These dolls are made of simple things: 3" Styrofoam ball, a pencil, a water bottle (Aqua Pod from Poland Springs), 12mm animal eyes, and homemade clay. You will also need a mold for the doll's head. We used a plastic 4" doll face (available for less than 50 cents at B.J. Crafts and probably other craft stores). The "in the hoop" embroidery pattern for the arms, legs, bear, and clothing is sold below.
Make up a batch of clay. We used the flour/salt dough and added 2 drops of red and yellow food coloring. This dough is nice for "sculpting" as it keeps it's shape; BUT, it takes 1 to 2 weeks to dry. Another clay alternative is equal parts of corn starch and white glue. This dries in one day.
Use a nail to pierce a hole in the bottle cap. Make the opening large enough to accommodate a pencil. Sharpen the pencil. Place the pencil through the hole in the cap with the eraser at the bottom of the bottle. Push a 3" Styrofoam ball on the sharpened end of the pencil. Push the ball down until it reaches the bottle cap.
Roll a ball of dough about the size of a golf ball. Press the dough around the Styrofoam ball. Try to keep the dough less than 1/8" thick. Roll another golf ball size. Spray a little bit of Pam on the inside of the plastic doll face. Spread the dough so it gets into all the little nooks and crannies. Place the face on the Styrofoam ball. Carefully peel the face away. Blend in the edges.
