DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Russian Matryoshka Paper Craft

This is a simple cut and paste paper craft that can be done "just for fun" or for a Russia theme -- Russia is hosting the olympics this winter which is what has inspired our learning a bit more about the country right now.

Russian Matryoshka dolls are wooden "nesting dolls".  Each one opens up to reveal a smaller one inside.  Originally they were hand carved from a single piece of wood and then hand painted by artists -- artistic ones like this are really very beautiful.  Now days there are affordable, mass produced versions for tourists and children -- they're still cute and fun to play with!

Create your own design or use one of our pre-made templates to make your own paper Matryoshka Doll.

Materials:

• something to color with if using the B&W version,
• scissors,
• glue,
• paper,
• printer

Instructions:

• Print out the craft template of choice.
• Color (if using the black and white version of the craft) and cut out the template pieces.  You can cut out template 1 (the doll) or just cut out template 2 and glue all the pieces onto the full sheet of template 1.  It's up to you!
• Glue the doll together in the following order:
  • large circle onto the matching circle on the doll.
  • head scarf onto the top of the doll.
  • bow at the bottom center of the head scarf.
  • head overlapping the bow.
  • See picture above for further help

Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Template (doll)     (color)   or   (B&W)

Decorations - choose  one:

Template (blank)     (color)   or   (B&W)

Template (red & green flower)    (color)   or   (B&W)

Template (three blue flowers )     (color)   or   (B&W)

Template (dark grey flower)        (color)   or   (B&W)

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