Fun to make! A collection of simple handmade doll ideas using a variety of materials
Do you all have dolls?
When we were little, we used them for make-believe play, changed their clothes, and some people carried them everywhere—when going out or even when sleeping—and still treasure them to this day.
This time, we’ve gathered ideas for making such dolls by hand.
Many of these dolls can be made from recycled materials like cans and cartons, and most of the supplies can be found at 100-yen shops.
So find a doll you like, make it, and have fun playing with it!
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Fun to make! A collection of easy handmade doll ideas using various materials (11–20)
A doll made from a paper cup
These paper cup puppets are easy and fun to make for kids and adults alike.
Make a slit from the rim of the cup down to the bottom, then make another slit on the opposite side and turn the cup inside out.
That’s all it takes to create a puppet whose mouth opens and closes.
It’s even more fun if you draw facial features like eyes, mouth, and nose.
You can also make hair and clothes from colored paper or paint them with paints—there’s plenty of room for creativity.
Try making them with any theme you like, such as anime characters or animals.
finger puppet
Let’s make it with felt! Here are some ideas for Anpanman finger puppets.
You’ll need felt, craft glue, stuffing, thread, paper, a hole punch, a pencil, scissors, and a needle.
First, trace your finger and Anpanman’s face onto a template and cut them out.
Cut the felt along the template to create each part.
Sew the pieces together or use craft glue to assemble them, and you’re done! Since finger puppets are small, you can keep one in your pocket and bring Anpanman out anytime.
sock puppet
Make the most of socks! Here are ideas for sock puppets.
When you’re making puppets, it’s nice if they’re easy to put together, right? This time, let’s try making puppets using socks, which are easy to source and come in a wide range of colors.
What you’ll need: socks, stuffing, thick paper/cardstock, a pen, fabric double-sided tape or glue, felt, eye parts, scissors, and more.
Try creating sock puppets in your favorite motifs—like snakes, dogs, or bears—by customizing as you like!
Easy Long-tailed Tit
This is about making a long-tailed tit, notable for its white and soft appearance, using faux fur fabric.
The key points are how to make the most of the fabric’s softness and how rounded to make the final shape.
You’ll cut the fabric using a pattern, sew the pieces together, then stuff them with filling to create a round form.
Since you’ll combine the body and tail before adding the stuffing, it may be important to sew while keeping the final shape in mind.
It’s also interesting that the impression changes depending on how much stuffing you use.
A floppy, cute sitting teddy bear
A seated teddy bear plushie made with faux fur has a charming combination of softness and a relaxed, floppy look.
You sew together fabric with fur and stuff it with cotton, and the way you stuff it affects how relaxed it looks in the end.
Make the parts for the face, body, arms, and legs, connect them while keeping natural transitions in mind, and attach the small parts to finish.
Pay close attention to details like the size of each part and the colors you use, and craft it with care.
A cute dog plushie made from a towel
This is about making a cute stuffed dog using an everyday face towel you can find in any household.
First, cut the towel to create two identical pieces layered together.
Make small slits in both pieces, sew them together, turn the piece right-side out, and stuff it with cotton.
Then shape the overall form with thread and attach parts like the face made from felt to finish.
By changing the towel’s color and the facial expression, you can create plushies with a variety of looks.
Fun to make! A collection of easy handmade doll ideas using various materials (21–30)
Quirky Animals Made from Towels
Towels are essential items in daily life for things like wiping your face, and their softness is a big part of their appeal.
Let’s use that softness to make cute animal mascots.
Cut the towel into the shape of the animal you want to create, sew two pieces together, then stuff them with cotton to form the animal’s shape.
After that, attach parts like the face made from felt so it looks like the animal, and you’re done.
It’s also fun to add originality by choosing different towel colors, varying how you stuff the cotton, and designing unique shapes for the parts.