Overview
This blog describes how to make a fused glass reindeer Christmas ornament. Reindeer |
 Pattern |
Materials
To make this design you will need the following glass:- Brown
- Red
- Green (Bulleye's Aventurine Green)
- White
- Clear
Also recommended is a 2" piece of high temperature wire.
Components
Antlers
Cut a strip of green glass as thin as possible (about 3/16" or 0.5cm):
Approximately 10" is need for one reindeer. Cut the strip into six pieces as follows:
- Four pieces 2" long
- Two pieces 1" long
Whites of the Eyes
Cut two 3/8" squares from white glass. Remove the corners and then grind them into rough circles. |
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Pupils
Wrap a scrap piece of black glass in paper and hit it with a hammer. Pick out two roughly round pieces about 1/8" in diameter. |
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Don't forget to wear eye protection and sweep up any stray piece.
Remaining Components
Cut the remaining components as specified in the pattern.- Cut the ears and face from brown glass. Becareful to preserve the bulges on the side of the face; without them the eyes will droop off of the reindeer's face.
- Cut the clear semicircle. It must be smaller than the width of the face and the red nose.
- Cut the nose out of the brightest red glass available.
Summary
Below is a picture of all the parts needed to make one reindeer:
Assembly
 1. Place two-inch antler pieces |
 2. Place wire (optional) |
 3. Place one-inch antler pieces |
- Place two-inch antler pieces in a V-shape.
- Place high temperature wire on point of antlers.
- Place one-inch antler pieces parallel to two-inch pieces such that there is a 1/2" gap between.
 4. Place remaining antler pieces |
 5. Place ears |
 6. Place brown face piece |
- Place remaining two-inch antler pieces vertically on top of the existing pieces.
- Place ears roughly horizontal, nearly touching in the middle.
- Place the brown face piece such that the top covers the ends of the antlers and ears, and the bottom rests on the kiln shelf.
 7. Place clear semicirlce |
 8. Place nose |
 9. Place eyes |
- Place the clear semicircle below the face.
- Place red nose piece such that it overlaps the clear semicircle by about 1/8".
- Place eyes and pupils.
Fusing
Place the reindeer into the kiln, and fuse at 1465oF for 3 minutes. Anneal for 20 minutes at 960oF. Flash cooling (crashing the kiln) is not necessary.Finished Reindeer
