Monday, November 5, 2012

How to Make a Broom Cover Doll

You have a choice: sit your broom, naked, in a closet or corner or dress it up beautifully to be a show piece in your home. Why would anyone choose anything but the latter? Its easy to make a cover for your broom that looks like a doll. It doesnt take much money to make the cover and, when you do, youll no longer have to hide your broom! A knee-hi stocking will help you create the head of the broom doll. Stuff the stocking with foam, cotton or other materials. Work with the stuffed stocking until youve made it into the shape of a head. After youve created the perfect shape use a rubber band to loosely close the opening of the stocking.

You have all sorts of options for creating the face and other features of the doll head. Craft stores sell doll hair thats perfect for giving the broom doll the look you want. Along with the hair - or instead of the hair - you have many choices when it comes to hats and head wear. A large brimmed hat can even be used to cover the face entirely. The point of that being to keep from having to make a face on the doll at all.

If you decide to make a face for the doll you can use any number of craft supplies or implement things from around the house. Wiggly eyes, felt pieces, fake eyelashes, yarn and other craft supplies are inexpensive and will give you the look you want. Buttons, markers and even scraps of fabric are some things you may already have around the house for use in making the doll. After youve created the face youll need something that will serve as the neck of the doll. A bathroom tissue roll - or even a small plastic glass - can do the trick. Slide the object into the rubber band area of the knee-hi. The tube, or cup, will slide over the top of the broom handle. If using a cardboard tube be sure not to fasten the rubber band too tightly or youll cause the tube to collapse. Other choices for the neck include a wide metal ring, a shower curtain ring or something similar. Search thrift stores or yard sales to find a little girls floor-length dress. To find the right size place the head of the doll on the broom. Measure from the "neck" to the floor. The dress you choose should be long sleeved and should come up high on the neck. Avoid dresses that have a scoop neck or "v" neck. Dresses that button or zip up the back, and have collars in the front, are perfect for this project. Stitch or glue the neck area of the dress to the neck area of the doll head. Leaving the doll head on the broom while attaching the dress is a big help. The broom holds the head still while you stitch or glue. Its not necessary to stuff the dress or the sleeves; just let them hang as they are. Whenever you want to use the broom just remove the doll from over the top of it. Slide the doll back over the broom when finished. When sliding the doll onto the broom the broomstick will simply slide into the cup, ring or tube youve used for the neck. If youve stitched the dress to the neck its possible to launder the doll. If youve used any glue on the project avoid placing the doll in the washer or dryer. If you plan to stitch the dress to the neck, and you plan to launder later, make sure the dress youve used has been previously laundered. If not, it could shrink leaving your broom bristles exposed. No one wants that! Have fun making the broom doll that will allow you to display your broom rather than hide it from visitors. The broom doll is fun, easy and looks great. Youll spend little money making it but youll have a lot of pride when youre finished!

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