These dolls are made out of rolled strips of paper. They look like stick figures before they are wrapped with yarn and dressed in fabric scraps. I have made international dolls dressed in clothing representing Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. Parents and teachers can make these dolls very detailed to give as gifts or to decorate a classroom in an international theme. Children ages 8-12 can make them with very little assistance, and younger children can make them if an adult helps with the yarn wrapping, cutting and gluing. Both boys and girls enjoy this activity, sometimes creating real-life dolls and sometimes fantasy characters and superheroes. These little "paper-people" really come to life when they are dressed and topped off with some yarn hair.
SUPPLIES: Typing and/or construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons and or markers for coloring, a fine-point pen with black ink, yarn, clear tape, and small pieces of fabric and trimmings (like ribbon, buttons, etc.), wooden clothespins with a spring-joint (optional)
For each doll you will need one strip of paper 8"x2-1/2" and one strip 3"x 2-1/2". (It's easy if you cut your whole pieces of paper into 2-1/2 strips, then cut those strips into pieces approximately 3" and 8" long.)
If you are using typing paper, color one side (of both strips) with the chosen skin tone. If you are using construction paper which has an overall color you can add more color if you wish but it is not necessary. "Roll" and flatten the paper strips to about 1/3 of their original width (8"x3/4" and 3"x3/4") This does not have to be exact, but the two pieces should be about the same finished width.
Fold the 8" strip in half with any "seam" towards the inside of the fold. With the fine-tipped pen draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth about 1/4" from the fold. Your "doll" will now look like an upside-down "V".
Place the smaller rolled strip, the "arms", between the folded of the longer strip about an inch from the top. Lightly glue or tape the arms in place. Your doll should now look like a cross.
To add stability to the doll, you will need to wrap the body and legs with yarn. With a long piece of yarn, start at the chest and wrap the yarn over one shoulder, around the waist and back over the other shoulder. With a single strand of yarn, keep wrapping around the body, then wrap down--then back up each leg, until all the paper is covered. Tie the yarn to finish, or glue yarn-end in place. (Wrapping the arms with yarn is optional.)
To dress your doll, cut bits of fabric and trim, and glue them on. To make hair for your doll, wrap yarn bout 10 times around a piece of 1" cardboard (or two or three of your fingers). This will form a small "circle of yarn strands. Tie the circle of yarn at one side and cut the yarn opposite from the tied point. (It will look like a bushy "V" with the tie at the point.) Trim the hair to the desired length or arrange it in a style appropriate to the costume (like braiding). Place a dab of glue on the top fold of the dolls head and put the hair in place. Allow to dry.
To complete the doll, you may wish to draw hands and feet or shoes on your doll. In any case, it looks good if you trim the square ends of the arms to more resemble hands.
Finally, you may wish to glue the back of your doll to a wooden clothespin (with the doll's feet towards the clothespin's spring-joint). This way you can clip your friendship doll to a jacket, pocket, or lapel. Or, glue a magnet on the other side of the clothespin, and stick your doll on your refrigerator as a handy message holder. Most of all have fun with your dolls.
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