If you are sick of Christmas posts around here, I am so sorry. But I cannot help myself. This time of year is just SO fun and I have too many projects to share – like this tutorial for the adorable DIY Reindeer Specimen Art that graces my Christmas mantel this year.
Plus, I am so excited to be sharing it as part of the Home for Christmas Blog Hop, which is being sponsored by Hometalk.com and CountryLiving.com, and which features some of the most creative bloggers around! You’ll find links to their posts at the bottom of this post, and I hope you’ll visit some that inspire you!
So this year, I knew I wanted to have a kitschy and whimsical look for my holiday mantel. Life has been too serious the past year, so my house needed some fun. I started with a plain stretched linen canvas and the rest just fell into place.
First, I used my Silhouette machine to cut nine reindeer head silhouettes on different pieces of Christmas pattern cardstock. If you don’t have a Silhouette machine, Google “reindeer silhouette,” print an image you like, and trace it onto your cardstock to cut.
Next, I put a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the backs of each of the reindeer.
I pressed them onto the canvas and tried to keep them equidistant from one another. It wasn’t perfect but it was close enough!
Once they were all in place and had dried, I added a thin layer of Mod Podge to the top of each reindeer to seal them into place.
After that, I glued a red pom pom onto the last reindeer’s face, because obviously Rudolph needs a red nose! Then I used a green Sharpie to write each of the reindeers’ names, just in case anyone was confused about who was who. (And yes, I had to Google the song lyrics so I would be sure to spell their names correctly. Who knew it was “Donner” and not “Donder?”)
And I love my little reindeer art!
It adds such a fun look to my Christmas mantel that’s filled with other DIY art and thrift shop finds.
I’m happy every time I look at it. (My husband – not so much. He says it’s too cluttered. But what does he know?)
I’m also happy looking at these other amazing Christmas-inspired posts. I know you will be, too, so go check them out!
-Bre
Roxanne says
This is so cute I’ve decided I officially need a silhouette machine! And you can never have too many Christmas posts! Pinning!
Bre says
Thank you SO much, Roxanne! Yes – you definitely need one. Make sure Santa puts it in his bag for you! 🙂
Lindsay Eidahl says
Great mantel! So festive!!
Bre says
Thanks, Lindsay!! Looking forward to checking out your post!
April R - Uncookie Cutter says
Love, love, love this, Bre! So cute, thanks for sharing and pinning now.
Bre says
Thank you, April! You are too sweet!
Jenny @ Refresh Living says
Those reindeer are adorable! I love the names underneath as labels, and your whole fireplace and mantel look gorgeous!!
Bre says
Thanks, lady! You’re too kind. 🙂
Vanessa says
I love your reindeer sign. Just beautiful and your mantle is awesome. Lovely Believe sign too!
Bre says
Thank you, Vanessa! I appreciate your sweet note!
Brooke Riley~Re-Fabbed says
Love your mantle, and REALLY love the reindeer canvas! What a simple but SO CUTE idea. I will have to do that next year!
Bre says
Thank you, Brooke! That is so kind of you to say! 🙂
Tammy says
Your reindeer sign is so cute and looks so cute along with all your other decor on your mantel
Bre says
Thank you so much, Tammy! 🙂 Happy holidays!
Keri says
I love this reindeer canvas art!! It looks fantastic on the mantel, next to the believe sign! And I agree with Roxanne, you can never have too many Christmas posts. 😉 Nice job!!
Bre says
Thank you, Keri! That is so nice of you to say. Happy holidays!
[email protected] says
This is so cute! I love your idea and your Christmas mantel looks so so nice and festive!
Bre says
Thank you, Katrin! Happy holidays!
Seana Turner says
That is adorable, Bre. Makes me want to crawl into the photo and live at your house for a little while… get me in the Christmas spirit!
Bre says
You are welcome any time, Seana! 🙂 Thank you for your sweet note!
susan says
This is such a cute project!! Love it!
Bre says
Thank you, Susan!
Marie from The Interior Frugalista says
Adorable reindeer art! Pinned to share 🙂
Bre says
Thank you very much, Marie! 🙂 Happy holidays!
Kim says
Super cute! I love the different patterns…and never get sick of Christmas posts!
Bre says
Thank you, Kim! You are so sweet!
Kimm at Reinvented says
So stinkin’ cute! I LOVE that you used fun patterns for the silhouettes. So cool.
Bre says
Thanks, Kimm! 🙂 I had to make those reindeer special. They needed some pizzaz. 😉 Happy holidays!
Katie @ Little House of Four says
This is just too cute! I’m loving all the fun patterns you chose and what a great idea to label each one.
Bre says
Thanks, girl! I REALLY wanted to add label holders around the names, but I did not have time to get them before the post went up. That may have to be an after-the-post addition. 😉
Amy | Canary Street Crafts says
This is adorable, Bre! I saw it in pics on another post of yours and didn’t know it was DIY. I remember thinking how cute it was and wondering where you got it. I think your mantel is gorgeous too and definitely not cluttered!
Bre says
Aw, thanks, friend! As for the clutter, basically anything I own is clutter. I think my husband would like to live in a jail cell where there is no decor of any kind. 😉
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins says
Bre, I love your reindeer specimen art! Its so creative and festive! I’m featuring your art in a roundup I have on DIY Christmas wall art tomorrow. Pinning!
Bre says
Awesome! Thanks so much, Stephanie! Hope you’re having a great holiday season!
T'onna | USS Crafty says
I just love your reindeer art and that wagon, too!
Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party
Bre says
Thank you, T’onna! I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season!