Make Faux Chipwood Market Baskets and Contents

Left, a recycled wooden tray that once was packaging was decoupaged for our market stand.
 Center a variety of tiny fruits and veggies glued inside faux chipwood baskets made from
cardboard: cherries, goose berries, blue berries and grapes. Right, ochra, cherries, plums
 and ginger root up close.

       I made slated baskets or chipwood baskets to hold tiny fruit and veggies for our doll's market stand. Some of the mini fruits were glued directly into the baskets and others, a little larger, were left as individual fruits and veggies that could be removed individually: ocra, ginger root, plums and brussel sprouts.

The wood slat or chipwood printable pattern.

Supply List for Miniature Slat Baskets and Contents:

• cardboard (cereal box)
• printable pattern
• masking tape
• white school glue
• faux wood printed paper
• brown paper bag
• Sculpey oven bake clay
• acrylic paints
• tiny paint brushes
• Mod Podge
• Styrofoam pellets
• newsprint 

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Upload and print my pattern for the chipwood or slatted basket on the right. You may adjust it's size in Photoshop or by dragging it into a Word Document and altering it's size there. The size of the basket will depend on the amount of fruit you would like to include inside it. Our baskets (photo above) measured approximately 1 inch.
2. Make a cardboard template from the pattern. Draw around it on top of additional cardboard for the faux baskets.
3. Bend at the dotted lines and also at the arched corners. Ad a bite of white glue at each corner. Let dry.
4. I decoupaged the baskets with brown paper bags next. 
5. For the baskets filled with tiny fruits, you will need to crush newsprint and firmly press this into the basket construction. 
6. Mask this in place with tape, just below the top of the basket. In this way, the basket will look as though it is 'filled' with fruit to the top.
7. Using white school glue, pool the glue and add the foam pellets. Let these dry. 
8. Paint the pellets green or blue to look like berries and grapes before sealing them with Mod Podge over the top. 
9. I sculpted a few leaves for the grapes and glued these on top of this berry box.
10. Now sculpt the individual fruits and veggies for the loose filled baskets from oven bake clay.
11. Let these sculpted edibles cool and paint them.
12. Decoupage the outside edges of each chipwood basket using the decorative faux wood paper.
    

Assemble a Bathroom Pedestal Sink and DIY a Custom Backsplash

The pedestal sink here is made from two separate types
 of candlesticks stuck together with a very sticky,
 aluminum foil adhesive tape.

       I made this particular pedestal sink from recycled, glass candle sticks. It is very near to impossible to glue together these kinds of parts. So the answer to a successful assembly is not to use glue! Use an aluminum tape from a hardware store to adhere the two pieces together. Either a silver foil tape or duct tape will work. I prefer the foil tape because it is more attractive and has a stickier backing.

       Position the silver button inside the candle stick where a drain would naturally exist in a sink. Pool white glue over the top of the cavity. This will hold the button in place but will appear transparent. It takes three to four days for this ample application of glue to become transparent; be patient with it.

Supply List:

• one glass candlestick that looks like a basin or sink
• one glass candlestick that measures approximately 4-5 inches tall
• aluminum foil tape  
• white school glue
• one silver button (drain detail)

How to make more bathroom sinks for your doll's house:

• A double sink lavatory for a doll house - in French
• A pink bathroom for a doll house - also in French with many detailed pictures
• Make a marble top bathroom sink for a doll house

       The backsplash is not permanently attached to the sink in this project. It is optional for those of you who would prefer to have faucets and handle details in your doll's bathroom. Although young children do not always need so much detailing in their doll furnishings, as children mature they seem to crave doll furniture with many tiny, realistic parts.

White school glue will hold the button in place but will appear transparent.
It takes three to four days for this ample application of glue to become
transparent; be patient with it.

Supply List:

• cardboard
• masking tape
• paper mache pulp
• tiny tiles
• white acrylic or enamel paint
• recycled nozzle from a handsoap bottle
• silver buttons
• silver spray paint
• Mod Podge 
• hot glue gun and glue

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Construct the backsplash by cutting away a corner from a recycled cardboard box. I also glued a thin strip of cardboard to reinforce this corner cut and added a floor piece for the pedestal sink to stand on.
2. I traced around the outer edge at the bottom of my sink base to cut away a hexagon shape from the cardboard in order to lend the backsplash some stability.  (see photo above)
3. I also taped in a shallow shelf, just above the sink for my facet and knobes to be glued to.
4. Next, cover the entire cardboard backsplash with masking tape.
5. I chose to Mod Podge tiny tiles to the backsplash that match the bathtub in an earlier project.
6. Then I hot glued the facet and buttons onto the narrow ledge. These should be positioned above the pedestal sink.
7. Next, I added some paper mache to the walls of my bathroom backsplash for strength.
8. Then I painted the cardboard parts of the backsplash that were not tiled, with white enamel paint. You could also could use acrylic paint for this. 

See the bathtub crafted to coordinate with this custom backsplash...

July

July

The flaming torch of the sun now flies

With a fervid glow thro' the summer skies.

His height is reached these July days,

And the earth is parched with fiercest rays.

The grass is withered, the corn leaves rolled,

And the bearded grain he's turned to gold.

The murmuring brook is singing low;

Its limpid waters faintly flow.

The song-bird seeks the deepest shade,

Where silence reigns within the glade.

The kine, now standing in the pool,

Are resting thus so calm and cool.

Her sister, June, with roses bright

His filled our souls with pure delight,

And August now, with stately mien,

Must soon close up the summer scene.

This ardent heat, like a tropic clime,

Will ripen fruits for the Autumn time.

July 15, 1881

Chalk Transfer a Parking Lot & Service Station

It's easy to learn how to design a place
 for Hotwheels to go for a tune up,
 tire adjustment or serious car repairs.

       I used a simple chalk transfer method in order to compose a service station/parking lot for any child sized, chalkboard table top. (See full sized table below.) You can print out a service station like mine from my car mat coloring page collection at Crayon Palace.
       You will need both regular white chalk and a liquid chalk pen to complete this craft project.
       If you do not have a chalkboard table it's easy to remedy this by spray painting the top of an old sofa table with chalkboard paint; but that project is for another post!

Steps for The Chalk Transfer Method:

1. Print or draw a design.
2. Rub the backside of the drawing with white chalk.
3. Turn it over drawing side up and position it on the chalkboard.
4. Use a pencil to trace the basic outline of the drawing.
5. The chalk should transfer onto the chalkboard. It should appear fuzzy.
6. Outline the final drawing with a chalk pen.
7. Dust off the surface using a soft brush.

More Chalkboard Surfaces Crafted for Car Play:

• Train tracks on the chalkboard table by the imagination tree
• Backyard Projects For Kids: DIY Race Car Track by Architecture and Design
• Fun & Simple Toy Car Play Mat by Crafting Chicks 
• DIY Ramp Race Track by thehomesihavemade

More Crafty Fun With Little Cars:

• the weisse guys cardboard city!
• A DIY Toy Traffic Light Craft by B-inspiredmama
• DIY Washi Tape Toy Car Track for Your Son to Play On from Kidsomania
• DIY: Pool Noodle Race Track by Ramblings From Utopia
• Noah's Car Cosy and Race Track by vintage gets crafty
• DIY Wood Race Track from View From the Fridge
• DIY wooden crate storage and display for hot wheels cars by frugalfun4boys
• Tips for preserving, packing and collecting Hot Wheels from hobbydb 
• The blog at Hot Wheels for more craft ideas
• use magnetic knife holders to store little cars by apartment therapy
• Toy Car Tunnel by Lowe's
• Hot Wheels Cakes from Sara's Sweets & Treats
• How to make your own sidewalk chalk and DIY sidewalk chalk eggs  
• The best activities and gifts for boys that love to play with cars from Uplifting Mayhem
• Free Plans - Build a DIY 4-In-1 Activity Table for Kids by addicted 2 diy 

      Photographs of my friend's chalkboard table. I spruced it up a bit with a new coat of chalkboard paint and a chalk drawing for little cars. When his children tire of this; he can wash off the table top and start over.

 I needed to give this little chalkboard table a fresh coat
 of paint before drawing my service station and parking lot.
 It was apparently, well loved. I thought the pencil table
 legs interesting.

I purchased these two slat bottom, kiddie chairs at resale for three dollars each.

Above is a close-up shot of the "Service, Fast - Service Station"
 from the 1950s, drawn with a liquid chalk marker.

The chalkboard painted parking lot is almost full.

I gave the parking spaces numbers; this is a good opportunity to
 teach counting and number identification with a toy.

I included a flower bed at the front of my chalk drawn service station.

The parking lot as seen from above.

The empty parking lot and little car service station
wait to be played with.

Soap Root

Soap Root pollinated by moths.

Unspotted blossom,

A-sway in the heat,

Thanks for the Castile

That lies at your feet.

       The flowers we have been studying open their hearts to the sun in the morning. Most flowers do that. They love the early sunshine. However, there are some flowers that seem to hate to get up in the morning, just as some little boys and girls do. 

       Do you all know the California Soap Root? If you have camped out in your summer vacation, perhaps you have used the root to clean the grime off your hands. You like it because it makes those soft suds that make your hands feel nice. Perhaps that is just why the plant does not like moisture. Perhaps it is afraid that if it touches much water it will melt into soapsuds and float away in rainbow bubbles for the Fairies.

       At any rate, you do not find its flowers in the Spring when the air may be damp. The long green leaves are out, spread on warm rocky hillsides. They have little earth to draw moisture from, but they grow longer all the time. The flower does not bloom until summer. Even in that warm season, it does not open until in the afternoon. Then the air is sure to be well heated.

       The Soap Root has six regular floral parts like Fritillaria but they are different from hers in shape and in color. Botanists say they are ''tongue shaped.'' Does not that describe them well? They are long and narrow. They end in a roundish point. Their sides curve in. 

       Because she comes out in warm weather, Soap Root does not need an overcoat on her flower buds, as Iris does. She sends up many buds along the main stem and along branch stems. They spread out wide into six white waxy parts, with a purple line down the middle. While the sides of the floral parts curve inward, the tips curve backward from the center.

       The six stamens rise up tall and then bend toward the outside. The dark anthers swing loosely on their tops.

       The pistil comes up in the center of the stamen ring. The little stigma knob at its top divides into three lobes.

       Just as some flowers open in the late afternoon, some insects come out then to feed. Mrs. White Moth sleeps in the early half of the day and comes out late looking for a meal. She becomes almost discouraged. Flower after flower she finds closed. Can she find no meal? And she so hungry? Her wings begin to droop.

       Suddenly up she tosses her head. What are those white waxy stars waving in the lower air. Stars should be higher up. She fairly flings herself through the air to reach them. Aha! Food! And a very good food at that. She gains new strength and courage. She goes from blossom to blossom, and you know what happens?

       When the Soap Root seed-case ripens, she does not cast off her sepals and petals. She dries them into purple and twists them over the seed-case. The seed-case is shaped something like a top. See if it spins to send its little round seeds out.

       We can easily see what gives Soap Root its common name. The root has been used by all the peoples who have lived in California. The native people washed themselves with suds made from it. They also used it in a way that our Law to-day will not let us. The native women knelt down by a pool and made it all white with Soap Root suds. The fish did not like that mixture, so they floated on the top as if half asleep. Then, the women caught them in their hands and filled many baskets with them. What they did not wish to eat fresh, they hung on the bushes to dry. Then, they had dried fish when none were to be caught.

       The Spanish Californians used the Soap Root for washing their clothes. Washing Day was not disliked in their time. It was really a sort of picnic. Baskets of soiled clothes were carried down to the creek bank. Camp fires were made under large copper tubs which were filled with the creek water.

       The clothes were soaked in the creek water and well rubbed with Soap Root. Then they were boiled in these copper tubs in Soap Root suds. Next these were rinsed in the clear creek water many times. After washing, the clothes were spread out on the grass to dry in the fresh air and bright sunshine.  How white those clothes were and how sweet they smelled! 

       I said Washing Day was like a picnic. It was. The washers ate their game and tortillas by the stream. In those days, people travelled mostly on horseback. There were few roads between Northern California and Southern California. People rode on trails. Most trails followed along the creeks. So, the washers often saw a horseman coming from a distant part of the State before he got to the ranch or to the town.

       They would hail him. He always stopped to talk with them. Sometimes he lingered to eat with them. He used to tell them all the news of the place from which he came. The washers used to know the news before the other people did. So, when the Americans came to the country and the General wanted to learn the latest news from Los Angeles, he sent his scout to the washing-pool. They used to call this way of getting the news "The Washerwoman's Mail."

      When the Forty-Niners were digging gold in the Mountains, they were very glad to have Soap Rootto wash themselves and their clothes. Soap was not so common in those days as it is with us. And besides, it would be heavy to pack the miles into the mining country. So, they looked on Soap Root as one of their friends who made their lives easier.

       If you want to have fine glossy hair, use the root as the Spanish Californians did. Make a good suds of the root and rub it well into your scalp. Then, rinse the suds out in several waters and dry your hair in the sunshine.

Back to "Little Blossoms" Doll Summer Camp Index

Barbie Fashion Dolls by Mattel

       Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. Read more . . .

• Who Is Ruth Handler?
• Bild Lilli Inspires The Creation of Barbie?

Barbie and her friends were only four years old when this ad
was included in the Sears and Roebuck Catalogue. Dolls shown
above include: Barbie, Ken, Midge from 1963, came with wigs!

How to Identify Your Barbie

Year of Make: Doll body parts are copyrighted frequently in different years. The production of face molds may be earlier or later produced than the body they are attached to. This is why dating Barbie dolls may be quite difficult if the doll doesn't have an original box or costume.

Country were parts are made: Barbies have been produced in many different countries but knowing where these parts come from will help a collector determine era that the doll was designed in.

Trademark: Barbie is made by Mattel. There are many other companies that produce 11" - 12" fashion dolls. So look for the makers mark or word "Mattel" when identifying Barbie and her counterparts.

• Read about how brands can be more than just letters or symbols...
  

Face Mold: face molds are frequently named, sometimes with an actual name and at other times with a phrase or number. This is a very old, traditional way of identifying all kinds of dolls that have been produced by doll manufacturers throughout history from many different countries. Always check the back of Barbie's head to get the date she was made. Her body parts may have different dates but these are only for the doll's body parts not her actual date of design or face mold.

Barbie Identification by Melillo, the
best - 1959 to 1995, for face molds

1. Barbie face mold from 2005 includes hot pink lipstick and dark eye shadow
2. Christie face mold - this was the first friend to Barbie that was also African American - Read more about her at Neoshaloves.
   
3. Barbie face mold from 1998 with ash blond hair and darker white skin. She also has a beauty mark under her left eye.
4. Kira Miko face mold is Asian but she is actually a native of Hawaii not Japanese! (Kira is her first name, Miko her last name, some collectors interchange these but calling her face mold "Miko" is like calling a doll's face mold "Smith." "Miko" is a surname or last name.) Read more about her at Kattis Dolls here.
5. Teresa face mold - is the Spanish Barbie face sculpt. See how Teresa changed over time by ToysND
6. Barbie face mold from 1998 with lighter skin and blonder hair. Her eye shadow is rosy and her lips bright red!
7. Nicki face mold - Nicki was first an African American friend for Skipper, but she was also later made into an adult version friend for Barbie. Nicki face mold are still mass produced and sold today and has replaced the Christie face mold altogether. ( I think, maybe not.) Nicki's fame has climaxed to the MAX because of froggy, of course! see Sophie, froggy's famous character with a Nicki face.
8. Barbie face mold, another from 2005, with lavender lipstick, no bangs, low arched eye-brows
   

Hair Color and Style: The hair color and style will help a dealer or collector date and identify a Barbie faster than a copyrighted face mold or body part. This is because sometimes Barbie dolls are not assembled until years after their parts have been manufactured. So a doll with older parts may not be actually sold to the public for several years after it has been stamped with the year. Also hair styles are definitely dictated by decade when it comes to Barbie. 

• "Stacked" - Revisiting the Bubble Cut hair style
• What Barbie Looked Like the Decade You Were Born
  

Skin Tone: Skin color on a Barbie doll does not determine the doll's face mold label or name. Barbies that have different skin colors are still Barbies if they have a face mold that is identical to those faces labeled "Barbie." Names of Barbie's friends and family are given to different face molds not skin tones. There have been a few exceptions to this rule for Barbie manufacturers because of advertising campaigns and also because of issues that have to do with supply and demand for cancelled doll designs. However, the vast majority of doll producers identify dolls by face molds and therefore, keep to the consistent practices set by doll designers.

Feet: Holes or not in the bottom of the doll's feet will determine it's age. Earlier dolls where manufactured in such a way as to cause the feet of the doll's to be punctured. Knowing this helps collectors to determine the age of a doll overall. However, many people put Barbies together with old parts so this type of information is not always reliable.

Hands and Arms: positions of elbows and fingers vary, also palms face outside or to side

Eye Types: Eyes may be hand-painted or decal on Barbie dolls.

Body Types: There are many new shapes for Barbie bodies now so this can also help identify your doll as long as the head and body are original. "Made to move Barbie" bodies are move expensive but easier to play freely with. Many doll collectors actually switch out their Barbie bodies with these preferable body types. The Ballerina back and Shani front styled body is the most traditional and also the most controversial figure. Read all about eleven controversies surrounding Barbie!

Clothing: Barbies that are dressed as they were new-in-the-box, are very easy to identify as long as the clothing is original.

More Posts About Barbie, Her Friends and Family,  plus The New Fashionistas: 

• Mattel's Fashionista Dolls - 11 dolls reviewed
• DIY Pool Floats for Your Doll - depicts 1970s inflatable Barbie pool and floats + a craft
• Decoupage A Doll's Storage Trunk
• Top 10 Historical Facts About Barbie Dolls

Barbie Fan Video We Love at YouTube:

1. I Have 800 Barbies in My Collection: The Collector Showdown
2. National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention
3. The Evolution of The Barbie Doll from the 1950s To Today
4. Barbie superfan spent over $70,000 on collection and Azusa Barbie
5. Barbie's Dream House from 1961 - retro review
6. A tour of the Barbie Friendship playset for a lost custom project
7. Barbie Blue Jest Air Plane from 1999 - also shows ebay bidding pages
8. My vintage Barbies - original dolls, accessories and cases
9. 18 Classic Retro Barbie Doll Commercials - video for identifying your dolls
10. 10 years of holiday Barbie Commercials 2007-2017 - video for identifying your dolls
11. Barbie Movie Dolls Collection - 2001-2019 - video for identifying your dolls

  Return to the Doll Guide Index Page 

Raggedy Ann's Trip On The River

Raggedy Ann's Trip On The River

       When Marcella had a tea party out in the orchard, of course all of the dolls were invited. Raggedy Ann, the tin soldier, the native doll and all the others - even the four little penny dolls in the spool box. After a lovely tea party with ginger cookies and milk, of course the dolls were very sleepy, at least Marcella thought so, so she took all except Raggedy Ann into the house and put them to bed for the afternoon nap. Then Marcella told Raggedy Ann to stay there and watch the things.

       As there was nothing else to do, Raggedy Ann waited for Marcella to return. And as she watched the little ants eating cookie crumbs Marcella had thrown to them, she heard all of a sudden the patter of puppy feet behind her. It was Fido.

       The puppy dog ran up to Raggedy Ann and twisted his head about as he looked at her. Then he put his front feet out and barked in Raggedy Ann's face. Raggedy Ann tried to look very stern, but she could not hide the broad smile painted on her face.

       "Oh, you want to play, do you?" the puppy dog barked, as he jumped at Raggedy Ann and then jumped back again.

       The more Raggedy Ann smiled, the livelier Fido's antics became, until finally he caught the end of her dress and dragged her about.

       This was great fun for the puppy dog, but Raggedy Ann did not enjoy it. She kicked and twisted as much as she could, but the puppy dog thought Raggedy was playing.

       He ran out the garden gate and down the path across the meadow, every once in a while stopping and pretending he was very angry. When he pretended this, Fido would give Raggedy Ann a great shaking, making her yarn head hit the ground "ratty-tat-tat." Then he would give his head a toss and send Raggedy Ann high in the air where she would turn over two or three times before she reached the ground.

       By this time, she had lost her apron and now some of her yarn hair was coming loose.

       As Fido neared the brook, another puppy dog came running across the foot-bridge to meet him. "What have you there, Fido?" said the new puppy dog as he bounced up to Raggedy Ann.

       "This is Raggedy Ann," answered Fido. "She and I are having a lovely time playing."

       You see, Fido really thought Raggedy enjoyed being tossed around and whirled high up in the air. But of course she didn't. However, the game didn't last much longer. As Raggedy Ann hit the ground the new puppy dog caught her dress and ran with her across the bridge, Fido barking close behind him.

       In the center of the bridge, Fido caught up with the new puppy dog and they had a lively tug-of-war with Raggedy Ann stretched between then. As they pulled and tugged and flopped Raggedy Ann about, somehow she fell over the side of the bridge into the water.

       The puppy dogs were surprised, and Fido was very sorry indeed, for he remembered how good Raggedy Ann had been to him and how she had rescued him from the dog-pound. But the current carried Raggedy Ann right along and all Fido could do was to run along the bank and bark.

Color Raggedy where she landed in the river.

       Now, you would have thought Raggedy Ann would sink, but no, she floated nicely, for she was stuffed with clean white cotton and the water didn't soak through very quickly.

       After a while, the strange puppy and Fido grew tired of running along the bank and the strange puppy scampered home over the meadow, with his tail carried gaily over his back as if he had nothing to be ashamed of. But Fido walked home very sorry indeed. His little heart was broken to think that he had caused Raggedy Ann to be drowned.

       But Raggedy Ann didn't drown - not a bit of it. In fact, she even went to sleep on the brook, for the motion of the current was very soothing as it carried her along - just like being rocked by Marcella.

       So, sleeping peacefully, Raggedy Ann drifted along with the current until she came to a pool where she lodged against a large stone.

       Raggedy Ann tried to climb upon the stone, but by this time the water had thoroughly soaked through Raggedy Ann's nice, clean, white cotton stuffing and she was so heavy she could not climb.

       So there she had to stay until Marcella and Daddy came along and found her.

       You see, they had been looking for her. They had found pieces of her apron all along the path and across the meadow where Fido and the strange puppy dog had shaken them from Raggedy Ann. So they followed the brook until they found her.

       When Daddy fished Raggedy Ann from the water, Marcella hugged her so tightly to her breast the water ran from Raggedy Ann and dripped all over Marcella's apron. But Marcella was so glad to find Raggedy Ann again she didn't mind it a bit. She just hurried home and took off all of Raggedy Ann's wet clothes and placed her on a little red chair in front of the oven door, and then brought all of the other dolls in and read a fairy tale to them while Raggedy Ann steamed and dried.

       When Raggedy Ann was thoroughly dry, Mamma said she thought the cake must be finished and she took from the oven a lovely chocolate cake and gave Marcella a large piece to have another tea party with.

       That night when all the house was asleep, Raggedy Ann raised up in bed and said to the dolls who were still awake, "I am so happy I do not feel a bit sleepy. Do you know, I believe the water soaked me so thoroughly my candy heart must have melted and filled my whole body, and I do not feel the least bit angry with Fido for playing with me so roughly!"

       So all the other dolls were happy, too, for happiness is very easy to catch when we love one another and are sweet all through.

Color Raggedy where she lodged against a stone in the river.

Back to the original stories index by Johnny Gruelle

Pinocchio the Puppet by Hi Sibley

Sizing the puppet.

        "Pinocchio, the wistful puppet created by Geppetto, the wood carver, in Walt Disney's second full-length production, is an inviting subject for either a homemade puppet or an amusing and companionable little doll. The accompanying illustrations show how to go about making one patterned after the original, which was created by the Disney model department as an inspiration to the animators drawing Pinocchio.

       If you are an expert wood carver yourself, the head might be fashioned from a solid block of soft white pine and the nose inserted (Fig. 1), but a surer way to achieve a fair likeness is first to make a clay model. From this a plaster-of-Paris mold is taken, and the head is cast in plastic composition wood (Figs. 2, 3, and 4). The hat is made in the same way as the head and glued on.
       The casting process will be found simple if the steps are carefully carried out as illustrated. Note, however, in the step marked Fig. 4E it is not necessary to fill the mold with watery plaster. Just pour a little inside and swish it around to form a coating and prevent the wood composition from drying and shrinking. The joint where the two halves of the head come together should be filled and the whole sandpapered before painting.
       The torso is carved from a solid block of soft white pine (Fig. 5), and holes are drilled as indicated for the thongs to which arms and legs are attached, and for the elastic in the neck. The latter is a sort of ball-and-socket joint so that it may be turned and twisted within reasonable limits.

The Casting Process for Pinocchio.

String the marionette.

       Legs and arms are of maple, although if they are to be painted flesh color, white pine will do. These pieces are slotted and jointed as in Fig. 6. For a doll, make the slots fit snugly so they will remain in any desired position, but for a marionette the joints should be very loose.

       Hands and feet are cast in the plastic composition like the head, and the shapes are given in Fig. 7.

       The assembly is illustrated in Fig. 8. Rawhide thongs are driven into holes in the upper arms and thighs, and fastened with glue or thin wedges. Costume and coloring are shown in Fig. 10.

       There are various methods of attaching strings to a figure of this kind if it is to be used as a marionette, but one of the simplest is shown in Fig. 11. The wire extensions for the shoulder cords have the advantage of giving better control and hold the strings clear of the stiff white collar.

        Geppetto, the indefatigable wood carver who made Pinocchio, filled his shop with all manner of unique cuckoo clocks. This one can be adapted to serve as a desk ornament. A hand-carved background of rushes supports a dollar watch, and in the foreground is a painted pool with a pair of ducks, one of them ‚"headin' south." Jig-saw the back wall from white pine and carve in the design. The watch is set in a circular opening, being held in place by a brass spring. If a lathe is available, turn the retaining ring of hardwood; otherwise carve it out. The ducks are whittled from white pine." Modern Mechanix

And Here Is a Colorful Little Clock by Geppetto.

  Return to the Doll Guide Index Page 

Boy's Names J, K, L

Back To Name Your Doll Index

Name: Meaning: Origin

• Jabulani: Be happy: Zimbab
• Jacob: The supplanter: Hebrew
• Jacy: The moon: Native American 
• James: Ancestor: Hebrew 
• Jason: The healer: Greek 
• Jay: Lively: Old German 
• Jeffrey: God's peace: Teutonic 
• Jerome: Ol sacred name: Greek
• Jesse: Grace: Hebrew
• Joel: Strong-willed: Hebrew 
• John: Given by God: Hebrew
• Jonathan:Gift of the Lord: Hebrew
• Joseph: An addition: Hebrew
• Jude: praised: Greek
• Julian, Julius: Youthful: Greek
• Justin: The upright: Latin
• Kadan: companion: Arabic
• Karutunda: A little person: Runyankore
• Keith Wood dweller: Celtic 
• Kemi: Spoil me with love: Yoruba
• Kenneth: Comely: Celtic 
• Kent: Bright: Celtic 
• Kermit: God of arms: Celtic 
• Kevin: Kind and gentle: Celtic 
• Kirk: Church dweller: Teutonic
• Kobe: Turtle:Swahili
• Kovan: Owl: African 
• Lakota: Friend: Native American
• Lambert: Glory of his country: Teutonic
• Landon: surname meaning long hill: Old English
• Lawrence, Laurence: Victorious: Latin
• Lee: A physician: Celtic
• Legolas: an elf name invented by author Tolkien
• Leland: From the meadow land: English
• Leo, Leonard: Strong as a lion: Latin
• Leopold: Patriotic: Teutonic
• Leslie: From the for: Celtic
• Lester: Seeking the truth: English
• Levi: joined together, attached: Hebrew
• Lewis, Louis: Famous in battle: Teutonic
• Liam: strong will, warrior, protective: Irish
• Lincoln: From the pool: Celtic
• Lindir: an elf name invented by author Tolkien
• Lloyd: Gray: Celtic
• Logan: hollow, surname: Scottish
• Luke: Light: Latin
• Lucas: bright or shining: Latin
• Lyle: From the island: Latin

previous page and next page

Halloween Doll Crafts

Far left, fun felt trick-or-treat bags for dolls., Left center, Peanuts Pillows made from socks.,
 Right center, spider web paper cuts., Far right, candied apples for your American Girl dolls.

       Radiant and beautiful October, whose changing color heralds the approach of winter, gives us our first autumn holiday.
       Before the Christian era, in the days of the ancient Celts and their priests, the Druids, the eve of the first of November was the time for one of the three principal festivals of the year. The first of May was celebrated for the sowing; the solstice on the twenty-first of June for the ripening, and the eve of the first of November for the harvesting. At each of these festivals great fires were built on the hill-tops in honor of the sun, which the people worshiped. When Christianity took the place of the heathen religion, the Church, instead of forbidding the celebration of these days, gave them different meanings, and in this way the ancient harvest-festival of the Celts became All-Hallow-Eve, or the eve of All-Saints-Day, the first day of November having been dedicated to all of the saints.
       For a long while most of the old customs of these holidays were retained; then, although new ceremonies were gradually introduced, Hallow-Eve remained the night of the year for wild, mysterious, and superstitious traditions.
       It has been the custom for quite a number of years for Americans to give a Halloween parties. The home which opens wide its hospitable doors to the favored few on this night is a happy safe haven. There is usually plenty of candy and deserts, old-fashioned parlor games and guests often arrive in costume. 

       You can design a party such as this for your friends and dolls to attend. I will include all kinds of not-too-spooky crafts for little ones to: plan parties, decorate a doll house and dress their dolls up for trick-or-treating fun!

The Winking Owl
Crossword Puzzle
Name The Cats Puzzle

• A Creepy Halloween Party for Your Dolls and You! - vintage printable invitation and pumpkin game sheet
• Planning a Halloween Party Table - Four versions you can craft for all of your dolls and stuffed animals to eat at, play and be jolly... (These are all vintage, 1912)
• Visit our Halloween Coloring Page Collection at Crayon Palace
• Visit our Halloween Crafts for Kids at Thrifty Scissors

Make Simple Halloween Doll Crafts for All Your Dolls: You can help grow our listing by making requests for particular Halloween crafts in the comment box below:

1. Craft Cute Bottle Cap Puddings for Halloween - upcycle old bottle caps into something fun for your doll's holiday meal this year.
2. DIY Doll Sized Candy Apples - are such a sweet treat for children to use in their doll play anytime of year.
3. Paint a Miniature Black Cat Planter for a Doll's Garden - If your doll loves to garden, make her a miniature version cat planter for her Fall garden displays.
4. How to cut paper spider webs... - every child can learn to cut easy paper spider webs to decorate a dollhouse with this Halloween.
5. Make a Halloween Sticker Wreath for Your Dollhouse  - The easiest Halloween doll craft around, this little wreath is perfect for dressing up your dollhouse walls this Autumn...
6. Sew a Snuggly Afghan for Cool Fall Evenings  - this Halloween afghan craft features pirate kittens, spider webs, stripes and witchy hats sewn into patches, made from socks.
7. Assemble Oscar, The Mechanical Paper Owl - vintage paper doll with moving parts, every child and some adults will enjoy crafting for Halloween fun!
8. Stitch A Peanuts Pillow for Halloween - easy to cut and stitch Halloween socks into doll pillows.
9. Printable Candy Bar Wrappers by kathy grimm - printable candy bars for filling doll candy bags white trick-or-treating!
10. Craft a 'Boo' Web Wreath for The Dollhouse - transform an old doily into a vintage looking spider web wreath for your doll's Halloween decor this year.
11. Paint a Pumpkin Shaped Candy Dish - upcycle old Jello molds into cute pumpkin serving dishes.
12. Craft Halloween Cupcakes for Your Doll Bakery - Halloween inspired baked goods feature: spider webs, witches hats and spooky eyeballs.
13. No-Sew Frankenstein's Monster Pillow - Glue a cute monster pillow for your doll's sofa or bed.
14. Sculpt Miniature Lollipops for Dolloween! - twist and turn contrasting clay colors to craft this classic dolly treat for Halloween.
15. Fun Felt Trick-Or-Treat Bags for Dolls - Use fun felt novelty decorations to dress up these simple, fabric candy treat bags.
16. Craft a Foam Pumpkin Pie - A technique for constructing an Autumn favorite desert for your dollhouse.
17. Scrap Fabric Pumpkin Pie - layer silks and creamy white lace to create a fabriclicious treat for your dolls during this Fall season!
18. Sew Four Reversible Pumpkin Placemats - one side of the placemats feature pumpkins and the other Thanksgiving graphics, perfect for a festive dolly dinner party.
19. A Cat and Witch Magic Changeling Paper Doll - one of many reversible images for this unique and  old-fashioned paper dolls.
20. Dolls may now send vintage Halloween greetings! - printable postcards for the Dolly Mail.
21. A Paper Dolly Dingle Celebrates Halloween! - color paper dolls of Billie Bumps and Dolly Dingle with cute props too!
22. Print a Vintage Halloween Party Game Board - game board from the 1950s to print out for dolls.
23. Creepy, Classic Halloween Posters - old timey photos of historic graveyards and qotes.
24. Posters from Nostalgic Halloween Films - The Invisible Man, Frankenstein and Creature from the Black Lagoon posters, colorized and resized for dollhouses.
25. No-Sew Owlloween Hoot Sock Pillow - made from Halloween novelty socks and perfect for the doll sofa or bed during the fall...
26. Reversible Halloween Novelty Apron - a very simple sewing project for beginners...
27. The Pumpkin House - small and quaint, just the right size for a doll or two or three...
28. Make easy jack-o-lanterns for a dollhouse display - the simplest pumpkin craft so far!
29. Our Dollhouse Family Room Decorated for Halloween - Our doll's are ready for a festive Halloween party...
30. How to Make a Boneyard Brownie Display - painted and iced to look like a Haunted Gingerbread Display + pumpkin brownie craft...
31. Craft Halloween Trick-Or-Treaters - Dummy boards for your dollhouse fireplace...
32. Make a Miniature Printable Halloween Coloring Book - for 18" doll play 
33. Craft a 3 Layered Monster Halloween Cake! - This desert comes with wiggly eyeballs and drips of icing...
34. Cut and Color a Scarecrow Finger Puppet - This example has a pattern and pumpkin head!
    
35. Gathered Ribbon Wreath for Halloween - A witchy Jack-o-lantern attached to this spider web ribbon motif...
36. Decorate the Dollhouse With Pumpkins, Mums and Toadstools - Hot glue easy Autumn displays to decorate the dollhouse...
37. Sew a few frightful pillows for the dollhouse - Featured here are Jack-o-lanterns, a ghost, dancing skeletons and a 3D spider with a web...
38. How to paint a pretend pumpkin hamburger - with a patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce and sesame seeds...
39. Make a pumpkin with a web shaped vine - attach a pretend spider to this one...
40. How to stack and paint a group of pumpkins to look like a black cat
    

Halloween History and Stories:

• A Halloween Party From 1924 - Travel back in time to read about how children celebrated Halloween in the 1920s...
• How Halloween Came To Be Celebrated in Christendom - Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.
• What Is All Saint's Day About? by Pastor Jeremy from Commons Church, Canada
  
• Hallowe'en In Olden Time - In old English times it was a night of mystery, full of charms and revelry and queer pastimes.
• The Story of "Stingy Jack" - Stingy Jack, perhaps also known as Jack the Smith, Drunk Jack, and Jack of the Lantern, is a mythical character apparently associated with All Hallows Eve. It is common lore that the "jack-o'-lantern" is derived from the character.
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - "The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback, without a head."
• Bats, Ace Fliers - Bats are almost always thought of in connection with witches, goblins, evil spirits and bad luck...
• Gourds and Pumpkins and Their Uses - October brings Halloween, and since the pumpkin is a typical fruit of that time of the year it is used in all kinds of Halloween decorations.
• Halloween Frolics From The Past - Vintage decorations for many rooms in the house, 1919...
  

Ghost Stories from The Brother's Grimm:

• The importance villains serve in children's literature...
  
• The Shroud - "There was once a mother who had a little boy seven years old..."
• The Aged Mother - "In a large town there was an old woman..."
• The Stolen Pennies ''A father was one day sitting at dinner with his wife and children..."

Autumn/Halloween/All Saints Day Poetry:

1. October Thoughts - "Some people are very poetic --They speak of the October sky..."
2. A Ghost! by Elizabeth Betts - "Good-night, me boy, now go to sleep..."
   
3. An Old Rat's Tale - "He was a rat and she was a rat..."
4. Fall-Time Fun! - "October days have magic ways of making us remember..."
5. October - "October's days are pleasant, The fields are clad in brown..."
6. The Silent Pool by Enid Blyton - "Away in the wood where it's dark..."
7. The Voice of  Autumn by William Cullen Bryant - "There comes, from yonder height, a soft repining sound..."
8. October's Bright Blue Weather by Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson - "Suns and skies and clouds of June..."
9. All Saints Day by James Russell Lowell - "One feast, of holy days the crest..." 
10. The Bad Kittens by Elizabeth J. Coatsworth - "You may call, you may call..."
11. The Mask Poem - "Behind this frowning mask I see..."
12. An Owl Problem by Josephine E. Toal - "I thought I lived among the owls..."
    

Doll Sized Halloween Costumes & Fashions:

1. The Mermaid Costume - with a recycled tail from the Dollar Store...
   
2. DIY Conical Hats for Fashionable Princesses (free pattern)
3. The Breakfast Costume - Easy paper mache craft!
   
4. The Firefighter Uniform Costume  - Borrowed from another stuffed toy...
   
5. Make Rainbow Hair Extensions for Fashion Dolls
6. The Pajama Unicorn Costume  - sewn using upcycled headband
   
7. Quick and Easy Skeleton Costume for a Doll
8. The Gumball Machine Doll Costume - made using pom poms
   
9. Betty Bonnet's Halloween Party - colorful paper dolls by Sheila Young
10. The Lady Bug Costume - made from a Dollar Store purchase
11. Your doll can dress up as a doctor for Halloween
12. The Bumble Bee Costume - made from a Dollar Store purchase too
    
13. Dress your doll in A Nun's Habit for Halloween
14. The Witchy "Web" Costume for a Storybook Witch
15. Pretend to Be A Gold-Medal Winning Athlete for Halloween and craft award winning ribbons too!
16. The "Boo Who?" Ghost Costume - very vintage with adorable lantern too!
17. The Jack-O-Lantern Costume - upcycle an infant's cap
18. The ''Madeline'' Costume - it fits many other dolls...
    

Matching Halloween Costumes for Little Girls & Their Dolls

• Jack-O-Lanterns and Ghosts From Sugar Bee Crafts
• Mommy, daughter and doll nesting doll costumes
• Queen of Hearts Costume with Matching 18" Doll Costume from Target

Halloween Video from American Girl Doll Fans:

Costumes:

• American Girl Halloween Costumes from 2017 from sew4dolls
• Deena shares her doll's outfits from Halloween 2014
• agoverseasfan dresses her American Girl Dolls in Outfits for 2016
• SewCrafty makes 3 no-sew costumes
• ag4life shows how she dressed her American Girl Dolls for Halloween in 2016

Parties and Haunted Happenings/Stories:

• Stop Motion of American Girl Party with a Werewolf, 2015
• American Girl Dolls Spooky Haunted House SPOOF! by TheSpunkyAG
• The Haunting Halloween Party: a Dolloween Special by FiveDollStars
• What Happened in Layton Manor by mixiepixie7 and The Spirits' Stone
• Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble Skit for Dolls

Halloween Cartoon Specials for Little Ones:

• Rollie Pollie Ollie Halloween Special: Spooky Dress Up!
• Berenstain Bears Bears: Too Much Trick or Treat
• Pete The Cat: Jack-o'-lantern Carving
• Little Bear Scares Everyone

Haunted Halloween Dollhouses:

• DIY Miniature Workshop: Witch's Workshop
• My Haunted Dollhouse Tour with Halloween Miniatures by CathieandSteve
• Harry Potter Themed Dollhouse Miniature
• How to Make a Doll Wand Shop from MyFroggyStuff
• Cute Miniature Haunted House Tutorial from SugarCharmShop

Count Down to Halloween Crafts from The Web:

• Halloween Countdown Calendar Free Printable
• Halloween Countdown Calendar - 31 Printable Monster Ornaments 

Movie Posters from: Far Left, "The Corpse Bride." Center Left, "Hook."
Center Right, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Far Right, "The Dark Crystal."

Kid Friendly Halloween Films:

• The Ghost and Mr. Chicken: T.V. Trailer, Review, and Haunted Organ Music. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 American comedy-drama film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house, which is located in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas. The working title was Running Scared. The title is presumably a humorous variation of the film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). Read more...
• It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown:  Trailer, a 1966 American prime time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. Read more...
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Trailer, The Making Of.  The Nightmare Before Christmas (also known as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a 1993 American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy Halloween-Christmas film directed by Henry Selick, and produced and conceived by Tim Burton. Read more...
• The Corpse Bride: Trailer, Johnny Depp interview. Corpse Bride (also known as Tim Burton's Corpse Bride) is a 2005 British-American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton with a screenplay by John August, Caroline Thompson and Pamela Pettler based on original characters created by Burton and Carlos Grangel. Read more...
• Scared Stiff: Trailer, Scared Stiff is a 1953 American horror paranormal semi-musical comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. One of the 17 films made by the Martin and Lewis team, it was released on April 27, 1953 by Paramount Pictures. Read more...
• The Dark Crystal: Trailer, Lisa Henson Talks About, Puppets Inside Henson's Creature Shop. 1982 puppet animated dark fantasy adventure film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Read more...
• Ghostbusters: Trailer, The making of 1999 film,  Behind the Scenes of 2016 film. 1984 American fantasy comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as, respectively, Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, and Egon Spengler, a trio of eccentric parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. Read more...
• Harry Potter: Trailer, Interviews with character actors. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone  is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on J. K. Rowling's 1997 novel of the same name. Read more...
• James and the Giant Peach: Trailer, James and the Giant Peach is a 1996 British-American musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick, based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. Read more...
• Monsters Inc.: Trailer, Learn about making monsters at Pixar. 2001 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Read more...
• Hook: Trailer, Documentary. 1991 American fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by James V. Hart and Malia Scotch Marmo. Peter Banning is a successful corporate lawyer in San Francisco, but his workaholic lifestyle strains his relationship with his wife Moira and children Jack and Maggie. The family prepares to fly to London to visit Moira's grandmother Wendy Darling. Peter, in effort to complete his work before leaving, inadvertently misses Jack's baseball game. Read more...
• Coraline: Trailer, It's Alive About Coraline. 2009 American stop-motion animated dark fantasy film directed and written for the screen by Henry Selick based on 2002 novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman. Read more...
• The Haunted Mansion: Trailer, Behind the Scenes Production, Interview. 2003 American supernatural horror comedy film based on the Disney theme park attraction of the same name. Read more...
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Trailer, The Making Of, 2005 British-American high fantasy film co-written and directed by Andrew Adamson, based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published and second chronological novel in C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. It was co-produced by Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. Read more...
• The Never Ending Story: Trailer, 1984 English-language German fantasy film directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen (in his first English-language film), and based on the novel The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Read more...

 

Silhouette "Parade of Lanterns"