How to make a "Make Do," Scarecrow

You hear "Make Do," thrown around a lot in the Prim Decor world. What does it mean? Many people who make prim dolls will say it is scraps around the house people used to construct a doll and basically make do with little they owned.

Not so fast...I guess it sounds romantic thinking about a little wood house deep in the woods of the Appalachian mountains, curling smoke from its chimney. Thinking a petite, poor Granny is rocking in her creaky, wood chair sewing bits of scraps from worn out work clothes next to a warm pot belly stove.

Believe it or not our Grandparents and beyond recycled in general because they did not believe in just throwing useful things away. They also repaired things and these things many times end up in antique shops. They are sometimes beautifully gnarly and the prices outrageous. 

So here is my, "Make Do" scarecrow. Just think you can teach your kids to use their imagination, recycle and give a history lesson.

Supplies

1. Overalls and a shirt.

2.Plastic grocery bags, anything that does not soak up water.

3.Rafia or straw. Just 4 hand fulls.

4.Orange mesh or light weight cloth for the head.

5. Left over craft supplies for eyes, nose and mouth. Or use stuff from nature.

6. Twine, scissors and a hot glue gun.

Start stuffing! Lay out the shirt and stuff to desired puffiness with grocery bags etc. Next you are going to trick everyone with the rafia. Stuff long uneven ends of rafia into ends of sleeves and tie off with twine. Tie off bottom of shirt with twine. Now put shirt into overalls. Fill legs and tie off with rafia.

Construct the head. I did this very simple as I tore my scarecrow down at the end because it was in the weather. I simply made a light weight ball of plastic and draped mesh over it and tied the bottom off like a balloon. I also added a few hot glue spots around the ball before draping. I had a nice bit of material at the end of my head so it looked like a scarf and made it look good setting on the body.

Next hot glue the facial features. Hot glue a doll hat if you want too! Now you are ready to prop your scarecrow and add the head. Once in place set the head on the body and cover attachment with extra material tied at end of head. I added hot glue to my shirt opening and then placed head.

Add anything else you want. Have fun!