How to Make Apple Head Dolls

Apple head dolls are a staple at craft fairs, folk art festivals and country homes everywhere. Making your own version of the interesting artwork is more fun than eating an apple pie. Apple head dolls can be as quirky, creepy or endearing as you like, and each one will surely have a very unique expression. A few simple steps will help you make apple head dolls.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apple
• Peeler
• Knife
• Stick
• Fabric or body base
• Needle and thread
• Accessories
• Craft Glue

1. Prepare the apple. Find a fresh apple with no bruises. Peel it carefully. Take a knife and carve out a mouth, nose, two eyes and whatever other else you want gouged in its face. Make the carvings deep but not too close together. Any variety of apple will work, as will any variety of knife.

2. Wait. Place the carved apple in a cool, dark place for several weeks. This will dry it out and let the unique face emerge.

3. Sew up the body. You can cut a body pattern out of a material that’s easy to work with, like felt. Sew up the edges, turn inside out and stuff with pillow filling. Leave an opening at the neck where you will attach the head. If you hate sewing, follow the next step to make your body.

4. Create an alternate body. If sewing is not for you, you can easily make an apple head doll body from just about anything that has a place to stick a head. This includes candle holders, wooden dowels tied together in a cross shape or bits of debris that look like a body. If you are really lazy, you can rip the head off another doll and plop the apple head on top. Use your imagination.

5. Stick the head on the body. Once your apple head is thoroughly dried, stick a stick in the base of it to serve as the neck. Make sure the base of the stick that’s going into the apple is slathered in a quality craft glue. Stick the other end of the stick into the body you created. Secure in place with more glue, stitches or wire.

6. Accessorize. Glue two cloves or other round objects into the head for eyeballs. Throw on some earrings. Create hair out of straw, fur or whatever you pulled out of your big sister’s brush. Give the doll’s body some oomph with small chains, pins, lace hem or other scraps you can either glue, wire or sew into place.

Tips & Warnings

• No matter how luscious your apple head doll may look, please don’t eat its head.
• Don't encasing the drying apple in plastic. It needs air to dry.
• Don’t try to dry your apple head in a damp location or it’s likely to grow mold.