How to Make Apple Face Dolls

Make a one-of-a-kind doll out of an apple.

Apple face dolls are the perfect craft if you are looking for an unusual looking toy. Girls love making these dolls because their weathered faces pack a lot of personality. Each doll has one-of-a-kind facial features that appear craggy and full of wrinkles. If your daughter wants a charming but weird-looking doll, this project is a great craft to do together to chase away boredom on a rainy day.

Things You'll Need

• Apple
• Small knife or vegetable peeler
• Small bowl
• Salt
• Lemon juice
• Plastic knife
• Glue
• Plastic beads
• Acrylic paint or markers
• Plastic soda bottle
• Cork
• Fabric
• Rubber band

Instructions

1. Choose a green or red apple for the head of the doll. The apple should be firm and about medium to large in size. Don't use apples that are bruised because they will be too soft to work with. Red delicious apples are ideal but just about any apple can be used.

2. Use a small knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the apple peel.

3. Pour warm water into a small bowl and add 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 cup of lemon juice. Stir the ingredients together. Allow the apple to soak in the bowl for about five minutes. The acid in this mixture will help the apple last longer and prevent browning.

4. Use a plastic knife to cut a line shaped like a U in the center of the apple to make a nose.

5. Cut small wedges out of the apple around the U shape to shape the nose and to create a profile. Cut more small wedges out of the apple underneath the nose to make the nose more prominent.

6. Repeat the same technique used in step 5 to make cheeks. Cut small holes in the apple where the eyes will be. Make the doll's eyes as large as you like by cutting out more small wedges.

7. Create a slit for the doll's mouth but tilt your knife up slightly if you want a smile. If you want the doll to frown, tilt the knife down as you cut. Cut out wedges to make the smile or frown more prominent.

8. Cut light slits to make wrinkles in the doll's face. Make as many wrinkles as you want around the eyes, cheeks or mouth.

9. Place the apple in a dry place and allow it to dry for several weeks until it appears spongy.

10. Add a small drop of craft glue and a small bead in the hollow of each eye.

11. Add color to the doll's face using acrylic paint or markers. Paint lips and cheeks peach, pink or bright red.

12. Cut off the base of a plastic soda bottle with a knife. Shove a cork into the opening of the bottle so your doll has a neck. This plastic bottle will be the body of the doll.

13. Create a dress by wrapping fabric around the bottle, allowing the fabric to extend over the bottom and top of the bottle. Keep the dress in place by placing a rubber band at the top of the bottle. Fold down the fabric at the top of the bottle to create a neat neckline. Hide the extra fabric underneath the bottle's base.

14. Press the apple head firmly into the cork of the plastic bottle to finish this project.

References

• FamilyFun: Apple Dolls