How to Make DIY Reindeer Candy Canes

These DIY Reindeer Candy Canes are an easy, quick, and fun Christmas craft for kids and adults. They make GREAT party treats, stocking stuffers, or simple, inexpensive gifts for classmates.

Two Reindeers made out of candy canes. Big, googley eyes, Big, red pom poms for noses, Red glitter bows around their "necks" and adorable antlers made with brown pipecleaner.

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I've been making these adorable DIY Reindeer Candy Canes for YEARS. They are my favorite Christmas craft and people always seem to love them.

I even like to hang them on the Christmas tree as cute, handmade holiday ornaments. Or display them in a jar as an additional DIY Christmas decoration.

They're adorable, incredibly easy-to-make, and QUICK. I made almost a dozen in less than a half hour while watching Grey’s Anatomy... and that includes some teary eyed breaks.

For more holiday favorites, check out:
- DIY Cinnamon Salt Dough Ornaments (No Applesauce)
- How to Make DIY Reindeer Gift Bags
- How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments (and Handprints)
- Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe
- Christmas Pretzel Rods Recipe (includes how to make Reindeer and Snowman Pretzel Rods)

DIY Reindeer Candy Cane Crafts

DIY Reindeer Candy Canes are a holiday tradition of mine. I usually make them while watching Hallmark Christmas movies.

They are great as gift toppers, table decorations, party treats, stocking stuffers, and more.

In the past, I sent them as a little thank you gift with holiday orders from my etsy shop.

I also make a similar bag! You can learn how to make one too - How to Make DIY Reindeer Gift Bags.

Simple Antlers for DIY Reindeer Candy Canes

Over the years, my design of the antlers became more and more complicated. They were beautiful, but took a lot of time and patience.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the time for that. I realized this when trying to make larger versions of the complex antlers for mass orders of the reindeer bags. It was time consuming and painful. I twisted so much that my fingertips were raw.

I simplified the DIY Reindeer Candy Cane antlers for this DIY guide. They are easy, quick, and cute!

I will still explain how to enhance the antlers though, in case you want to do so.

The BEST Materials

These DIY Reindeer Candy Canes are a relatively inexpensive Christmas craft.

A box of candy canes can be bought at DollarTree for a dollar.

I bought a variety of googly eyes (182 of them) at Walmart for under $3. The red pom poms were only $0.97 at Walmart. Both items are also similarly priced at Michaels, which is one of my favorite stores.

Click here for 20% off All Regular Price Purchases at Michaels.com

I bought the brown pipe cleaners in bulk awhile ago. I am not going to recommend the brand because it sheds horribly when twisted. The wire becomes exposed then I have to keep cutting to salvage it. I hate it.

Amazon has a convenient Christmas DIY Crafts Making Set that includes Brown Pipe Cleaners Chenille Stems, Red Pom Poms, and Wiggle Googly Eyes. The set has GREAT reviews. You can check it out HERE.

I like to include cute bows around the “neck” of my Reindeer Candy Canes. To me, they look naked without them. I prefer bows that tie around the candy cane, like these mini red ones.

List of Materials & Tools

Candy Canes
Brown Pipe Cleaners
Googly Eyes (I prefer the BIG ones, but like to use all the different sizes. Everyone is different, including reindeers!)
1 inch Red Pom Poms
Mini Bows
Glue Gun (This Chandler Tool Mini Glue Gun actually stays standing!!! After years of having one that CONSTANTLY fell over, this is like heaven on earth.)
Glue for Glue Gun
Scissors

For more fun Christmas crafts, check out:
- How to Make DIY Reindeer Gift Bags
- DIY Cinnamon Salt Dough Ornaments (No Applesauce).
- How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments (and Handprints)
- DIY Paw Print Ornaments
- Free Christmas Bingo Printable

How to Make Candy Cane Reindeer Antlers

Take a brown pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Cut at the crease.

2. Repeat #1 with another pipe cleaner.

3. Take two of the half pieces and fold them in half. Cut those at the bend.

4. Twist one of the shorter pipe cleaners (1/4 of the original) around one of the halves.

5. Repeat #4.

6. Bend the pipe cleaner with the added, twisted pieces in half.

7. Place the arch of a candy in the middle.

8. Twist the pipe cleaner around the candy cane. Secure it tightly, but be careful. I’ve broken a few candy canes by twisting it TOO tight.

9. Play, bend, and manipulate the pipe cleaners until they look like antlers!

10. If you would like more complex antlers, just cut smaller pieces of pipe cleaner and wrap those around various parts of the antlers. You can add them to the 1/4 pieces or to the main pipe cleaner. It is up to you!

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How to Make a Cute Reindeer Candy Cane Face

11. Glue two of the googly eyes on the candy cane with a hot glue gun. I like them BIG. I also tend to overlap them a little for a cute, innocent look.

12. Glue one of the red pom poms on the tip of the candy cane.

13. Tie the bow around the reindeer’s “neck”. I usually do this across from and a little under the "nose", if that makes sense.

Two Reindeer Candy Canes with big red pom poms as noses, googly eyes, and brown pipe cleaner twisted into antlers.

And, that's it!

Repeat the steps until you have as many DIY Reindeer Candy Canes as you need/want.

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy these Reindeer Candy Canes!!!

What is your go-to holiday craft? I’d love to know! Share below!