Materials

• The specific materials that are necessary for any reindeer fingerprint craft project will vary depending on the age of the artist. Very young children in preschool and the early elementary years should use finger paints or liquid tempera. These water-based options clean easily from little fingers and are designed to wash out of clothing. Older kids, teens and adults can try an acrylic or craft paint. Like tempera, acrylic is also water soluble but also provides a more opaque form of coverage. These paints are typically not as easy to wash out of clothing items. To make a more permanent mark, use a brown ink pad instead of paint. Additional materials necessary for this craft include paper or another similar base/background and a palette or art tray to pour the paint onto.
  
  

Basics

• Before starting your printing project, prepare for your crafting activity. Choose a flat work surface such as a table or desk. Cover your surface with newspaper, plastic sheeting or another similar barrier to prevent the mess from spilling onto your furniture. You may also want to cover the floor underneath, especially if you are working with young children. Pour your paint, in a shade of brown, onto a palette or tray into a golf ball-size pool. Dip your fingers into the paint and press down onto a background surface to make your prints. Use your thumb for bigger reindeer, index finger for medium sized faces and pinky for pint-sized prints. Add details such as antlers or facial features with a thin-bristle paint brush.
  
  

Cards

• Reindeer fingerprint cards are a cool craft that also double as a unique holiday greeting. Use 8-by-10-inch card stock in a light color such as white or cream as a background for your print. Fold the paper in half either vertically or horizontally. Choose a reindeer theme such as my family of deer, Santa's reindeer or reindeer in the snow. Create a basic finger print deer design on the front of the card, adding antlers and extra accents or costume pieces based on your theme. Spruce up your reindeer print card craft with a painted on wash of silver or opal glitter glue.
  
  

Fabric Crafts

• Turn a simple piece of felt, T-shirt or any other piece of fabric into a festive holiday masterpiece by adding a reindeer finger print design. Like a paper craft, fabric-based finger printing projects call for you to place your finger in either paint or ink and press on to the surface. Due to the textured or woven nature of most fabric's surfaces, your reindeer print may appear to have slightly fuzzy or blurry borders. Use this to your advantage, as you are creating a furry animal. Complete the look with painted antlers or draw them on with a fabric pen. Another option is to create a cute reindeer T-shirt or sweat shirt by using all of your fingers as antlers and your palm print as the face.