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The best Christmas yard-art pattern depends on your available space, cutting experience, storage room and willingness to build supports. For a practical 2020-style display, white reindeer, snow figures, a sleigh scene, penguins, a gingerbread house, oversized candy and simple trees offer the strongest balance of visual impact and buildability. The size and price figures below are source-date snapshots from 2026 and should be rechecked before buying.
Quick comparison of the strongest pattern choices
| Pattern | Typical finished size or contents | Best for | Build and storage considerations | Price noted in source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White reindeer and deer families | Size varies by pattern | Beginners, classic displays and limited storage | Simple silhouettes can be designed to disassemble and store flat | About $15 for plans (This Old House, 2026) |
| Mrs. Snow and Child or other snow figures | 45-inch and 30-inch snowman patterns; other designs range to about 46 inches wide | Friendly family scenes | Broad shapes are easy to recognize; allow room for wide bases | About $15 for plans (This Old House, 2026) |
| Santa, sleigh and reindeer | Sleigh about 3 feet high; Easy-Rider Clauses pattern 54 by 73 inches | A front-yard focal point | More pieces and support points; a kit is an alternative to drafting every part | About $100 for the wooden sleigh kit (This Old House, 2026) |
| Penguins | Tangled Penguins about 57 by 17 inches; Caroling Penguins about 28 by 42 inches | Humorous group displays | Narrow figures need careful staking; grouped characters increase cutting and painting time | Not stated |
| Gingerbread Manor | 46 inches tall by 47 inches wide | A large centerpiece without realistic human proportions | Large panel consumes more sheet goods and needs a strong rear support | Not stated |
| Giant candies, trees and geometric shapes | Four peppermint disks about 11 inches; two candy canes about 69 inches; Christmas tree 72 inches | Low-detail scenes and bold color | Simple shapes cut quickly; tall candy canes and trees need deep, stable stakes | Giant Yard Candies listed at $11.45 in The Winfield Collection’s 2026 catalog |
| Toy soldier or nutcracker | Toy soldier 90 inches; nutcracker 92 inches | Maximum street visibility | Requires more plywood, substantial bracing and a large storage area | Not stated |
These are practical pattern categories rather than an audited ranking of sales. The shortlist combines dimensions, construction demands, storage and visual role so you can choose a project that fits your property.
Which pattern fits your display?
Choose reindeer when storage and repeat use matter
White reindeer are a forgiving first project because the silhouettes use basic curves and can be engineered to come apart for flat storage. A family of different heights creates depth without requiring a complicated background.
Choose snow figures for a welcoming family scene
Mrs. Snow and Child provide an immediately readable pair. The 45-inch and 30-inch patterns offer a manageable scale for many yards, while Winfield’s catalog includes snowmen from small signs to approximately 46-inch-wide hugging figures.
#1 Best Overall
- This is our product offering of woodworking plans and instructions to build the project shown above.
- We do not sell the actual pre-built product or kit. We sell plans on how to build the item shown.
- Our No.31 series woodworking plan is proudly designed and made in the USA.
- WOOD AND HARDWARE NOT INCLUDED. You need 1 full sheet of plywood to make 2 reindeer.
Choose a sleigh scene for a single focal point
A sleigh gives the display a strong horizontal center and can be paired with Santa or reindeer. The wooden kit reported by This Old House is about 3 feet high and costs about $100 at the 2026 source date; a plan is preferable if you already have suitable plywood and want to customize the proportions.
Choose penguins for humor and movement
Tangled Penguins are approximately 57 inches tall by 17 inches wide, while Caroling Penguins are approximately 28 by 42 inches. Their unusual poses make a group feel animated even when every piece is a flat cutout.
Choose a gingerbread house when you want a readable centerpiece
Gingerbread Manor produces a 46-by-47-inch house. Its architectural outline reads from the street, and the design avoids the extra work of accurately drawing faces, hands and clothing.
Choose candies, trees or geometric shapes for the simplest cutting
Free-form trees, presents, ornaments and stockings are among the easiest designs to enlarge and cut. Winfield’s Giant Yard Candies pattern includes four approximately 11-inch peppermint disks and two candy canes about 69 inches tall; its Christmas Tree pattern is 72 inches tall. Use these shapes to build a coordinated scene from several small panels instead of one complex character.
Rank #3
- MATERIALS NOT INCLUDED, PAPER PLAN ONLY
- Build it yourself!
- Unscrew each and lay-flat for storage
- Full size patterns, instructions, a bill of materials and a wood optimization layout are included - Requires 2 1/2 sheets of plywood to build 2 deer and the sleigh
- Woodcraft is proud to be America’s leading supplier of high-quality woodworking hand tools, power tools, domestic and exotic wood, shop supplies, project plans and kits, plus so much more! Offering first-rate products for all your woodworking needs and designed to help you make wood work. Our family of brands include WoodRiver high-quality tools and supplies, Highpoint professional-grade fasteners and hardware, precision-engineered Pinnacle tools and Woodcraft Magazine.
Choose toy soldiers or nutcrackers only when you can support and store them
A 90-inch toy soldier and 92-inch nutcracker command attention, but their height increases wind load, support requirements, plywood consumption and storage volume. They are better suited to a permanent or well-planned seasonal installation than an improvised first project.
How to make Christmas yard decorations from plywood
Materials and tools
- Jigsaw or scroll saw with sharp blades
- Screwdriver and suitable screws
- Medium- or fine-grit sandpaper
- 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch AC/BC plywood
- Wood putty
- White exterior primer
- Paint brushes
- Acrylic or exterior glass enamel paint
- Waterproof felt pen or black gloss marker for outlines
- Optional water-based varnish
- Support material such as 1/2-inch conduit and straps, dowel, steel rod or wooden stakes
Cut and finish the silhouette
- Lay the full-size pattern over the plywood and trace the outside edge. Keep the grain direction and the location of seams in mind, especially on tall figures.
- Cut just outside the line with a jigsaw or scroll saw. Wear eye protection, secure the sheet and use a sharp blade; a dull tool is more likely to wander and tear the edge.
- Fill grooves, voids and accidental nicks with wood putty. After it cures, sand the face and every exposed edge smooth.
- Prime both sides and all edges with exterior primer. Let the primer dry fully before handling the panel.
- Place the pattern back over the primed surface and trace interior details, facial features and color boundaries.
- Paint from the pattern’s color guide. Let each color dry enough to avoid lifting the layer below, then add outlines with a black gloss marker.
- Apply water-based varnish if you want an additional clear protective layer and the product is compatible with the paint system.
What plywood is best for outdoor Christmas cutouts?
The supplied project checklist specifies 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch AC/BC plywood. The thicker 3/4-inch option adds stiffness for large, tall or wide pieces; 1/2-inch panels reduce weight for smaller silhouettes and easier handling. Whichever thickness you select, seal the face, back and especially the end grain. Unsealed edges absorb water first and can undermine an otherwise sound paint job.
Rank #4
- Full Size Paper Pattern
- This is our product offering of woodworking plans and instructions to build the project shown in the photo.
- This is not the actual pre-built product or kit. We only sell plans on how to build the item shown.
- WOOD AND HARDWARE NOT INCLUDED. You need 1 full sheet of plywood to make it.
- Tracing paper is recommended.
Plan sheet layouts before cutting. Nest small ornaments, presents and peppermint disks around larger silhouettes, but leave enough margin for a clean cut and for screw holes near the edge. Large figures such as 90-inch soldiers may need multiple panels joined at a hidden seam; design the joint and rear bracing before painting.
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How to weatherproof painted plywood decorations
This Old House recommends several coats of exterior stain-poly before painting to protect against moisture. Follow that approach on both faces and all edges, allowing the product’s stated drying time between coats. Then use exterior primer and exterior-rated paint. A final water-based varnish is optional, not a substitute for sealing the plywood beforehand.
Best Value
- Keep the bottom edge above standing water rather than resting it directly in soil.
- Seal screw penetrations and joints created during assembly.
- Use supports that hold the panel rigidly without trapping water against the wood.
- Inspect paint, end grain and stakes at the end of the season; touch up failures before storage.
- Store panels dry and flat, with spacers so painted faces do not rub together.
Supporting, installing and storing yard art
Small signs can use a dowel or wooden stake. Larger panels may need 1/2-inch conduit with straps, steel rod or a pair of wooden stakes positioned behind the widest part of the silhouette. Tall figures and narrow candy canes need deeper anchoring and resistance to twisting. Build detachable feet, crossbars or rear frames when possible so the display breaks down for storage.
Before installation, check the panel’s balance by placing the support near the visual center of gravity. Drive stakes far enough into firm ground to resist seasonal wind, and keep the lowest painted edge clear of mulch or wet soil. For a garage with limited wall space, prioritize reindeer, snow figures and modular geometric pieces that stack flat; reserve one large centerpiece only if you have a safe place to store it.
A practical 2020-style buying and building plan
- Measure the viewing area. Record the available width, height and distance from the street. A 92-inch nutcracker is excessive for a narrow planting bed but may suit a deep front lawn.
- Pick one visual language. Combine traditional white reindeer and snow figures, a comic penguin group, or a candy-and-tree palette rather than mixing unrelated scales.
- Decide between a plan and a kit. Plans cost about $15 for the white-reindeer and snow-figure examples cited by This Old House; the reported sleigh kit is about $100. Those are 2026 source-date figures, not guaranteed current prices.
- Prototype the footprint. Mark the finished dimensions on cardboard or kraft paper before cutting plywood. This catches scale problems and reveals whether supports will interfere with the composition.
- Build, seal and paint in batches. Cut all silhouettes first, sand and prime them together, then paint repeated colors across the group.
- Install for stability and teardown. Test supports before the final display date and label detachable parts for next season.
Safety and quality checks
- Wear eye protection and follow the saw manufacturer’s instructions.
- Clamp or otherwise secure plywood before cutting.
- Keep blades sharp; sharp tools produce cleaner, more controllable cuts.
- Allow primer, paint, varnish and stain-poly to dry according to their labels before stacking or installing.
- Do not place an unstable tall figure where it can fall onto a walkway, vehicle or child.
The most balanced first display is usually a flat-storing reindeer or snow family with a few simple trees, presents or candies. Move to a sleigh, gingerbread house or life-size character when you have the plywood, bracing and storage plan to support the larger commitment.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
