Burlap is a fabric most often associated with feed bags. Burlap angels--once popular in the '70s--are making a comeback along with other homemade decorations made from recycled materials. Give a discarded plastic doll a new lease of life by turning her into a homemade angel, complete with a flowing gown, spectacular wings and a sparkling halo. Your creation is sure to be the center of attention, worthy of being a tree topper for the grandest of Christmas trees.
Instructions
1. Draw a circle with a 10-inch radius (20-inch diameter) on your burlap, using a protractor.
2. Cut the circle out of the burlap. Then cut a 1-inch circular hole in the center of the burlap. To locate the center, fold the circle into quarters and snip the tip.
3. Glue gold ribbon to the outer edge and inner circle on one side using a hot glue gun.
4. Fold the burlap circle in half to make a semicircle. Lay the burlap on a flat surface. Push your doll up through the middle of the fabric so that her head pokes out through the top of the small hole (the fabric will resemble a very large poncho). Spread your doll's arms up so that they are even with the top edge (the diameter) of the semicircle.
5. Locate your doll's wrist. Cut a 2-inch slit going down (vertically) from the wrist point. Repeat for the other side. These slits will become the sleeves. Remove the doll.
6. Glue gold ribbon to upper and lower edges of the sleeve openings.
7. Put the doll back into the poncho as in Step 4. Peek the doll's hands in the holes. This will help you visualize where the sleeves should be. The outside edge of the sleeve is the straight edge of the semicircle. The inside edge will start at the bottom edge of the gold ribbon on the sleeve edge and travel up to 1 inch away from the neck circle. Pin this seam together. Remove the doll, and glue the sleeve seam on the inside. Remove the pins.
8. Make a halo (a 1-inch circle) from the wired 1/8-inch silver ribbon. Insert the pin through the ribbon and push so that the halo is at one end. Push the pin into the doll's head at the crown (only push halfway in so that you have a halo stand).
9. Fold a piece of 6-inch-by-12-inch burlap in half, lengthwise. Draw the shape of an angel wing on one half (the wing should touch the center crease). Cut out the wings, cutting through the two pieces to create two symmetrical wings, joined at the center.
10. Glue the wide silver ribbon to the edges of the cut-out wings. Flip the wings over, and repeat for the other side. Place the burlap dress on the doll. Glue a line down the center fold of the wings, and press onto the back of your angel.
11. Place the shoes on your doll.
Tags: your doll, gold ribbon, center fold, doll Glue, Glue gold, Glue gold ribbon, other side