Crafts dolls are always popular at art and craft shows. Whether they are fun dolls or classic collectibles, there is something enchanting about these homemade dolls that people really enjoy. However, these dolls can be quite pricey, yet with a little time and imagination, you can make some at home at a fraction of the cost. In this article, we’ll show you how to make dolls that are so easy that a child could make them!
Apple dolls are great crafts for kids. You’ll need a vegetable peeler, paring knife, colored markers or paint, wool yarn, scissors, a 16-ounce plastic bottle, a bottle cork, fabric scraps and a rubber band. Pick the biggest apple that you can find for the head because it will shrink significantly as it dries. Peel and core the apple and carve a face on one side. Use the tip of a potato peeler to hollow out deep-set eyes and a paring knife to make a slit for a smile. If you’re a good carver, you can add ears and eyebrows.
Store the carved apple in a dry spot until it shrinks. Once the head is dry, use colored markers or water-based paints to enhance the eyes, lips and rosy cheeks. To make the body, cut the base off the plastic bottle and plug the top with a cork to serve as the doll’s neck. Wrap the fabric around the body so that it extends beyond the top and the bottom of the bottle. Secure the fabric around the bottleneck with a rubber band and then fold the cloth down. Now top off the doll by gently pushing the cored apple down onto the cork. You’ll end up with a really fun and unique looking doll.
Dolls are popular all over the world. One holiday that Japanese girls look forward to is Hina Matsuri, a day dedicated entirely to dolls. To make your own Japanese paper craft dolls, you’ll need poster board, construction paper, colored markers and tape. From a piece of poster board, cut out a simple doll’s body that measures about 7 inches tall. For the kimono, cut out a 6-inch square from colored construction paper and from a sheet of black paper, cut out a 6 by 3/8-inch sash and a wig. In the center of the wig, cut a horizontal opening that’s wide enough to accommodate the doll’s head. With colored markers or pencils, draw on a face.
Next, fold down the top of the kimono 3/8 inch from the edge to form a collar and color it with a marker. Lay the kimono flat so that the folded collar is facedown. Fit the wig onto the doll’s head and then center the body on top of the kimono. Fold a top corner of the kimono down over the doll’s shoulder. Working on the same side of the kimono, fold the paper vertically to cover the doll’s body. Use the same method to fold the opposite side of the kimono. Finally, wrap the sash around the doll from front to back and tape the ends together. These make beautiful decorations in a young girl’s room.
Raggedy Ann is perhaps the most famous doll of all. If you love the fun and floppy look of rag dolls, you can make them yourself without craft kits. Get a sturdy piece of paper and fold it in half, length-wise. Draw half a body along the fold, so that when the paper is opened the two halves will be symmetrical. Don’t worry about being fancy; just think of the shape of a gingerbread man. Draw a second outline about an inch and a half outside the first. This will be the guideline for your seam. Cut out the half-body outline on the outer line. Lay the pattern on the cloth that will make the rag doll’s body and cut out two shapes. On one shape, design what will be the front of the doll. To get a traditional look, use markers to make a red bow mouth and sew on buttons as eyes. Now sew the front and back together but leave a gap so you can stuff the doll. After you have stuffed the doll, simply sew up the gap.
Making crafts dolls is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the world of art. It encourages them to be creative, and it also teaches them about shapes and colors. Even if your child is older, they can make a doll that they can play with. If they really become an art and craft fan, they can make a whole collection of hand made dolls! Their beauty is timeless and will make a wonderful childhood keepsake for a lifetime.
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