A new addition to our Countdown to Christmas craft project series! This upcycled CD Disc Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Ornament is easy to make! You only need a few supplies to make it. We were able to complete several of them in just one weekend. You can find our complete list of Countdown to Christmas Craft Projects HERE.

We did this craft project with a group of kids age 8 through 13 years of age. Adults could make fancier ones if desired but keep it simple when working with kids. If you’re working with older children you can use a hot glue gun instead of craft glue or have an adult do the gluing. The one shown in our photograph was made by a 12 year old.

Upcycled CD Disc Rudolph Red-Nosed Reindeer Christmas Ornament

Compact Disc (Computer, DVD, Music CD)
Brown, Tan, White Acrylic Craft Paint
Black Acrylic Paint Pen – Medium Tip
Red Pom-Pom
2 Metallic Red Pipe Cleaners
All Purpose Craft Glue
Scrap Satin Ribbon for the Hanging Loop
Scissors
Paint Brush, Water Dish, Paper Towels

Paint the silver side of the CD with 2-3 coats of brown acrylic craft paint allowing for 20-40 minutes of drying time between coats. Drying time depends on weather and temperatures. Warmer days they will dry much faster. Set aside while the paint is drying.

Use scissors to cut the metallic red pipe cleaner to your desired length. Some kids made really long antlers while others made them shorter. Start with just the straight piece. Then cut a piece about 3″ long and twist it around the one end of the straight piece to make the antler portion. It should be near the top. Use scissors to trim to desired length. Cut a 6″ long piece of 1/8″ wide satin ribbon. Make a hanging loop by knotting the two ends together.

Tan paint was used for the nose area and done in a circular-triangular shape. The disc hole should be in the center of the tan area with tan colored paint peeking out on all sides. Apply generously so that you won’t need 2 coats of paint. Use white paint to make 2 medium sized ovals to serve as eyes. Again, be generous with the paint. Let dry until it’s no longer tacky.

Use a black paint pen with a medium-tip to make the inner eyes, outline the eyes, the eyebrows, outline th enose and to add the mouth. Once the black is dry (eye area) add the white inner eye. Let dry.

Finishing up – Use glue to add the red pom-pom for the nose, glue the red antlers on the back of the disc along with the satin ribbon hanging loop.  Let everything dry until set.

Variations: You can use large wiggle eyes if you don’t want to paint on the eyes. You can use brown or gold metallic pipe cleaners for the antlers. You can vary the facial features to make him look happy, surprised, excited, etc. A lot of great “eye templates” can be found on Google. You can use a tan colored pom-pom to make the other reindeers for the nose.

* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!

If you’re just learning how to crochet or have years of experience these mini mittens make cute Christmas tree ornaments or glue a magnet on the back to turn them into holiday refrigerator magnets.

This project is a great way to use up some of your scrap yarn that you have lying around. You can use varigated colors (like the ones shown in the photo) or solid colors mixed together. You can use a smaller crochet hook and 2-play yarn instead of 4-play yarn like the kind that I used. Using a smaller hook and 2-ply yarn will make them smaller in size.

I’m making about 2 dozen of them this year and will be tucking one inside each Christmas greeting card that I’m sending out later this year. Just a little something extra besides the card which will be a nice surprise for the recipient. You can use them as package tie-ons too!

Crochet Mini Mittens Christmas Tree Ornaments

Crochet Hook size F
Multi-Colored Holiday Yarn
Scissors

Note: You will want to work in the back loops unless otherwise stated in the pattern.

Row 1: Starting at the cuff of your mitten, chain 6, sc in 2nd chain from your hook, sc in the last 4 chains, turn. (total of 5 sc)

Row 2-12: Chain 1, sc in each stitch across, turn.

Row 13: You will want to hold the first and last rows together, matching up the stitches, work through both thicknesses, chain 1, slant stitch in each stitch across, do not turn.

You will now be working in rounds instead of rows.

Round 14: For hand, working in end of rows on the cuff, chain 1 , (sc in next row, 2 sc in next row) around, join with a slant stitch in the first sc. (18 stitches)

Rounds 15-17: Chain 1, sc in each stitch around, join as before.

Rounds 18: sc in first stitch, sc in the next 10 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch and then leave the last 6 stitches unworked, join. (13 stitches)

Rounds 19-21: You will repeat rounds 17 and then 16 alternating between the two but starting with round 17 and then ending with round 17.

Round 22: Work this round in both loops, chain 1, sc in each stitch around and then join.

Round 23: Work this round in both loops, chain 1, sc in each of the first 2 stitches, sc next 2 stitches together, (sc in each of next 2 stitches, sc next 2 stitches together) 2 times, sc in last stitch, join.

Leave a 8″ yarn tail for weaving and fasten off. Weave end through stitches of round 23, pull to gather, secure the end.

To Make The Thumb

Round 1: Working this round in both loops, sc in first unworked stitch on round 17, sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch, join with a slant stitch in first sc. (total of 7 sc).

Rounds 2-3: Work these rounds in both loops, chain 1, sc in each stitch around, join as before. At the end of the last round, leave 8″ of yarn for weaving, fasten off. Weave end through stitches of round 3, pull to gather and secure your end.

Once done, take some tacky glue and glue a magnet onto the back and stick your pretty little crochet mitten on the front of your refrigerator. If you want it to be a tree ornament, thread some satin ribbon or extra yarn through the top to make a hanging loop.

* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!