Thrifted Thursday: Peg Doll Canvas Tutorial

Ok, so everyone knows that I’m crazy about peg dolls so it should seem just about right that I figured out how to hang them on my walls.  I promise one day I’ll give up the Peggies.  But that day is not today and today I’m sharing how to make peg doll canvases.

What does this have to do with “Thrifted Thursday”?  Well, I made this little lady out of thrifted fabric and am planning on making some more out of some other, more obviously thrifted (and 60’s) fabric. Anyways, if you want to make some this is what to do….

Here’s what you’ll need:
*A Canvas
*Mod Podge
*Fabric for a head, hair, and body

Here’s how to make them:
#1.  Cut out a flesh colored circle and another circle of the same size for the hair (the size of your circles will depend on the size of your canvas).  I used the 3″ circle from my Accuquilt but you can also the circumference of something like a soup can to get a perfect circle.
#2.  Cut out 2 tear drop shapes from your hair fabric for the pig tails.  (On this particular one I used a leaf from my Accuquilt set but in the past I’ve always just free handed a tear drop shape.)
#3.  Cut out the dress/body shape.

#4.  To get the dress/body shape I always just put the head on a piece of plain paper and draw the body shape—kind of an elongated bell shape.  Then I cut out what I drew, pin it on the fabric I want to use and cut around it.

#5.  Cut out the hair that goes on the dolls head from the circle you already made.  (I just like to give the girls some little bangs.)

Now, I love these guys…but….he doesn’t….not so much.  He actually put them on his blog in a list of the “27 worst nativity sets”.  (He says they “don’t scream manger” to him.)  At first I felt really bad.  I love peg people and Christmas and especially the nativity story and I originally made these for Grace to play with…the simple design and lack of little pieces I thought was perfect for a three year old.  I never thought it would make a world’s worst list and I was sad.

But then I clicked over to his blog….and I started to laugh.  There were my little people hanging out over there with nativities made from everything from bacon to marshmallows.  And while my nativity may not be very mangery (ok that’s not really a word but I’m going to use it anyway) at least it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

So if you want to check out my fellow list makers you can go HERE and see his complete list (which is a lot longer than 27 by now).  And don’t feel too bad for me.  I don’t.  I’m just happy that my skills are at least comparable to that butter carving genius whose post is listed not too far above mine.