How to Make a Kachina
The Hopi people believed that Kachinas were messengers from the spirit world. Each Kachina represented an element or spiritual entity to these ancient people. Hopi artists made Kachina dolls from wood, and they were used as teaching tools, rather than toys, for children. Kachinas were revered, and the dolls were their representatives. You can make your own simple Kachina doll, decorating it to represent the spirit you want to evoke.
Things You'll Need
- Toilet paper tube
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- 2-inch foam ball
- Hot glue
- Fabric
- Paint and paint brushes
- Markers
- Embellishments
Instructions
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1
Make a straight cut from the bottom edge of a toilet paper tube up one third the height of the tube. Make a second cut opposite the first. Use a craft knife to cut 1-inch horizontally at the top of each of the straight cuts for T shapes. Roll the sides of the cuts to make two small cylinders. Tape the cylinders closed. This is the body and legs of your Kachina doll.
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2
Glue a 2-inch diameter foam ball to the top of the Kachina body for the head.
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3
Paint the Kachina's head and allow to dry. Use permanent markers to draw in facial features.
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4
Decorate the doll. Use brightly colored fabric to wrap around the body, or paint or color it with markers. Use feathers, beads and shells for embellishment. The Kachina doll is a messenger from the spirit world, so using items that are important to you or that represent someone you care about is a good way to infuse that history into yours.
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