Christmas Crafts: Dog or Reindeer Ornament

Making Christmas ornaments is a tradition for me and my children every year. This started before I even had kids--during my late teens. I started choosing a homemade Christmas ornament to make and give as gifts and continued to do this every year. When my children were born, this became a tradition to create a new Christmas craft. Recently I ran across a homemade Christmas ornament that I crafted years ago. This adorable dog ornament was hit when I made it and gave it to family and friends and here's how you can make one for yourself.

Christmas Dog Ornament: What You'll Need
This ornament uses round glass Christmas ball ornaments as a base. I used ornaments that were approximately two to three inches in size. If you choose to use a larger glass ball ornament, you will need to use larger pom poms than the sizes listed in these instructions. The pom poms needed for this craft include two 1 inch pom poms in tan or dark brown, two 1/2 inch pom poms in tan or dark brown, one 1/2 inch pom pom in black and one 1/16 inch pom pom in red. You will also need two wiggle eyes, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, ribbon and string or ribbon for a hanger.

Christmas Dog Ornament: How to Make It
To make this cute craft, start by adding the "ears." Take the two larger pom poms and glue them--one on each side of the ornament top hanger.

Next glue the wiggle eyes into place on one side of the glass ball, in front of and down from the ears.

Create the dog's muzzle next. Glue the black pom pom just below the eyes then glue the two tan pom poms under the black pom pom. Finally, glue the tiny red pom pom on the three pom poms--in the spot where the three pom poms meet.

The final touch is to tie a small bow from a length of red ribbon then glue it onto the ornament above the eyes or below the mouth. Cut another length of ribbon or string and tie it through the ornament hanger.

Christmas Dog Ornament: Reindeer Variation
A fun variation for this ornament is to turn it into a reindeer instead of a dog. This can be done easily by substituting the black pom pom for a red pom pom and creating two antlers out of brown felt or brown pipe cleaners.