Your finished friend. Isn't he just the cutest?

Years ago I found a photo of a reindeer made out of wine corks while searching for creative crafts on the internet. Ever since, every Christmas I make a round of them for friends and family. I never remember exactly how I do it, so each year they turn out a bit different. Some have bells, some are missing a tail, etc. I love to bring them to tree trimming parties, or use them instead of bows on Christmas gifts. And, since I love to indulge in wine, oh so often, collecting wine corks is never an issue.

One day, when we learn how to sell things on YAYDIY! I’ll offer to sell you a Winedeer. Until then, you can make them yourselves!

1. Five eclectic, decorative wine corks – real cork is best, vs. plastic.

2. A hot glue gun

3. X-acto knife

4. Red pipe cleaners

5. Gold pipe cleaners

6. Green Pipe cleaner

7. Googly eyes

8. White puffy balls

9. Red puffy balls

10. Bells

Step One: Connect the body to the neck with hot glue.

Step 4

Step Two: Make the head: Use an X-acto knife to carve an oval shape opening into the side of a cork, near the end. This oval is where the edge of the “neck” will sit, to help keep the head and neck connected.   Place the head (the oval cut out) on the edge of the neck, angeled down (see photo below). Glue the head onto the neck at that spot.

Step Three: Back Leg: Glue the back leg onto the back of the body.

Step Four: Front Leg: Using the Exacto knife, carve an oval in the top of the last leg.  Place the oval on the edge of the body, positioning it so that the leg reaches forward. (again, the oval cut-out allows the corks sit at an angle together.) Glue it into position.

Body put together

Step Four: To make the necktie: Cut a piece of green pipe cleaner that can fit around the winedeer’s neck. Don’t worry, you won’t strangle him. Cut a piece of red pipe cleaner to make a nice bow. Wrap the green pipe cleaner around the bow, sliding a bell onto the end of the green pipe cleaner. Then twist the green ends around the middle of the red bow to hold it and the bell in place.

Step 4, illustrated

You may have to play around with the bow and green pipe cleaner, until they look just how you want them.

Step Five: Use the gold pipe cleaners to make antlers. Try to get the gold kind where you can visibly see the wire – that’s easiest to stick into the cork because of the sharp edge. You should be able to stick the end of the cleaners into the cork by twisting them just a bit. You can also use a dab of hot glue. Wrap a second piece of gold pipe cleaner around the middle of the antler, to give it a better shape.

Step 5, in action!

Step Six: Add his eyes, Red nose (or black, if you’d like a Doner or Blitzen, vs. a Rudolf) and white fluffy tail.

Step Seven: Use brown, gold or black pipe cleaner on the bottom, in circles to make his little hoofs. Adhere with hot glue.

Step Eight: Stick an ornament hook in the middle, getting it as far into the cork as you can.

And… you are done! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!