Hi! I’m Amanda, and I write at Big Family Blessings, where I share life as the mom of six children ages 1 to 11. Our days are busy and full, but we still find plenty of time for simple, sweet crafts the kids can help make.
Today my eldest daughter and I are sharing how to make adorable Rudolph and Clarice reindeer magnets using canning jar lids — a quick Christmas craft that’s perfect for kids and makes a lovely homemade gift.
With chilly weather settling in here, our family loves to curl up on the couch for holiday movies and a craft project. Those cozy afternoons are a great way to turn cold, dreary days into fun memories.
These Rudolph and Clarice canning jar lid magnets are a perfect activity to make after watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and they’re small enough that little hands can do most of the decorating. They also make a thoughtful gift—Grandma’s fridge would look cute with one of these!
Supplies:
- light brown felt
- dark brown felt
- canning jar lids
- red pompom
- brown pipe cleaners
- red ribbon
- googly eyes
- small magnets
- craft glue
Directions:
1. Use a canning jar lid as a template and cut a felt circle to match the lid. Cut one dark brown circle for Rudolph and one light brown circle for Clarice.
2. Glue the felt circle to the back (the dull side) of a canning jar lid so the felt becomes the face.
3. For Rudolph, glue a red pompom in the center for a shiny red nose. For Clarice, cut a small dark brown felt circle and glue it on as her nose.
4. Add two googly eyes to each face and press gently so they adhere.
Your lids should look like small reindeer faces at this point.
5. Make antlers from brown pipe cleaners. Fold a pipe cleaner in half, then fold each side up and down to create three peaks. Pinch where the peaks meet and twist the base to secure the shape. Repeat to make two antlers per magnet.
6. Turn the jar lid to the shiny side and glue the antlers in place so they extend above the felt face.
7. Glue a small magnet to the center of the lid on the shiny side so it holds to the fridge.
Rudolph is finished! For Clarice, tie a small red ribbon bow and glue it just under one antler to give her a sweet, feminine touch.
Now you have two charming reindeer magnets ready to decorate your refrigerator or to give as thoughtful little gifts. If you have several children, these make great keepsakes for grandparents too.
This project works well for classroom parties as well: pre-cut the felt circles and let kids assemble the faces and antlers. Felt is one of my favorite supplies because it’s easy to cut and glue, and it holds up well in little hands.
If you enjoy felt crafts, try other simple ornament projects this season for more kid-friendly holiday fun.
