My kids love Peg Dolls. Princess Newbie is constantly finding them around the house and walking around with them in her hands.
They are the perfect gift to give to little girls for Christmas or to stick in stockings. Last year I made them for my girls as stocking stuffers and this year I made these for my niece. I’m going to decorate an old wooden cigar box to look like a house for them and give it to her for Christmas. I think she’ll love it.
You want to learn how to make them? They are super simple and anyone can do them.. yes anyone! even if you can paint. If you can make lines and dots, then you’re good.
First you need unfinished man peg dolls from the craft store. They have women forms that are smaller and flare out at the bottom like a skirt. They are fine to use but I like these man dolls because they are chunky and much safer for little hands.
First paint all the heads a plain tan/ skin color. Then paint on the basic clothes. Don’t put on any decorations yet, just paint basic bans of colors and with different necklines and the occasional scalloped hemline. We’ll add the details when this dries a bit. If you let it dry then it is easier if you mess up a detail and want to paint over it again. Trust me, I know this.
These dry extremely quick so in no time you’ll be ready to add the face details. It’s best to do this using a wooden skewer or toothpick. Add two black dots for eyes and using a different skewer, draw a pink mouth. I dabbed a little pink on the cheeks using my pinky. I’m fancy like that.
Now using the same method of dots and lines using a skewer, add details to their clothes. It is much easier to use a skewer, no paintbrushes! If you really mess it up, just repaint the basic clothes again. Not that I have ever had that problem!! OK.. just a few times. Like 20.
Um. I think these guys/ girls need some Rogain.
Much better.
Now for the last step… let’s add a glaze to make them shine and preserve the paint.
I love this stuff. I could bathe in it, except that then I would be perfectly preserved. Wait.. can I buy this in bulk? This will make a ton of difference in the final product. The little mistakes will be much less noticeable and your peg dolls will hold up for a long time. There’s a few of them that I found outside after a month or more and they looked perfect, thanks to this glaze. I found it at Hobby Lobby and I left the price tag on for you to see that it’s extremely affordable. The little jar is all you need.
I found it’s best if you paint the body with the glaze first, not the bottom, and then paint the head, using a knife or other sharp point to hold it still while you paint. You do not need to glaze the bottom. Pop any bubbles with a pin and check them every few minutes for drips.
Let dry for 24 hours and then you’ll be ready to play.
Cute huh? What girl wouldn’t like a few of these to play with?
Did you hear though?
There’s a peg doll streaker on the loose. Hide your kids, hide your wives… or just hide your forgotten naked peg dolls.
I adore these! Guess who's getting these in their stockings? Well, not my hubby, even though he loved the idea of the streaking peg doll. These are perfect church toys! Wish me luck…
These are great, but I think my favourite is the streaking, naked peg doll! 🙂
What kind of paint did you use?
I use just regular craft acrylic paint in the small bottles from the craft store
Subject: [clumsycrafter] Re: Handmade Gift Idea: Peg Dolls
I use just regular craft acrylic paint in the small bottles from the craft store
Subject: [clumsycrafter] Re: Handmade Gift Idea: Peg Dolls
I use just regular craft acrylic paint in the small bottles from the craft store
Subject: [clumsycrafter] Re: Handmade Gift Idea: Peg Dolls
Very cute! I posted a link to this on my blog…thru my pinterest board.
Thanks!
Jennifer @ The Craft Barn
Did you ever make their house? I would love to see a picture.
yes! I made it using an old wooden cigar box that I found at Goodwill for a few cents. You can see it here. http://www.clumsycrafter.com/2011/01/pegdoll/
Hi,
My Daughter is very interested in trying this. Having searched the internet for the same packet of peg dolls featured in your tutorial and not finding anything similar, are you able to tell me where I can purchase the unfinished man peg dolls please?
Thank you
Lisa x
I bought mine at Hobby Lobby but I noticed that you have a UK email address so here’s a link to Ebay UK that has peg dolls that are ready to paint. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Orchard-Craft-Supplies/wood-shapes-/_i.html?_fsub=8
Do you use anything as a primer under the acrylic paint or just paint straight onto the wooden peg?
I just painted straight onto the wooden peg.
Is your glaze/sealer same for kiddos? i.e. can my toddler put these in his mouth and be ok? I have made several but did not know what kind of sealer to use that will be safe for him to put in his mouth.
If a sealer says non toxic on the label than it should be ok. You probably just need to go to your local craft store and look at labels for the sealers they have there.
Thanks for this tutorial! I’m buying all the supplies for a bunch of ladies to make these together. How much glaze do you think you used for those 7 dolls you show? Or rather — How many dolls do you think your 4oz bottle of glaze could get through?
I still had a lot left. I would think that you could make at least 20 with one bottle.
You also don’t have to glaze them. They are still cute with just paint.