Reindeer Construction...

 Is once more underway

I have been making these silly things for almost 30 years. 😂 Every year I am certain there isn't anyone I haven't given them to and every year new recipients emerge.

Last year I gifted 5...to adults...and you should have seen the laughter and delight. I've even had people offer to pay me to make them, but I just make them for fun. So, silly or not, I'm making them again.

A few weeks ago, DH was in town and stopped at a local cafe for lunch. Our mechanic was there and they visited a bit. Mark left and when DH went to settle up, his bill had been paid. 

So Mark is getting a reindeer and some Whiskey Praline Pecans.

And then DH thought we should give some to neighboring ranchers...so reindeer parts are being assembled

As pecans are roastimg...

I picked up 10# 

And yes, they will all be gifted with the exception of maybe 1 batch for our family to enjoy over the holidays.

I modified my antlers this year and also changed them from felt to foam

I wasn't able to find brown pom-poms for their tails and was about to settle for pink and dye them, but then I found these for $1 and they were perfect.

It took all day, but the pecans have all been roasted and the herd is complete.

The Never-Ending Reindeer Project

I've been making these little rascals for over 20 years and each year I proclaim that I will no longer make them:

                             

Yet, here I am... once again... knee deep in yarn scraps and wiggly eyes...

Each year I am certain there cannot possibly be anyone who I haven't gifted one and each year I am proven wrong, although this year this herd is headed back with our girl. Ours girl's neighbors and co-workers will hopefully get a kick out of them. Honestly, if I've made a dozen for 24 years that's 288 reindeer. 😲

We missed our boy this Thanksgiving, but loved having our girl and her doggy duo for a few days:

                                     

This time I pilfered some of her photos. I love viewing her visits through her eyes:

                                   

In between moving cattle horseback, mineral runs, puppy trots, quail hunting, shooting and jerky-making, we were hard pressed to find time for a reindeer assembly session.

She laughed and said, "Most people just get to lay around over Thanksgiving." Poor kid's going to go back wore out, but her Daddy sure enjoyed her company

                           

Last night we had a 'Friends-giving' gathering with friends so I finished making pop-poms this morning, packed up the essential reindeer parts, and sent them with her as a build-a-reindeer project box.

                               

Perhaps it's time to pass on the tradition to the next generation. 😉

Reindeer - Tutorial

                           


I thought I had posted a tutorial  for these fellas at some point, but I guess I was mistaken and I've had a few requests on how to make these. I worked on some this week and took some photos of the process.

Here are the supplies:

                             
Whoppers
Tan yarn
tan felt
brown felt
small red pom pom
large brown pom pom (optional and not pictured)) - this is for the tail and I usually just make a small pom pom out of the tan yarn, but I have, on occasion, used a large brown pom pom in a pinch..
wiggly eyes
red bow
bell
printed tag
hot glue gun
scissors
Xacto knife

First step. Find a good movie to watch as you sit down to make pom poms. I suppose you don't need an entire movie unless you are making a whole herd like I do. You need three sizes of pom poms. A large one for the face -a medium one for the muzzle - and a small one for the tail.

                             

For the large one, I wrap yarn around 4 fingers:

                            

For the medium sized one, I wrap yarn around 3 fingers:

                            

And for the small one I wrap yarn around 2 fingers:

                           

Then you trim the stuffing out of them. I find it the easiest to have a large bowl at my feet and trim into that or you will have yarn fluff everywhere.

Sketch out some antlers onto the tan felt, fold it over, and cut a matching pair of antlers. I can not draw to save my life so comical antlers is what you get:

Glue these on to the front of the Whopper box:

                                                  

Then cut little ears out of the brown felt. I wait to glue them onto the antlers after I have glued the pom poms so that I have a better sense of where to place them, but this is not rocket science so do what works for you.

                                     

Next, hot glue the large pom pom on to the front of the Whopper box and then add the little brown for the ears:

Then glue the medium pom pom onto the large pom pom:

 Next glue on the eyes:

And the nose:

String a bell through the wire on the bow, twist to secure, and glue to the box just under the face:

Print out a label and attach to the reindeer with double stick tape:

Turn your Whopper box around to the back and cut a rounded U shaped flap a few inches from the bottom of the box:

Make sure you can easily shake a Whopper out or you may have a constipated reindeer. Sorry. Don't ask me how I know this.

                             
 Finally, hot glue the smaller pom pom over the flap, being careful to not glue the flap shut.

And there you have it!

I make these for everyone - Marines, college kids, professors, little kids, our UPS man, cousins, the Culligan people where we get water, the Farm Store, the mailman, the neighboring ranches, the propane man, the equipment operator who is working on our roads, and this year the sale barn crew and the Safari Club.

Hope y'all enjoy making these. They're fun to make and to give.