You Will Need

• balloons and balloon pump
• newsprint (preferably unprinted), torn into narrow strips
• cold glue
• white PVA paint
• craft brushes
• masking tape
• paper cups
• template

To Make
1 Decide how big you want the doll to be – our largest one is 25cm tall and the smallest is 12cm. Use small water balloons for the smaller dolls.

2 Blow up the balloon to the desired size and stick a piece of masking tape around the centre to make the ‘waist’ – be careful not to burst the balloon.

3 Cut the top off a paper cup, about 1cm down from the lip, and stick it with masking tape to the large end of the balloon.

4 Mix about three parts of cold glue to one part water in a container. Paint the diluted glue over a section of the balloon and stick a strip of newsprint onto it. Paint more glue over the top. Cover the whole top section of the balloon in this way. Turn the balloon over and place it in a clean paper cup to dry completely. NOTE Don’t cut the paper strips with scissors – the torn edges of the paper actually give a smoother finish.

5 Turn the balloon around as soon as the top is dry and repeat the process for the bottom. Leave overnight to dry properly.

6 Do another two layers and then, when your doll is completely dry, paint it with white PVA paint.

Decorate Your Doll
There are many possibilities: You can paint her, decoupage bits of serviette or fabric onto her, and use buttons, washi tape and even gold or silver leaf for extra decoration. Use our template to help you with the face and babushka (headscarf). The detail can be drawn with thin-tipped marking pens.

 

Text and images: Ideas magazine