People have been making dolls and figurines out of natural materials for ages. Corn husk dolls and dried apple dolls are just two examples of how natural materials are fashioned to create a small and simple play toy. These twig dolls are another version of an old-time craft that children of today can enjoy.
Making these dolls is an excellent way to either pass away the summer afternoon. They are also an imaginative and inspired way to remember a specific hike or trip. However, if you are visiting a natural area make sure that collecting natural items is allowed; often times in nature preserves the flora, fauna, and other items are protected.
Making the Basic Twig Doll
Giving the term “stick figure” a whole new meaning, the base or body of the twig doll is made by collecting two specific sticks. The first main stick makes the legs, the trunk and the neck and/or head of the doll. For this stick, look for a straight stick that splits in two for the legs. The second stick makes the arms, and will run across the middle of the first stick.
The size of the main sticks is not important, as long as they are proportionate to each other. Twig dolls can be any size, from fitting in the center of your palm to as large as you desire.
To connect the two main twigs together, there are options. You can opt for the all-natural version and connect them by wrapping a long piece of grass around and across the twigs, lashing them together. A more non-natural process uses a rubber band (or even glue!) to connect them. If you do use connection tools from your home office instead of your back yard, feel free to wrap the rubber band with grass for the natural look.
Creating the Head
Making the head provides the first bit of creative license with your twig doll. For the simplest head, have an adult carve back the bark on the twig and use permanent markers to draw on a face. To create a more elaborate head, connect, using any means possible some sort of round natural item: a nutshell, a seashell, a smooth stone. Faces can be drawn on, or glued on using craft glue and tiny stones or seeds for facial features.
Hair, another option, can be made by gluing grasses, seaweed, or other material onto the head. Or add a simple flower hat for a sunny day.
Creative Embellishments for Your Twig Doll
When it comes to decorating the doll, the options are limitless. Any natural items you can find can be used, depending on your environment. (The seashore’s resources are quite different than those of the northwoods.)
A few ideas are:
- Clothing: Attach flora for a shirt, pants, or dress. Be prepared for leaves to wilt and/or dry out, and make sure not to use poison ivy leaves!
- Shoes: Nut shells glued onto the bottom of the “feet” make excellent footwear.
- Jewelry: Construct a necklace by weaving a flower stem around the neck.
The most important rule about your twig dolls is to let the magic of nature come through in your creativity, and to let your creativity turn into natural magic.
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