How to Make Old Pioneer Day Toys

Make a Corn Husk Doll

• 1

  Lay two corn husks on top of each other. Use string to tie them together about an inch from the top.

• 2

  Fold the part above the tie forward and tie with another short piece of string about 1 inch from the folded crease. This becomes the head and neck. Set aside.

• 3

  Roll one corn husk into a tube to make the arms. Slip the rolled husk through the neck space horizontally. Tie string about 1/2 inch from the end of each arm. This will become the wrists.

• 4

  To hold the arms in place, tie a piece of string just underneath the arms. Make a waist by tying string 1/2 to 1 inch below this area.

• 5

  Trim away any excess string from where you made the ties.

• 6

  Use a marker or crayon to make eyes, a nose and a mouth on your doll. Glue corn silk or yarn onto the head with regular white glue to give your doll hair. Let dry.

Cup and Ball Toy

• 7

  Poke a hole into the bottom of a plastic film canister. It should be slightly smaller than the diameter of a pencil.

• 8

  Push a pencil through the hole about 1 inch. Insert the pencil from the outside or bottom of the canister.

• 9

  Tie a 20-inch length of string to the pencil on the inside of the canister. Tape over the string to make it more secure.

• 10

  Place a small piece of foil onto the table. Lay the end of the string coming out from the canister onto the foil. Shape the foil into a ball around the end of the string.

• 11

  Tape around the outside of the hole in the canister where the pencil is inserted. This will help to hold the pencil in place.