How to Make Craft Trolls

Be careful -- these trolls might hit you up for toll money.

Trolls are found in mythology and fairy tales from various places around the world - especially Scandinavian countries like Norway and Denmark. Common troll traits include wild, shaggy hair and large noses. In children's stories, trolls frequently reside beneath bridges and cause trouble for travelers. Create your own mischievous troll with common and simple materials, such as cork stoppers.

Things You'll Need

• Cork stoppers
• Markers or tempera paint
• Scissors
• Tuft of colored wool or fuzzy boa
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Small pompoms

Instructions

1. Paint or color each half of the cork stopper with a different color of tempera paint. One half of the cork stopper will be the troll's clothing, and the other half will be the face.

2. Allow the cork stoppers to dry sufficiently for two to four hours. Add patterns like tempera paint polka-dots over the top of the dried bottom half if desired.

3. Cut a tuft from a fuzzy boa, unspun wool or cotton to create the hair for the troll. Glue this tuft on the top end of the cork with craft glue or a hot glue gun. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

4. Apply small dabs of glue to the backs of two googly eyes and attach them to the top half of the cork. Place another dab of glue on a small pompom and attach it just beneath the eyes to make a nose.

5. Glue two more small pompoms to the sides of the bottom half of the cork to make your troll's feet.

6. Draw two or three dots with your markers to create buttons on the troll's outfit.

Tips & Warnings

• Include additional embellishments if you wish. For instance, glue a piece of yarn to the back of the bottom half of the cork to create a tail. You can also roll up a small cone of construction paper to make a hat. Try creating different representations of trolls from around the world with your decorations.

References

• FLYP: Cork Trolls
• Monstrous: Trolls
• The Best Kids Book Site: Craft: Flying Cork Trolls