Cookie Cutter stamping with Westward expansion picture book

Future Ticia here, years ago I found an amazing book called Wheat Doll, it’s a great story about some pioneers living in Utah during the time of Westward Expansion of US history. The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed Wheat doll, and made three crafts with it. I’ll go into the most detail about our cookie cutter stamp craft, and now I’ll give it back to past Ticia for this post on Wheat Doll.

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Wheat Doll, a story of Westward expansion

Mary Ann lives in the Utah territory with her family. She doesn’t have many friends, but she has a handmade doll stuffed with wheat she plays with every day. The embroidered face smiles at her, the wheat-stuffed doll sits up perfectly, and she takes it everywhere.

Until one day, it gets left out in a storm, and she’s forced to leave her doll behind, and must wait weeks before she can regain her doll…

So, like I said we all liked this book.  And what do we do with a book we like?  Make an art project or two or three.

All the supplies used for our art projects (bead doll, pipe cleaner doll, and cookie-cutter stamping)

pipe cleaners, wooden beads, wooden spool, yarn, cookie cutters, stamp pad or poster paint, and of course paper

 

Two fun art projects for Wheat Doll, a bit of the essence of Westward Expansion

Project 1: Wooden spool and bead doll (I apparently did not take pictures of all the steps to make this, that will be remedied).

Future Ticia, I don’t think that was ever remedied, back to the post.

You can see Superman’s doll in the bottom left-hand corner.  He’s busy making a trap out of pipe cleaners, beads, and yarn.

We make a lot of traps in this house.  A LOT.

Project 2: pipe cleaner and bead doll (tutorial for this has the pictures and will be coming, I think that happened, on the Leaf Men project).  This was Princess’ favorite method, her brothers liked the other one more.

And Project 3 (the one this post is mainly about):

 

Cooke Cutter Stamping for Wheat Doll

1.  Fold your paper in half (this is to be able to the before and after for our narration of the story).

On the outside stamp a doll outline, and then stamp a second on the inside.

2.  Color what happened to the doll at the beginning and the end of the story.  Sticking your tongue out helps you color better.

Sometimes you have to stop working on your cookie cutter stamp craft to think. Very deep thoughts, probably about Iron Man and Blue Arrow.

 

You might also need to draw an Iron Man or two to help rescue the doll.

There you go, now they have a quick and simple summary of what happened to the doll. The kids were all able to retell what happened to the doll with their mini-book reminders.  If I told you exactly what the pictures mean that’d ruin the surprise of the story.  But it’s totally worth reading to find out.

 

More Great History art crafts to try

Okay, I know this was barely related to history, but the book is historical fiction, and the craft helps retell the story. Calling our cookie cutter stamp craft a history craft is a stretch, but it’s a stretch I’m willing to reach for.

• Handkerchief doll
• Chip Log (sailing tool)
• Homemade marbles
• Babylonian roads
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Now, head on over to A Mommy’s Adventures to see the other great projects people did this week!