A life-size yard witch is fun to display.
Life-size Halloween yard witches are made out of pieces of discarded clothing that are stuffed into shape with your yard leaves or newspaper. The clothing items are dyed black and decorated with shiny pieces of foil that will catch the eye of visitors. Stuffed witches can be positioned to sit or stand in your yard with wooden stakes and strings that tie the yard art into place. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Dye one pair of pants, one long-sleeve shirt, two socks, two gloves and one pillowcase black by following the directions that are included on the black dye container. Dry the clothing completely.
2. Roll a few pieces of newspaper into a tube shape. Twist the newspaper tube in your hands until it holds the tube-like shape. Stuff the tube of newspaper into one sock with the end of the newspaper hanging out. Bend this sock into a shoe and tie the shoelaces. Repeat this step for the other sock and shoe.
3. Tie the pant legs over the socks with string so that each pant leg is now wearing a sock and shoe combination.
4. Stuff the pants legs up to the thigh with leaves or wadded newspapers. Tie a string around the knees and around the top of the thighs if the witch will be displayed in a sitting position.
5. Pin or staple the shirt into the pants in a very secure manner. Stuff the top of the pants tightly with wadded newspaper that is pushed through the neck of the shirt. Place a rope belt onto the pants when the stuffed pants reach the size of a human waist.
6. Stuff each finger of both gloves with a small rolled and twisted piece of newspaper. Stuff the hands of the gloves with leaves or small balls of newspaper. Pin or staple the gloves to the arms of the shirt.
7. Stuff the arms of the shirt with balls of newspaper or leaves that are placed into the body through the neck of the shirt. Tie the gloves at the wrist with a piece of string. Tie the elbow areas with a piece of string.
8. Stuff the torso area of the shirt with wadded newspaper or leaves. Shove a sturdy 14- to 16-inch stick into the neck opening of the shirt until it is halfway in. Stuff newspaper into the shirt around the stick until it stands up straight.
9. Stuff the pillowcase with newspapers or leaves until it is the size of a head. Tie the mouth of the pillowcase closed with a piece of string. Slide this head into your witch's mask. Position the witch's head over the stick that is poking out of the neck area of the body. Pin or staple the witch's head to the shirt opening.
10. Stuff the witch's hat with newspaper or leaves if it will not stand up straight. Pin or staple the witch wig over the top of the head area. Attach the hat on top of the wig with pins. Tie the hat to the head with string so that it will not tear if the wind blows.
11. Position the witch body at the chosen location in the yard. Tie the body to a stake in the ground for the standing position. Tie the body to a chair or bench for the sitting position.
12. Create a witch cape out of a black trash bag by cutting down the side and across the bottom of the bag. Decorate the cape with aluminum foil cutouts and staple into place. Turn the bag bottom edges over a piece of string and tape the edges into place with black duct tape. Tie the cape around the shoulders of your yard witch and knot the strings into place. Tie a decorated broom to the hands of the yard witch if you would like her to have transportation.
Tags: into place, piece string, newspaper into, newspaper leaves, with piece, with piece string, yard witch