Rudolph craft is perfect for homeschool Christmas school, classroom parties, Rudolph movie nights, or a cozy December afternoon. Best of all, it doubles as sweet holiday décor your kids will love showing off.
Supplies
- 2 thin “cheap” paper plates
- Brown paint (crayons or markers would work)
- Tea light battery-operated or a red pom-pom
- Brown construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Square of red tissue paper
- Glue
- Stapler (optional)
- Scissors
How to Make a Rudolph Paper Plate Craft
These paper plate Rudolph the red nosed reindeer crafts are so fun to make with kids of all ages.
My elementary age kids have fun doing it all on their own while my toddler and preschooler love making it their own (with a little help).
Paint the Paper Plate
Before you paint your plates stack the two together and cut off the bottom inch or so of the plates. This is so they have a flat side and can stand.
Have your child paint the papers plate brown. No paint? No problem, crayons or markers work too.
You’ll want two paper plates per Rudolph. Paint the bottom (outside) of the plate brown not the part you would put food on.
Allow the paper plates to dry while you prep the handprints.
Trace and Cut Out Handprints
Trace your child’s hands on brown construction paper. These will be the antlers for your deer, and they make the craft extra special (and adorable).
Cut out the handprints (one of each hand) and set them aside or attach them to the back of the plate it’s up to you.
Make an Opening for the Nose
If you are NOT using a tea light and are just adding a red pom-pom to your Rudolph you can skip the rest of this step.
Use scissors or a craft knife carefully cut a small circle in the lower center of the plate (where you want the nose to go).
This is where you’ll glue or tape a square of red tissue paper to make Rudolph’s glowing nose!
After you cut out a circle on the unpainted side (food side) of the plate tape or glue the square of red tissue paper over the circle.
You can add the eyes or the handprint antlers next it doesn’t matter which order you add these.
Add the Eyes
Glue on two googly eyes, or draw eyes directly on the paper plate.
Attach the Handprint Antlers
Glue or tape the handprints to the top back of the plate so they stick up like antlers. You can angle them slightly to give your reindeer personality.
Put Rudolph Together
Now you’re going to glue or staple (or both) the solid brown plate and the plate with a reindeer face together. Do not staple the flat side of your plate together.
The flat side of your plate when left open will make it so your Rudolph will stand over a tea light or just stand as a decoration.
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