Craft Orthodox Clergy Clothespins

Above are three clergy clothespins: a priest holding a wafer and a Communion cup, a monk
 holding a hymnal and a nun holding a rosary. The wafer is cut from paper and glued to one
 hand and in the other hand I glued a tiny plastic Communion cup filled with wine colored
 paint. This was cut from the inside of a recycled plastic egg carton.

 

        Because Catholic clergy wear habits/uniforms they are easier to identify than Protestants for the most part. I have made here some simple representations of this church for children who would like to include them in their play or craft. They may also choose to change the habits slightly to make Lutheran or Anglican clergy as well. Both of these two churches dressed in very similar fashions at one time and some still do. Many clergy might consider these fashions 'old-fashioned' but it is not unusual for me to dress dolls in vintage clothing here.

Left, details for wrapping cotton batting hoods and tiny
Communion cup with wafer.

Supply List:

• eight cotton balls or white felt
  
• wooden clothespins
• wooden stands
• decorative paper for the stands
• black and brown felt
• seed beads 
• tiny crosses (charms)
• acrylic paints
• white school glue 
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• scrap white paper
• twine
• plastic egg carton
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. In making the nun, you may choose to use white felt alternatively to wrap around her head and shoulders. I chose to use cotton batting instead because it is easier to get the cotton onto the doll with a layer of white glue. Simply unravel the cotton ball and proceed to wind it around her figure at the top in order to shape the bandeau, coif and guimpe. 
2. Her veil is shaped from a black piece of felt hot glued to the top of her head.
3. Her black felt skirt is a simple tube wrapped around the waist of the clothespin and glued in place.
4. Paint her head, legs and shoes black.
5. String some tiny seed beads and a cross pendent for her to carry in her hands or as a crucifix to hang about her neck.
6. The monk clothespin is a friar dressed in brown felt. I chose to give him a "tonsure" hair cut using cotton batting and brown paint. This is a very old way to identify his devotion to the church. But there can be no doubt of it and this is why he wears it.
7. The good friar also carries a devotion or hymnal, depending on what he is up to at the moment. Tie twine about his waist and wrap a hood, a capuche, using either brown felt or cotton batting as seen in the above photo with white glue. Paint it brown after it dries. 
8. Then paint the monk or friar's features.
9. The priest may be dressed in traditional black. Paint his wooden legs and shoes black.
10. Wrap a felt coat about the torso and attach it permanently with glue. 
11. I cut a collar from white paper to glue about his neck and glued a cross to the front of his chest. 
12. Take the tip of a toothpick and dip it into gold acrylic to paint on the chain for his cross or crucifix. 
13. Paint on his facial features and hot glue a yarn or cotton batting wig to complete his look.
14. I decoupaged a patterned red and white ''floor'' to the wooden bases of these dolls, to make them look as though they are standing on tiles. Their black shoes are simply painted directly on to the wooden stands.

Links To More Catholic Clergy Dolls and Content:

• Nun Dolls Dressed in Habits
• A Nun Dall Named Sister Marie Cecile 
• Church Catechisms 
• The Shamrock Song