Everyone has had to make toothpick bridges in school, but can you imagine creating your own toothpick dolls?

Toothpick dolls are little people made from glue, thread, and wood toothpicks. That is it. These small works of art can be easy and simple, or amazingly detailed. You can create your own miniature Barbies. Make them look like the Pussycat Dolls or any celebrity or character you love. Not only are they fun to make just because, but they are a great craft project for kids and in the classroom.

I had never heard of toothpick dolls until I randomly came upon a website where artist Angela Rosseau creates elaborate dolls with unbelievable skill. I was in awe of her creations and found that she had a small tutorial on her blog. Knowing I already had the necessary supplies at home, I went ahead to try and make a toothpick doll.

I succeeded, to an extent. My first doll is anything but glamorous, but it is my own and I am proud. The tutorial on Angela's blog is simple to follow, but she has been doll making for fifteen years and she makes it look easy. I found that I had to figure out a lot of things on my own, learning as I went. That is what made me want to write this article for beginners by a beginner. I will provide tips that I learned along the way, with help from the steps provided on Angela's tutorial.

-What you need-

Toothpicks

Embroidery floss

Craft glue(I use Aleene's Original Tacky Glue. It dries clear and works perfect)

Small paintbrush(like those used for water paints)

Scissors(A larger pair for cutting the toothpicks, and a small pair for cutting thread)

Ruler

Pencil

Patience

*tip* Glue is both your best friend and your worst enemy. If you accidentally get too much glue, it dries clear so you do not see it. It also gets everywhere and on everything. Your fingers will be covered in it, and so will everything else around you. I guarantee that you will scream at least once when you go to pull your finger away from your doll and take half of what you just glued with it.

-Body Parts-

Measurements:

Legs: cut 2 inches from one end of a toothpick for each leg

Arms: cut 1 inch from each end of a toothpick to make two arms

Torso/head: cut 1 1/4 inch from one end of a toothpick

Head: mark with pencil 5/8 inch from the cut end of the torso/head toothpick

-Legs-

Take the torso/head toothpick and put a tab of glue on each side of the uncut end of the toothpick. Do not put glue beyond the mark you made for the head. Glue the uncut ends of the leg pieces to the

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