Popcorn the Paper Jester

3. Decoupage a photocopy of an antique document to card stock using gel medium. Let dry. Cut into a cone shape and use decorative scissors along the curved bottom edge of the cone to embellish. Hot glue the cone together to be used as the Jester’s skirt.

4. Decoupage antique hand images to card stock. Let dry. Cut out the hands and set aside. Cut out the Jester’s hat from old newspaper print.

6. Run a thin bead of glue along the edge of the hat, leaving the bottom edge open. This will allow the hat to open. Glue it to card stock. Let dry. Glue pompoms to the ends of the hat.

7. Cut out a round face from antique paper. Cut small slits all the way around it. Glue it to the painted wood ball. Set aside. Straighten a coat hanger and cut a 15 inch piece.

8. Curl a loop at one end of the hanger and run wire up through the cone with the loop on bottom. Hot glue the wire to the cone at the "waist".

9. Cut out two strips each of two different colors of construction paper two inches wide for a total of four strips. Fold each piece in half lengthwise. Lay two strips, one of each color, at a 90-degree angle at the ends (in an "L" pattern), glue it at the corner and begin folding strip over strip, keeping the strips even as you fold. Repeat with the other two strips. Hot glue the ends down. Hot glue the accordion pieces end to end to create the body. With an awl, poke a hole straight through the center of the accordion body. Set aside.

10. For the arms, cut out two more strips of each of the two colors of construction paper 1/2 inch wide. Using one color for one arm and one color for the other arm, fold them the same accordion fashion as the body. Hot glue the ends down.

11. Fold the hands, tuck them into the bottom end of the accordion arm and glue them on. Set aside.

12. Stain crepe paper in strong coffee and let dry. Cut a 2" x 24" long strip of beige crepe paper. Use decorative scissors to cut one edge. This forms the ruffle at the waist.

13. Hand-stitch in a wide running stitch along the straight edge and gather the paper together. Seal the thread to the paper using a dab of hot glue. Cut another long strip of crepe paper, cutting along both edges with decorative scissors. This creates the ruffle at the neck.

14. Sew a running stitch down the center, gather and seal the thread.

15. To assemble the Jester, slide the wide ruffle next to the cone through the wire and hot glue. Then add the accordion body working all the way up through all the holes. Slide on the neck ruffle and glue to body. Then glue in place at the "shoulder area."

16. Glue the ball (face) to the wire using the hole made with the awl. Open the hat and glue it onto the head.

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