We have a set of nesting dolls that my Brother-in-law brought back from Russia a couple years ago and big brother has recently discovered them. He has always liked puzzles so it made sense that he was really intrigued by how the nesting dolls fit together.
One day when I shopping on Amazon.com I came across Unpainted Blank Russian Nesting Doll 5pc./6″
Let me just start by saying, I didn’t exactly paint these freehand.
I first printed out images of the characters faces and taped them on the dolls. I purposely chose a sequence of red/orange/yellow/green/blue as a way to help teach my preschooler about colors and rainbows.
Then I took a ball point pen and traced the faces, making sure to press firmly.
When I removed the paper I had a nice indented outline.
Using acrylic paints, I painted the background colors first and then made my way from the bottom to the top of the faces. At some points my indented lines got lost and I did have to freehand here and there.
After they completely dried, I used a gloss coating over each piece.
After drying for 24 hours, they are ready for play!
(Note: Due to small pieces and the fact that little brother puts everything in his mouth,
he will not be playing with these until he is older. I recommend supervision during any play time with this toy.)
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Great idea! Love the blank nesting dolls as a starting point. What fun!
Thank You! You can actually find blank nesting dolls for as low as $8.00 on Amazon if you browse around 🙂
totally darling! thanks for linking up to Make it monday! I've share your link on the Brassy Apple FB wall! 🙂
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share at your linky party!!
You did a great job with these 🙂
~MiaB
http://www.mamamiasheart2heart.com
Thanks for all your support Mia!
those are so awesome!!!
Thank You! They were a lot of fun to paint 🙂
Those are adorable ~ I want some too. I could never paint them that well. http://www.bargainfun.net
If you trace the faces first, I bet you could do it 🙂 You've got a new follower! Thanks for the comment!
Wow! These are so neat! Visiting from Mama Pea Pod's fb post!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my blog! I am now following you 🙂 I was actually admiring your box car wash the other day!
Too cute! My kids think they are much to old for Sesame Street but I'm totally making one for me! :)I found you through Skip to My Lou. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hehe 🙂 I think that my husband and I have been admiring them more than my son! So I say go ahead and make a set for you to enjoy 🙂
These are just adorable. Such a creative idea!
Thank you Michaela! I am now following your blog! Congrats on 50 🙂
Found you on Skip to My Lou. Could you please share this with our readers for Fun Stuff Fridays? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/01/fun-stuff-fridays-8.html
I would absolutely love to! Thanks for the invite!
How fun–and they look just like them!
Steph, I am also in the PNW! From Bellevue, WA but living in Portland, OR. I am now following your blog! Thanks for the comment!
These are just so cute! What a great idea that was. I didn't even know they made blank nesting dolls. I am a new Fb fan visiting from Sugar and Spice. Vicky from Mess For Less
Vicky, I thought the same thing when I saw blank nesting dolls for sale on Amazon! I am already a follower of yours on FB but just started following your blog! Yay!
Love the blog name! And these are the coolest nesting *dolls* ever! We just learned a little about Russia last week and the concept of Nesting Dolls– my son thought it was really neat and the fact that you made your own is just wayyyyy cool! Great job!
Thank you Kristina! I appreciate the compliment on my blog name 🙂 I spend a long time trying to come up with it. Sounds like this would be a great project for you and your son!
How cute!!! My kids would love them.
Rachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com
Thanks Rachel! You've got a new follower :o) Love your crochet hats and the cream cheese braid looks delish!
Oh. My. Gosh! Those are aMAzing!!! My son would freak out…he loves Sesame Street, especially Elmo and Grover. You did a wonderful job on the faces…and I like how you did them in color order. Wow. Awesome. Would you consider sharing them at my party, going on now?
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/shine-on-fridays-12.html
I think I found you before you found me, LOL! I already shared at your party :o) Thank you for giving me the opportunity to link up! I almost wish I had purchased a nesting doll set with more dolls so I could have included Bert, Grover and some of the other characters 🙂
Very cute project. My girls would love those.
-Veronica
Thank You!
Those are too stinkin cute! you did a really great job on them!
Visiting from Naptime Crafters!
Thank You! I am a new follower of yours :o)
These are amazing!! My nephew is a hardcore Sesame Street fan and my son loves nesting dolls. I am pinning this! New follower 🙂
Thank you for the comment and for pinning!! I'm now following you as well :o)
What a wonderful idea!! I know several children who would love them. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday! Have a great week!
Always a pleasure to share at your linky party Carrie! Thank you!
These came out SO well! I would never have thought of looking at Amazon for the blank Russian Dolls – let alone tracing the faces to create such great-looking final results! Thank you so much for linking this to Drab to Fab Friday! It was perfect! I hope you'll come back and share more of your great stuff next week! (Old or new is always allowed)
Amy @ Sugar and Spice
I randomly came across them on Amazon and just HAD to order them 🙂 Thanks for letting me link up! I would love to share more of my posts! Thank You!
So adorable !!!
http://sailingwithbarefeet.blogspot.com/
Thank you! And congrats on your baby girl! Hang in there, she will be here soon 🙂 You have the perfect pregnant belly. I was absolutely huge with both my boys 🙂
Thanks you so much for linking up last week! I wanted you to know I featured you this week! These are too cute! Stop by and grab a button!
Kim@madeinaday
http://madeinaday.com
Wow! Thank you!! I just linked up some posts from this week and grabbed a button :o)
Just wanted to let you know that you will be featured this week on Drab to Fab Fridays 🙂 Feel free to grab any of my buttons if you'd like. See you tomorrow for D2F!
Amy
Thank you so much for the feature!! I look forward to D2F tomorrow! I will be sure to grab a button :o)
Thank you for linking up to Fabulous Friday! I will be featuring you tomorrow!
You did an amazing job! I voted for you and saw this project over at some craft competition. Good luck!
Thank you for voting for me!!! You've got a new follower 🙂
These are so cool! Thanks for entering One Crafty Contest; good luck!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to enter!
These are very cool! My parents brought home a set of nesting dolls for each of my kids from Russia. They have spiderman, shrek, and more. These are as cool as any "original" dolls, and you got to have the fun of making them yourself. Plus you know if the paint you used is safe, some of ours started flaking off immediately (I think the change in humidity) and it scares me a little. 🙂
Thanks Kimberly! The ones my brother-in-law brought back from Russia are Mariners baseball themed. They are cool, but something about handmade items makes everything more fun and special :o)
These are so creative and fun! I'm impressed. About to go pin.
Thanks so much for pinning Sarah!
This is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen! Love these!! I'm your newest GFC follower 🙂
Blessings,
Breena
mommyknowslife.blogspot.com
Thanks Breena! Happily following your blog and your FB page AND I just entered your Starbucks giveaway! Thank You!
Very cool idea! Thanks for sharing it with "Around the World in 12 Dishes", Russia edition 🙂
Thank you so much for linking this up to Around the world in 12 dishes my little ones will love making this, great sibling craft for when you have different ages too!
My girls would LOVE these! I am excited to be in the crafting contest with you! I am a new follower! Hope you will stop by http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ and do the same
Robin
This is adorable! I don't have kids, but I struggle to come up with good gift ideas for my many nieces and nephews. This one will for sure cement my place as "favorite aunt" 😉
http://www.russiandolls-boutique.com
visit us for more beautiful Russian Nesting Dolls!
Do you sell the Sessme Street nesting dolls?? If so how much please and how much??
What were the dimensions of the pictures of big bird and Oscar nesting dolls? I’m having trouble with getting it right.
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