Stand out in a world of inflatables with these rustic and charming reindeer. They'll look right at home alongside other seasonal front porch decor, and perfectly playful when placed in garden beds, or peeking out from behind trees in your front yard. They will appeal to a multitude of home styles, and best of all, they are durable and can be used for years to come. If you're looking for a way to use up some leftover logs, this easy project is the one for you.
Emily Fazio 
From:Emily Fazio From:Emily Fazio It's highly advantageous to befriend a lumberjack if you get the chance, or at least save a few logs when there are felled trees on your property. For each reindeer you plan to build, get a large log that is about 10-12” in diameter and 18”-24” in length for the deer torso. Select a smaller log (likely a heavy branch) that is 4-6" in diameter for the deer heads, and use a hacksaw to cut each head 10" long. The logs you choose should be heavy pieces, but not so heavy that they are difficult to work with. For the antlers, you will use smaller branches. Select a variety of twigs that are 1/4"-1/2" thick so you can choose them later.
Emily Fazio 
From:Emily Fazio From:Emily Fazio Choose a dark stain that coordinates with the color of your logs. Apply it evenly to each peg. Cut the dowels into four 14" lengths and one 6" length. If you're making a deer, you'll need two pegs to accommodate these specifications. If you're doing a duo, you'll be able to get all of your three-pin cuts.
It might seem like a good idea to use natural branches as leg and neck components, I love the idea, but I'll tell you why you might want to use pegs instead:fallen branches are usually dead. Brittle or rotten branches may not support the weight of the logs. Even if you use green branches, they will eventually dry out and no longer support the weight of the deer. Also, it's hard to grade branches for a project like this because the legs need to be uniform in size. Uneven branches may have to be cut to fit the drilled holes. Fortunately, the dowels are always consistent and can be matched with a drill bit of the exact same dimension. It was hands down the best decision I made when it came to rounding up these deer.
Emily Fazio
Emily Fazio
Emily Fazio
From:Emily Fazio From:Emily Fazio From:Emily FazioUse a cordless drill with a 1-1/4" bit to drill four holes into the "belly" of the log. This is where the four legs will connect. When you're drilling, be aware of the angle the bit is cutting and try to make the holes perpendicular to the ground or slightly so that the legs come out better for balance.After cutting the four leg holes, turn the trunk of the log and at one end evenly spaced over the leg holes , cut one more hole that the neck peg will attach in. Cut one last hole in the smaller log designated as the deer head.
Emily Fazio 
From:Emily Fazio From:Emily Fazio Legs in leg holes, neck in neck hole. This deer will come to life very easily. When using dowels that match the size of the drill bit you used, you're not likely to need a lot of wood glue (if any, because the connection may feel good), but it's wise to use your finger or a paint brush. Coat the inside of each drilled hole with wood glue to help with the connection.
From:Emily Fazio Emily Fazio
Browse through your branches to select the antlers that are the right scale for your deer. Using a smaller drill bit (3/16” or 5/8”), cut two holes above each deer head. Add some wood glue to the end of each branch pole, and attach it to the hole.
From:Emily Fazio Emily Fazio
Get ready to tell your neighbors how easy it was to do it yourself.
