Fun Kids Crafts: How to Make Your Own Ugly Monster Dolls

Ugly dolls are a lot of fun; they are cute, cuddly, and their ugliness makes them adorable. I started making dolls using socks that I couldn't find matches for, but over time I have started using all sorts of scrap materials, and here is an article that will describe how you can make your own ugly monster doll.

Ugly monster dolls can be any shape, size, color, or style, and that is part of the fun part of these making these dolls. You can use anything as a base for them. If you have some old socks that works great, but if not a weirdly cut piece of fabric can work great so feel free to experiment. So pick a shape for the body; if you are unsure of what type of shape start with a rectangle with one rounded edge, and make sure you cut 2 of these pieces so the doll has a front and a back side.. Next cut a slit in the square side opposite of the rounded side; this part will be your legs.

Now pick the side that is going to be the front, and start to make your doll a face. I like to use different colored buttons that are also different sizes. I will then stitch some eyelashes onto the doll or I will use sequins to add details. Finally I will stitch the mouth using embroidery floss. I will also add any other special touches to the doll at this point such as pockets or a bow. If you are going to give your doll a necktie or a necklace you should wait until the doll is stuffed.

Now turn the doll inside out and sow around all of the seams except the inside slit for the legs. Turn the doll right side out, and fill it with stuffing. Continue filling until you have reached the legs, and sewing one at a time continue to fill with stuffing.

Now that your doll is stuffed you can add hair and clothes to it. You can also add necklaces and funny charms. I specifically like to add facial expression to my doll after it is stuffed. You c an also add the nose t this point, and to achieve these affects you simply need to pinch the part of the face between the eyes and sew through the doll. Pulling the string tighter o looser will give the face different expressions. Feel free to experiment.

Some materials that you can use when making these dolls are pipe cleaners, felt, rhinestones, sequins, pom-poms, and foam. Monster dolls are a lot of fun to make, and kids of many different ages will enjoy this project.

Homemade Wedding Crafts: Pine Cone Centerpieces

Homemade wedding centerpieces are a great way to personalize your wedding décor, and pine cones are inexpensive and natural mediums for your wedding centerpieces. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating several pine cone centerpiece crafts for your homemade wedding décor.

Pine Cone Flowers

For this homemade wedding centerpiece craft you will need several pine cones, wire cutters, floral tape, green paper, scissors, wire, a hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, and glitter. Start by breaking pine coned in half to remove the pointed sides.

Next roll the ends of a 6 inch piece of wire into a spiral about half an inch in diameter and glue the bottom of the pine cone to the wire. Next cut leaves from the green paper and tape them to the wire in varying spots. Wrap the entire stem with floral wire and add some glitter to the center to finish the flower look of this homemade pine cone wedding craft. Now place the pine cone flowers in a vase and your wedding centerpiece is complete.

Pine Cones and Candles

Another homemade wedding centerpiece craft idea that utilizes pine cones is a candle centerpiece. For this wedding craft you will need pine cones, a hot glue gun, several pillar candles, ribbon, hot glue sticks, and scissors.

Start this homemade centerpiece by tying a piece of ribbon around the center of each candle. Tie the end of the ribbon into a bow, and add a little glue to secure it from coming undone. Next glue the pine cones around the ribbon vertically until the entire ribbon is covered. Complete several candles for your centerpiece and arrange them on your wedding table to finish this homemade wedding craft.

Gilded Pine Cones

For an elegant pine cone centerpiece that will look lovely amongst your other homemade wedding decorations try a gilded pine cone centerpiece. For this wedding craft you will need pine cones, gold spray paint, newspaper, hot glue sticks, a hot glue gun, and a foam ball.

Start this centerpiece craft by placing all of the pine cones on newspaper in a well ventilated area and spraying the gold with the spray paint. Allow the pine cones to dry, roll them over, and spray the other side of the pine cone.

Then plug your glue gun in to get hot and add a little bead of glue to the bottom of a pine cone. Press the pine cone into the foam ball; next glue another pine cone on the direct opposite of the ball, and continue covering the entire ball with the pine cones. After the entire ball is full of golden pine cones it can be placed on your wedding table as a lovely homemade centerpiece. You can personalize this craft by alternating flowers with pine cones as well.These homemade wedding centerpieces are easy to make using pine cones, and they will add a natural style to your homemade wedding décor.