Learn how to make wine cork reindeer, a cute Christmas craft for both kids or adults! Turn them into ornaments, place cards, decor, or gift toppers. So easy!
Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never made anything before, you can make a cork reindeer. You’ll need to know how to use a craft knife as well as a hot glue gun. The rest is simple.
In normal, everyday life, I’m not necessarily a fan of having cutesy crafts around my home. Don’t get me wrong, I make them for gifts (for those who love them) and I enjoy the process.
But I would say my decor style is definitely a combination of “cabin inspired” and “modern.” And to a certain extent, I’m a minimalist. I don’t like a lot of extras everywhere.
Having said that – the holidays are a time when all of that goes out the window. Christmas calls for bright colors and glitter! Polka dot wood stockings? Of course. A glitter Christmas sign? Yes please! Apothecary jars filled with candy? Where have you been all my life!
I also feel the holidays are a great time to bring back classic Christmas crafts and decor from the past: one of those being wine cork reindeer! Did you ever make these when you were little? We made these as ornaments in my kindergarten class.
While the originals are long gone, I’m here to show you how to make these cork reindeer again, with your own kids. But hey, if you don’t have children and want to make these for yourself . . . they are timeless!
Cork Reindeer
These cute wine cork reindeer are made in five simple steps. You’re going to cut the corks, glue them together, add the nose, add the antlers, then add the eyes and tie. Before we get started, here are a few frequently asked questions about this project.
How do I cut wine corks?
A craft knife is best, but if you don’t have one, it’s okay. Simple boil the corks in water for 5 – 10 minutes, then they cut easier with a regular knife (but make it sharp!).
How do I clean wine corks?
You have a few options. You can simply rinse them off. You can also bathe them in a solution of hot water and a splash of hydrogen peroxide overnight to sanitize and bleach them a little bit. You might not lose the wine staining completely, but the wine corks will be completely clean.
Do I have to use hot glue?
A lot of you have young kids, and hot glue guns are a little scary. Well, there’s no time like the present to teach your kid glue gun safety and usage! But also, AdTech makes an ultra low temp glue gun that is great for kids. Check it out. Obviously all glue guns require parental supervision based on packaging age requirements.
If you don’t use hot glue, you can still do this project with craft glue, but you’ll have to hold the corks together while the glue sets. The project will take a lot longer, but it can be done.
Are you ready to make these wine cork reindeer? Here’s how you do it!
Gather These Supplies
- Wine corks – 4 per reindeer
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Baker’s twine
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Craft knife
Each reindeer requires four wine corks – two for the body, and two for the legs.
Cut the Corks
Using a craft knife or other sharp tool, cut two of the wine corks in half.
Glue the Corks Together
With one of the whole wine corks at the ready, place hot glue at the end of one of the halves.
Press the half to the body to act as a reindeer leg.
Repeat with the other three wine cork halves to create four legs on the reindeer body.
Take the last remaining whole wine cork and hot glue it to the top of the body as shown, to act as the head.
Glue the Nose On
Glue the pom pom nose on with the hot glue gun. My pom pom noses had a little bit of sparkle in them. Woot!
Glue on the Antlers
Cut a piece of brown pipe cleaner and bend it into antlers as shown. Glue down onto the head.
Cut two small pieces of pipe cleaner to make “crossbars” for the antlers. Glue them down.
Glue on the Eyes and Tie the Twine
You’re going to use googly eyes in this craft! I love googly eyes. Glue two of them onto the wine cork reindeer for eyes.
At the last minute, I decided to give my guys pipe cleaner tails. You can do that too.
Finish your reindeer by adding a baker’s twine “tie” around the neck. If you want to turn them into wine cork reindeer ornaments, you can cut a longer piece of twine for hanging around the neck (and on the tree).
You’re going to love to display these for the holidays! What a great recycled Christmas idea for all the drinking that transpires 😮
Wine Cork Reindeer
Make a wine cork reindeer using this simple tutorial - perfect for turning into a Christmas ornament, decor, or place settings.
Materials
- Wine corks - 4 per reindeer
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Baker's twine
Tools
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Craft knife
Instructions
- Cut two wine corks in half.
- Hot glue these four halves to another whole cork to act as legs.
- Hot glue a cork to the body base as a head.
- Hot glue a red pom pom as the nose and two googly eyes to the face.
- Cut pipe cleaners and bend to form antlers. Glue to the top of the head.
- Cut small pieces of pipe cleaner to act as crossbars on the antlers. Glue in place. Add a small tail piece.
- Cut a long piece of baker's twine and tie around the neck to finish.
If you enjoyed these cork reindeer, I’d love for you to check out these other cute crafts I think you’re going to love: