Last week on Home & Family I showed you how to Gingerbread your house to make it that little bit extra. Well, if gingerbread is not your thing and you want a fun rustic Christmas yard display than these DIY Log Reindeer are for you. Is how to get started!
You Will Need:
- Hand Saw Or Miter Saw
- Wooden Logs (1, 5-8 Inches Diameter)
- (1, 4-6 Inches In Diameter For Head)
- (3, 1.5-2 Inches In Diameter For Neck And Legs)
- Twigs (For Antlers)
- Screws
- Drill
- Hole Saw
- Paddle Bit
- Bells (For Nose)
- Spray Paint
- Googly Eyes
- Hot Glue
- Brown Felt Fabric
- Wood Glue
- Scissors
- Mini Xmas Lights (Optional-They’re Prety Darn Cute Without The Lights)
- Pruner/Gardening Shears (For Antlers)
How-To:
1. Find your base, (check your Christmas tree lot or check with your gardener for logs).
2. Use a saw to cut to desired length. Choosing the right chainsaw oil is a vital part of chainsaw maintenance, as standard motor oils lack the viscosity of specialist chainsaw oils.
3. Drill 4 holes for the “legs” using the 2-inch hole saw (depth of each hole is up to you).
4. Using a saw, cut a 30 degree angle on the edge of the base (this is where your “head” will go).
5. Dry fit the legs to make sure they’ll fit in the holes and make sure they’re even (cut them down to match if necessary).
6. Take each “leg” out and add wood glue and secure back into hole.
7. Let dry 24-48 hours (if you’re usuing glue alone) note: if you don’t have that time you can back up with nail gun to hold into place.
8. With a pencil, mark where you want the nose to be (head should be 3-5 inches in diameter and 5-6 inches long).
9. Set the head on the notch you created earlier for neck, mark where you want the nose to go, where screw will go and mark angle of the screw to the back to attach to body.
10. Put head into the vice, take a 1 inch paddle bit and drill about ¼ inch into wood, 2 sockets for the eyes, then drill one hole all the way through (that’s a pre-drill) for nose.
11. Set head into place, take your 4 inch deck screw, secure with a little wood glue.
12. Now, at top of his head, take your ¼ inch drill bit and drill 2 holes for antlers.
13. Using hot glue, fill holes and stick in birch twigs (or any twigs) for antlers.
14. For the nose, cover the screw with a bell.
15. Add googly eyes into eye sockets with hot glue.
16. Using brown felt, cut out 2 “ears”, put a slit down the middle of them so it sets one side over the other (this will allow the ear to sit up).
17. Then cut a bushy little tail out of same brown felt and glue onto his backside.
18. Wrap in battery pack lights (optional).
Do you have a fun Christmas DIY? Share with us your questions and comments below! Remember we want to see your DIY’s so follow us on Instagram and Twitter @paigehemmis & hashtag #DIYplay
If you missed the episode check it out by heading over to Home & Family!
XOXO,
Paige