6 Reindeer Footprint Craft Ideas Kids Will Beg to Make Again

Last updated: August 9, 2026

A reindeer footprint craft turns a few basic supplies into a keepsake you’ll want to pull out every December. You only need paint, paper, and a little patience for wiggly toes.

Below you’ll find six versions of this craft, from the classic footprint reindeer to twists using handprints, thumbprints, and ornaments. Pick the one that fits your mess tolerance and the age of your crafter.

A childs footprint painted brown on paper, decorated with googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and antlers made from painted fingerprints, creating a reindeer. A paintbrush rests beside the paper on a wooden surface.

1. Classic Footprint Reindeer

This is the original reindeer footprint craft and the easiest place to start. Paint the sole of your child’s foot brown, press it onto cardstock heel-down, and let it dry before adding details.

An adult holds a babys foot covered in brown paint, preparing to make a footprint on a blank sheet of paper.

Once the print is dry, glue on wiggle eyes near the toes and a small red pom-pom for the nose. Draw the antlers by tracing your child’s thumbs in brown marker on either side of the heel so they branch out naturally from the print.

2. Handprint and Footprint Combo Reindeer

Combining a handprint with a footprint gives you a fuller-bodied reindeer that looks less like a single print and more like a finished character. Paint the foot brown for the head and body, then use two thumbprints in a different brown shade for the antlers.

A child creates a reindeer craft by stamping a brown handprint on white paper, adding googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose.

This version works well for toddlers who won’t sit still long enough for a single clean footprint. You get more surface area to work with, so a slightly smudged print still reads as a reindeer once it’s dry.

Add a red nose and googly eyes just above the toes, then let your child scribble a small “snow” border around the edges with a white crayon. The extra step gives them ownership over the piece beyond just the print itself.

3. Footprint Ornament Reindeer

Turn the same technique into a hanging ornament by pressing the footprint onto a circle of cardstock or a wood slice instead of a flat sheet of paper. Punch a hole at the top before you start painting so you’re not drilling through a finished piece later.

A wooden ornament painted with a reindeer face, using a brown footprint as the head and red nose, hangs by a ribbon. Pine branches and stacked firewood are in the background.

Seal the finished ornament with a thin layer of clear glue or mod podge once the paint has fully dried. This keeps the antlers and nose from flaking off after a few years of being packed away with the rest of your ornaments.

Thread a loop of ribbon or twine through the hole and knot it at the top. Write the date and your child’s age on the back in permanent marker so the ornament doubles as a growth record.

4. Thumbprint Reindeer Card

For a mess-free option, this reindeer footprint craft alternative uses just a thumbprint instead of a full foot. Press a thumb into brown paint or a stamp pad and print it onto the front of a folded card.

Four reindeer crafts made from painted footprints with googly eyes, red pom-pom noses, and antlers, are displayed on a wooden surface with pinecones in front of them.

The thumbprint becomes the reindeer’s head, so add antlers, eyes, and a nose the same way you would for a full footprint version. Because the print is so small, this works well for a batch of holiday cards to mail out to family.

Kids who are past the toddler stage but still want to help often prefer this version since there’s no shoe or sock removal involved. It also dries faster than a full footprint, which matters if you’re making several cards in one sitting.

5. Footprint Reindeer Family Frame

Line up footprints from every person in the household, largest to smallest, across a single sheet of paper or canvas. Each print becomes its own reindeer with antlers, eyes, and a nose sized to match.

Framed art shows four reindeer, each made from brown painted footprints with red noses and antlers, displayed on a wall above a wooden shelf with a small potted pine plant.

This version turns the craft into a keepsake gift rather than a one-off activity. Grandparents especially tend to love a framed piece that shows the whole family’s feet in one place, dated for the year it was made.

Leave a little extra space between each print so the antlers don’t overlap once they’re drawn in. A simple label underneath each reindeer with the family member’s name adds a nice finishing touch.

6. Footprint Reindeer Gift Tags

Cut cardstock into small tag shapes and press a mini footprint or thumbprint onto each one. These work as gift tags for presents under the tree, with the recipient’s name written just below the reindeer.

Five gift tags with reindeer designs made from brown footprints and hand-drawn antlers are arranged on a wooden surface near wrapped gifts, pinecones, and greenery.

Punch a hole in the corner of each tag and tie it on with baker’s twine once the paint is dry. Making a batch of these alongside wrapping presents is an easy way to fold the craft into something you’re already doing that week.

Why This Craft Works So Well With Kids

Footprint crafts hold up year after year because they capture a size and shape that changes constantly at this age. A reindeer footprint craft from this December will look noticeably different from the one you make next year, which is part of what makes the keepsake worth keeping.

Two blank sheets of paper with craft supplies: red pom-poms, googly eyes, brown paint in a bowl, a paintbrush, pine cones, and pine branches arranged on a beige surface.

The supply list is short enough that you can pull this together on a weeknight without a special trip to the store. Paint, paper, glue, and a couple of small decorative pieces are usually already sitting in a craft drawer somewhere in the house.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paint works best for a reindeer footprint craft?

Washable, non-toxic tempera or craft paint works best since it’s easy to clean off skin and washes out of most fabrics. Avoid acrylic paint directly on skin, since it can be harder to remove and isn’t formulated for that use.

A reindeer made from brown handprints as antlers and a footprint as the face, with googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose on brown paper, decorated with a white border and snowflakes.

How do I keep my child’s foot from smearing the print?

Have your child step onto the paper on a firm, flat surface rather than a soft rug or carpet. Press down evenly from heel to toe in one motion, then lift straight up without dragging the foot sideways.

Can I do this craft with a baby who can’t stand yet?

Yes, you can press a baby’s foot onto the paper while they’re lying down or sitting in your lap. It takes an extra set of hands to steady the foot and keep the print clean, so this version works best with two adults.

A stack of blank cards sits on a wooden table next to one card with a reindeer face design, made using a red ink pad. Pine branches and berries are in the corner.

What can I use instead of paint?

An ink pad made for skin-safe stamping is a mess-free alternative to paint, especially for cards or gift tags. It also dries faster, which helps if you’re working through multiple prints in one sitting.

How far in advance can I make these for gifts?

Footprint ornaments and framed pieces can be made weeks ahead of time since they only need a coat of sealant to hold up. Cards and gift tags are quick enough to make the same week you plan to use them.

A hand brushes clear glaze on a reindeer ornament shaped like a footprint with googly eyes, a red nose, and pipe cleaner antlers, lying on brown paper next to a small bowl.

What age is best for this craft?

Kids as young as six months can do a basic footprint print with help holding the foot steady. Older toddlers and preschoolers can usually stand and press their own foot down with some guidance.

Bring the Reindeer Footprint Craft Into Your Season

Whichever version you choose, a reindeer footprint craft is one of those projects that earns its spot in the holiday rotation year after year. Set out your supplies, pick your favorite version from the six above, and let the kids get their toes into the paint.

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