How to Make a Corn Husk Angel Doll
Corn husk dolls have been made for centuries by people who grew corn or had access to the corn husks. Dried husks are soaked in water to become pliable, formed into dolls, then left to dry. It is said that, in some cultures, corn husk dolls are used in sacred healing ceremonies. It is understandable evolution that some corn husk dolls are then made into angels, as they are adapted to different beliefs. This project takes one to two days, depending on drying time, and very few supplies.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Soak corn husks in a bowl of warm water. Each doll takes between 9 and 12 husks. After a few minutes, the husks are pliable and easy to use.
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2
Stack four corn husks with the pointed ends in one direction. Tie the wide ends together tightly with a piece of string. Round the corners off with scissors. Turn the husks upside down so the points stick up. Turn the husks down over the string, each husk going in a different direction. When holding the husks together, it should look like a rounded head at the top. Take another piece of string and tie it tightly to form the neck of the head.
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3
Select another corn husk to make the arms. Lay the husk flat on a work surface. Roll it up tightly, lengthwise. Use string to tie the husk at each end. This forms the hands on the arms. Fit the arms inside the long husks, just below the head. Tie the long husks together with string. This is the waist of the doll.
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4
Select two husks to form the wings. Do not worry if they seem too big, as they can be trimmed down later. Take another husk and tear it in half, lengthwise. Hold the wings in place on the doll. Take the torn husk and place the middle of it behind the head. Bring the ends forward, and cross over the chest of the doll. Wrap the ends around to the back, over the wings to hold them in place. If the husk is long enough, bring it to the front again. Otherwise, take another piece of string and tie the torn husk ends down at the waist.
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5
Give the angel a fuller skirt by fluffing out the husks that make up the skirt. Set the doll upright to dry. Alternatively, the doll can be placed over a bottle and left to dry, which gives maximum skirt fullness.
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Tips & Warnings
Dolls can be embellished with glitter or paint. Dried moss can be used as hair.
References
- Photo Credit dried indian corn image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
