DIY Lighted Red Nosed Reindeer Silhouette

Now that my outside Christmas decorations are up, I can rest easy this weekend with only a few last minute holiday chores. My favorite part of the decor this year is the lighted reindeer silhouette. I call him Rudy, the Brooklyn Reindeer!

Once I had the idea for this project I was very jazzed about it will admit it took quite a bit of planning to get right. First there was the issue of the silhouette - did I want something cartoonish and whimsical? or anatomically correct? should he face left or right or center? how much detail can I add without it being too difficult to cut? Then I had to figure out what kind of bulb and fixture to use and how to attach it to the frame. Now that it's complete it seems obvious but it didn't start out that way. For all of those reasons, I thought this would be a perfect project to share (and save you lots of head scratching) for anyone who wants to make their own.

Once the plan was sorted, it came together very quickly. As I've said before, some of my favorite decorations come from the lumber aisle at Lowes!

Materials: Plywood, liquid nails, wood stain wipes, exterior stake spotlight, red globe bulb, 4" jute ribbon  Tools: Jig Saw, clamps





Instructions: After drawing the silhouette on the wood, cut out with a jigsaw. The hole for the nose should be the same size as the circumference of the base of your stake light (I did a very rough cut and jammed it in there so it wouldn't fall out). Stain or paint the pieces and let dry. Glue top and bottom pieces together with liquid nails or wood glue. Clamp and leave overnight to cure. Insert your light and screw in lightbulb. I added a wide burlap ribbon for a scarf but you could use a real scarf or any embellishment you think would work well with your decor. Voila - your very own red nosed reindeer!