Reindeer Treat Bags

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My Homemade Reindeer Treat Bags are a great fun activity over the festive holidays. I wrap festive colored chocolate candies in some tuille and fashion them into a reindeer using pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and a few other simple crafting items. The result is super cute and sure to put a smile on any kids face.

Reindeer Treat Bags 

One of my favorite crafts as a child was using beads and pipe cleaners to make “Candy Canes” to hang on the Christmas Tree. I made dozens, and still have many of them that I hang on my tree every year.

I saw a craft similar to this at a craft fair recently, and it inspired me to pick up some pipe cleaners and other supplies at my local Hobby Lobby to see if I could make something like this to send for a class party for older elementary age kids.

This is what I came up with, and these Christmas treat bags are a huge hit!

As these reindeer treat bags can be made up in advance, they make a great gift for handing out to children if you plan to host a Christmas party or family get together at home over the festive holiday.

What you need to make Reindeer Treat Bags

• Tulle – use rectangle tulle from a roll or tulle pre-cut circles
• Pipe Cleaners – red and tan (or brown)
• M&M’s – in Red and Green (or your favorite mix of candies in holiday colors)
• Googly Eyes
• Red Pom Poms
• Silver Bells
• Glue
• Scissors
• Small Clear Hair Elastics
• Optional – clear treat bags or sandwich bags

How to make Reindeer Treat Bags

• Place candies in treat bags.
• Cut tulle to 16” and wrap under and back up the treat bag. (You may use pre-cut tulle circles instead.)
• Secure the bag and tulle closed with a clear hair elastic.
• Cut excess off.

• To form the reindeer head, fold a tan pipe cleaner in half.
• Twist 1 ½ inches from the point to create a loop.
• To form the antlers, wrap the excess of the two ends around a pencil.

• To create the neck, take another tan pipe cleaner and cut it in half.
• Wrap one of the pieces over the section where the head and antlers meet and then twist to secure it.
• Continue to twist the remainder of that piece together the rest of the way.

• Place a large dab of glue in the center of the top of head right beneath where the antlers meet.
• Add two googly eyes.
• Place another dab of glue at the bottom tip of the reindeer head, and add a red pom pom for the nose.
• Press the neck through the top of the tulle/treat bag.
• Adjust antlers and head if necessary.

• To form the legs and hooves, cut a tan pipe cleaner in half.
• Fold the end 1½ inches from the bottom and twist up onto the pipe cleaner to create a small triangle.
• Bend the triangle up to complete the hooves.
• Lastly, cut 4 inches of red pipe cleaner for the collar.
• Simply thread on 3 silver bells and secure it on the reindeer neck by twisting the back to create a circle.

Variations

• Treat bags, or clear sandwich bags, make it easier to hold all the candies while you wrap the sweets in tulle. But this step is optional.
• Pre-cut circles of tulle make this craft activity even easier, but I’ve used a roll of tulle as that’s what I had and they turned out just fine.
• I’ve used red and green Christmas colored candies, but you can use any color of candy, the kids will be happy regardless of color.
• If you have guests with peanut allergies, or are unsure if anyone has peanut allergies, swap the peanut M&M’s for chocolate ones.
• Swap chocolate candies for caramel or peppermint candies.
• If you can’t find googly eyes, make your own with some black and white colored felt or card.

Hints & tips

• Host of party or family gathering over the festive holiday? Make these Christmas treat bags up earlier in the day or the day before, ready to hand out as gifts.
• This is a great fun activity for keeping the kids amused after Christmas Day lunch, it will keep them occupied.

Don’t miss these additional fun Christmas Themed Crafts here at When Is Dinner:

• Candy Cane Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Reindeer Noses Treat Bags
• Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Snowman
• Christmas Potpourri with Printable
• Rudolph Chow Snack Mix
• Christmas Tree Krispie Treats
• Christmas Tree Strawberry Bites
• Christmas Tree Brownies
• Melting Snowman Water Bottle Labels with Printable
• Snowman Cupcakes
• Grinch Fruit Kabobs

These are a few items I find helpful when preparing these Reindeer Treat Bags in my own home:

Craft and Party, 54Wilton 1912-1239 Clear Tall Treat Bags, 4 × 9½,Acerich 600 Pcs Assorted Colors Pipe Cleaners DIY Art Craft Decorations Chenille Stems (6 mm x 12 Inch)Variety Value Pack SANC 1 box/lot (approx.1120 pcs) 0.16 inches (4mm) to 1 inch (25mm) round Plastic self-adhesive black googly wiggle eyes Wide Variety Assorted SizesDarice 10176-30 Pom Poms .75Jtshy Jumbo Silver Jingle Bells,(24 pieces)Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, Washable, 7.625 Ounces, 6 Count – Great for Making Slime – E308NRFiskars 01-004761J Softgrip Scissors Straight Stainless Steel, 8 InchGUMI Reusable Extra Strong Hold Hair Elastics Small-100 Count Clear