Imagine pulling into your driveway and being greeted by a giant reindeer face smiling back at you.

Made from a humble hay bale, it transforms into a festive character with just paint, plywood cutouts, and a splash of personality.

It’s playful, rustic, and perfect if you want something that celebrates Christmas in a larger-than-life way.

Materials Needed

• 1 large round hay bale (about 4–5 ft in diameter)
• 1 sheet plywood (4 ft × 4 ft, ½” thick)
• 2 smaller plywood scraps (12” × 18”)
• Outdoor paint (brown, black, white, red, pink)
• Paintbrushes (large flat and small detail sizes)
• Jigsaw or hand saw
• Outdoor screws or heavy-duty nails (12-16 pcs)
• Hammer or power drill
• Weatherproof sealant (optional)

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Place the hay bale upright in your yard where you want the reindeer to stand. Make sure it’s stable and won’t roll away.

Step 2: Sketch and cut out two large antlers and two ears from the plywood sheet. Each antler should be around 24” tall and each ear about 12” long.

Step 3: Cut two large oval eyes (8-10” tall) and a round nose (10-12” diameter) from the plywood scraps.

Step 4: Paint all the plywood pieces.

You can use brown for antlers, pink and brown for ears, black and white for eyes, and red for the nose. Let them dry completely.

Step 5: Attach the antlers and ears to the top sides of the hay bale with outdoor screws or nails. Then angle them slightly for a fun, cartoonish look.

Step 6: Secure the eyes and nose to the front of the hay bale.

Next, paint a wide, happy smile directly onto the hay beneath the nose using black and red paint.

Step 7: Step back and admire your giant reindeer.

Then seal the painted plywood pieces with weatherproof coating if you want them to last multiple seasons.

Tip:

If you’re making more than one, try giving each reindeer a slightly different personality, maybe a wink, a bigger smile, or even a Santa hat.