Are you looking for a fun and creative craft activity to enjoy with your children? Look no further than creating storybook-themed peg dolls!
This craft is enjoyable, easy to make, and perfect for both boys and girls.
With just a little bit of creativity, you and your children can make personalized dolls to reenact their favorite stories. Not only that, but these dolls can also make great presents for friends and family.
I am thrilled to introduce a creative craft idea that you and your kids will love — easy DIY storybook peg dolls.
I recently made these with my children, and I could not be happier with how they turned out.
We have them on display in our learning space, and they are just darling.
Eventually, my daughter will have them as a keepsake and reminder of our storytimes. I enjoyed putting this craft together and think you will, too.
This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
DIY Storybook Peg Doll Craft
We have fallen in love with many of the characters in our picture books.
So far, we have made peg dolls of Peter Rabbit, The Very Hungary Caterpillar, Paddington the Bear, Corduroy, and Madeline.
Soon, we will add Peter from The Snowy Day and Max from Where the Wild Things Are.
Storybook Peg Doll Craft Supplies
The storybook-themed wooden peg dolls can be created with only a handful of supplies. To make the peg dolls, you will need the following materials.
You can even use additional materials like felt, yarn, and fabric scraps depending on what character you are making. Really get creative as there are no hard rules to this craft.
How to Paint Storybook Peg Dolls
I am by no means an artist. This is a very straightforward craft and does not require much skill to pull off, so a lengthy tutorial isn’t necessary.
Choose a favorite storybook or character to create the wooden peg dolls. Ask your children which books or stories they love the most and use that as inspiration for their dolls.
Consider the features that make these characters unique, like their clothing or special accessories, and incorporate those into your dolls.
Be sure to have a copy of the book handy to reference the colors and details of the character.
I painted each peg doll to look like the characters, kept it simple, and tried to use the appropriate colors.
If you try this project, you will want to let each layer of paint dry before adding the next to avoid the colors mudding together.
Paint the wooden peg dolls with appropriate skin color and let dry.
Next, take inspiration from the book’s illustrations and paint the clothing and accessories onto the peg dolls. You can use markers for the details if you’re not confident in your painting skills.
Now that the dolls are painted, you should seal them using Mod Podge.
Mod Podge will protect the paint and keep it from chipping or scratching. Apply two coats of Mod Podge and let dry overnight.
With a bit of imagination and creativity, you can make this sweet craft to give as a meaningful and thoughtful gift. Happy crafting!
Crafting is a great way to spend quality time with your kids and create something unique together.
You can choose from one of our peg doll ideas, or make up your own—the possibilities are endless!
Just remember to take plenty of pictures, and tag @thepurposefulnest when you share them on social media. I’d love to see what creations everyone makes. Happy crafting!
Want more craft ideas like this one? Check out the related posts below.
Related Craft Ideas
Craft and DIY Projects you may enjoy
Looking for an easy slime recipe for kids? Here are ingredients and instructions for making the perfect slime with only a few simple ingredients.
Learn how to make no-cook playdough without cream of tartar. A fun and simple DIY sensory activity for kids to enjoy.
Super cute idea! Seems like a great idea to zen out with the kids too.
Such a cute idea! Great to help with reading along to stories
These are ADORABLE. Totally making some for my nieces and nephews.
I love these! My kiddos would have a heyday with this project and make dolls for every occasion and storybook. I’m going to bet some to set aside as a fun, rainy day craft!
Thanks for this peg doll tutorial! I had no idea they were so cheap to buy unfinished, so this could be a fun craft to do at home with the kiddos.
These would be great for hands-on play! They would really bring the book to life.
Indeed, Andrea.