This flag-waving, star-spangled patriotic
chenille doll will spark up your 4th
of July! Wear it as a lapel pin. Hang it on your front door.
Make dozens and stage a tiny parade.
Here's an easy craft that hearkens back to the chenille figures of the
1930s and 40s. Our patriotic chenille doll takes a couple of "bump"
chenille rods, some metallic paper, ultra-fine glitter, and one of
those little flag-topped toothpicks you can buy at any party store.
We photographed our vintage-look dolls with Scott's grandmother's
coffee
grinder, right off her Pennsylvania farm. Next to that is an
antique
cranberry glass cup inscribed "Atlanta," from Martin's grandmother.
Cut
two 12" bump chenille rods into four 6" pieces. You will need three
pieces to make one doll.
Bend
two of the chenille pieces in the center into a "V" shape.
These
are the legs and the arms. To form the body, bend the center
of
the third chenille piece around a pen (or your little finger) and twist
the ends twice. This loop is the doll's head.
Connect
the arms and legs by linking the pieces in the center and
twisting
them together two or three times. In this photo, the head and body are
at the
top, and the arms and legs are below.
Place
the arms and legs on the center of the body (with the head at the top).
Bend the ends at the bottom of the body between the legs and
up over the shoulders, pinching firmly to attach. You should
have a cute little figure with a hole for a head.
Cut
out the head and hat from the vintage image, using manicure
scissors to cut the fine detail. With a small paintbrush, apply white
glue to the white stripes and brim of the hat, and both full sides of
the
flag. Over a piece of paper, sprinkle liberally with the ultra-fine
glitter, covering all glued areas. Let the glue dry, then tap
off
the excess glitter and return it to the glitter container.
Cut
the point off of the tooth pick flag pole.
Trace
the star template onto the metallic silver paper and cut it out. Glue
the image head onto the top point of the star.
To make a hanging ornament, tie a loop of gold
cord through the chenille head loop. To make a lapel pin, glue a pin
back to the back of the figure with a hot glue gun.
Glue the star/head onto the chenille
loop.
Bend the tips of the arms and legs to form
hands and feet. Bend one hand around the flag pole and secure it with
glue.
Optional addition: To create hands and feet
like the example above, thread beads onto the chenille rods and bend
the rods back and pinch to secure them.
Now bend his little arms and legs the way you
like!
Tips
Standard chenille rods are 12" long. "Bump"
chenille rods are chenille rods with fluffy "bumps" every 3", or four
bumps per rod.
We used Mylar glitter paper for our star.
You would do just as well with white or blue cardstock
covered with silver or clear glitter. you can get some extra bling by
cutting out the star with decorative edge scissors.
We found these traditional flag picks at a
party store. If you have trouble finding them locally, you
can make your own with a small photocopied flag and a toothpick.
Here's some ideas: Leave your patriotic
chenille doll flat and attach him to the front of a greeting card!
Let him parade around in your potted plants. Attach a few
dolls and some patriotic ribbon to a grapvine wreath for your door. If
you are British, throw all of your tea in the bathtub while your doll
shouts "No taxation without representation!"
4th of July crafts like the Patriotic Chenille Doll can be a great way
to get kids into the spirit of the holiday. This is an easy
craft, requiring only cutting and gluing skills.