Rustic Glam Reindeer

One of the my favorite holiday projects I’ve been working on this season is a pair of decoupaged reindeer using antique Christmas carol sheet music. I had fallen in love with some similar to this in an Orvis holiday catalog I recently received. But they were glass and glitter and cost a pretty penny. AND, they are sold out!!

Time for a little DIY. This is a simple, somewhat time-consuming project, but with a bit of patience you can make these beautiful deer too for a little $$$! I found two papier mache deer at Joann’s for $6.99 each, but they were on sale for 40% off. (well, actually there were three, but one of the little guys just kept falling over- too much spiked eggnog perhaps-so he was returned?!).

1. Along with your deer, you will need decoupage glue ( am using Modge Podge here, but there are so many brands to choose from now), some decorative paper, hot glue, glitter, jute twine, some bells and fluff. Here is the how-to:

2. I cut most of the sheet music into strips and bits before I began, the rest as I went along. There were quite a few curves and crevices to work into, so I used varied sizes of cut paper. If you don’t have sheet music, you can use any light weight paper, like wrapping paper, or even the newspaper! Working in small areas, one section at a time, brush on some decoupage glue to the deer, then onto the reverse side of the paper piece you are using.

Place the paper onto the deer, then smooth it with your finger or brush. Repeat, overlapping as you go, until the entire deer is covered in decorative paper.

I created a bridle with the border of the musical paper.

I left the antlers clear because I wanted to decorate those differently. Allow to dry.

4. Glitter time! Paint the papered sections of the deer with decoupage glue, then sprinkle with clear glitter all over, making sure you get into all the cracks and crevices. Shake or tap it to allow any loose glitter to fall off. ++TIP++ I always place a piece of wax paper under my projects before I begin sprinkling. Once you are finished, you pick up the wax paper, fold in half to created a “luge” and pour all of the leftover glitter back into the bottle. Saves a lot of glitter! If you notice you have missed a spot, then just add a little more glue and re-apply glitter.

I left the antlers and hooves dry, as I wanted those to be wrapped in a rustic jute to contrast the sparkly mane, but you can glitter the whole thing if you would like. Allow to dry.

3. Decorate the hoofs and antlers. Using jute, start in a hidden area and use a spot of hot glue to anchor the twine.

Paint the remainder of the area with the decoupage glue.

Wrap the twine around until the area is covered. Tuck in end and add another spot of hot glue to anchor in place.

5. For the collar I used some white feather boa I had available to mimic the ones in the Orvis ad.

Cut enough to wrap around twice. Anchor the end under the chin with a spot of hot glue.

Wrap the feather boa around twice, cut and secure back under with the hot glue. Make sure you don’t get glue on the feathers or they’ll lose their fluff-a-bility!

6. For the collar, you will need thread, a little bell and a pushpin and a decoration of some sort.

I used a push pin decorated with a sparkly snowflake for the anchor.

Glue a rhinestone to the snowflake for a little added bling.

Take the pushpin and tie the bell with thread to the plastic part above the ridge. That will prevent it from slipping off the pin. Or you could glue it.

Then push the pin into the neck area, through the fur. The pin will not show through the fur, so no worries there. Dazzling deer!!

7. Done! Are these exactly like the ones in the ad? Nope. But I love my deer with the antique Christmas carols and furry collars. Such a pretty holiday decoration for a dreamy, sparkling, snowy mantel or console tablescape!