Corn Husk Kitchen Witch

Total Time 1 to 2 hours Ages school-age

According to legend, a kitchen witch in the kitchen means meals will never burn. We can't guarantee that, but the fun of making this raven-tressed doll is its own reward.

What you'll need

• 24 pieces of black yarn, each about 15 inches long
• 8 tamale wrappers or dried corn husks (sold in grocery stores) soaked in water for at least 5 minutes
• 3 (12-inch) tan pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• 1 (6-inch-long) stick

How to make it

1. Gather the pieces of yarn and knot them together at one end. Shake off excess water from the soaked wrappers or husks, then stack 4 of them together and lay the yarn on top with the knot near the narrow end (A). Roll the layered husks around the yarn and cinch them just above the knot with half a pipe cleaner (B).
2. Fold the husks down over the knot to make the witch's head (A). Wrap another pipe cleaner half around the husks at the neck (B).
3. For posable arms, roll up a long piece of pipe cleaner in one of the husks (A). Wrap a short piece of pipe cleaner around each end at the wrists, then sandwich the arm piece between the layers of folded-down husks, tearing the husks to separate if needed. Secure the arms in place by wrapping another pipe cleaner half just below the arms to form the witch's waist (B).
4. To make the hat, cut two 5-inch-diameter circles, each from a husk. Cut one circle in half and curl one half into a cone. To keep the shape, poke a small piece of pipe cleaner through the husk layers at the wide end of the cone and twist the ends together (A). Cut a 1 1/2-inch asterisk in the center of the other circle (B) and carefully push the cone three quarters of the way through the hole (C).
5. For a broom, fringe the wide end of a husk (A). Cut the husk K inch above the fringe, then roll the strip around the end of the stick. Secure it with a small piece of pipe cleaner (B).