Every holiday season calls for a dash of magic. Imagine your pencil becoming a sleigh runner, guided by a peanut shell reindeer with a bright red nose.

This craft brings Rudolph to life in miniature, ready to guide your notes, sketches, or holiday lists.

With his googly eyes and jingly bell, he feels like he leapt straight out of a Christmas story and into your hands.

Materials Needed

• 1 peanut shell (about 2 inches long, intact and clean)
• 2 googly eyes (size 8-10 mm)
• 1 small red pom-pom (about 1 cm wide)
• 2 brown pipe cleaners (each about 6 inches long, cut and shaped for antlers)
• 1 small jingle bell (about 1 cm wide)
• 1 short red ribbon (6 inches long, satin works best)
• 1 hot glue gun or strong craft glue
• 1 pencil or pen (standard size, any color)

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Select a peanut shell that’s whole and sturdy. This will be your reindeer’s head.

Step 2: Attach two googly eyes near the top using glue. Then glue the small red pom-pom at the tip for Rudolph’s iconic nose.

Step 3: Take your brown pipe cleaners, twist and bend them into antler shapes, and glue them to the top of the shell. You can adjust them until they look symmetrical and playful.

Step 4: Tie the jingle bell onto the red ribbon and wrap it around the bottom of the peanut shell, securing it with a dab of glue for extra hold.

Step 5: Finally, glue the decorated peanut shell securely onto the eraser end of your pencil. Let it dry before using.

Tips:

If you want to make a whole herd, give each reindeer a slightly different nose color or bell ribbon.

When I made mine, I gave one a green ribbon instead of red, and suddenly it felt like Rudolph had a festive cousin!