Kokeshi dolls are simple stylized dolls that are made for tourists on vacation in Japan. These hand-painted, lathe-turned wooden dolls often have a cylindrical base (the body) and a round head. Many people collect these small dolls. In this children’s craft, the base is a small, plastic bottle and the head is a ping-pong ball.
- A ping-pong ball (or a styrofoam ball)
- A small, clean, label-less empty plastic bottle, like a yogurt drink bottle, a vitamin bottle (or use another small, white, plastic bottle)
- Hot glue gun and hot glue
- Tempera paint or acrylic paint
- Small brushes
- Markers
Instructions
Hot glue the ping-pong ball to the top of the small, plastic bottle. Let the glue cool and set for a few minutes.
Give the body (the small, plastic bottle) a coat of paint (you can pick a simple white or beige, or choose a less traditional bright color). Then let the paint dry.
Using small brushes or markers, draw the doll’s facial features and hair (on the ping-pong ball). Then let the paint dry.
Then decorate the body to represent a beautiful kimono (a traditional Japanese gown). Let the paint dry.
You now have a beautiful Kokeshi doll!
