Scarecrows are not just for scaring away crows anymore! You can dress them up in formal attire to welcome guests to a holiday party or for special occasions and contests.

Steps for making a traditional scarecrow:

1. Cut a 10-foot bamboo pole into two pieces, one 4 feet long and the other 6 feet long.

2. Place the 4-foot section across the 6-foot piece, 1 foot down from the top.

3. Wire the two pieces together with floral wire, twine or raffia.

4. Place an old shirt on the short cross-piece of the frame and button the shirt in front.

5. Stuff the shirt loosely with straw, dry leaves or rags.

6. Place gloves at the end of the "arms" and secure them with rubber bands.

7. Pull one leg of a pair of trousers onto the long bamboo pole. The other leg will hang freely.

8. Tuck the stuffed shirt into the waist of the trousers.

9. Secure the waist of the trousers to the pole with a rope or belt, tying the belt or rope to the cross-piece if necessary to keep the pants from falling down.

10. Stuff the pants with the stuffing material of your choice.

11. Make a head for your scarecrow by stuffing straw into a pillowcase. Tie the pillowcase opening onto the top of the long stake with rope.

12. Draw a face with felt-tip pens, or glue on buttons for eyes and yarn for a mouth.

13. Stick the scarecrow in the ground or tie it securely in another location.

Tips:

Be creative! Scarecrows can be male or female!

Dress up your scarecrow according to the occasion, perhaps in a tuxedo for a formal affair, or a cocktail dress if you're hosting a casual evening with friends.

If you decide not to make a scarecrow head, simply place a hat on the top of the long pole, stapling it to the bamboo so it stays in place.

Another way to avoid the pants falling off is to use overalls and secure them over the cross-piece.

 

Another Way………

Materials:

4 x 4-foot piece of lumber, approximately 5-feet long

4 x 2-foot piece of lumber, approximately 4-feet long

Christmas tree stand

4 nails

hammer

pair of overalls

large flannel shirt

hay or raffia

large plastic jack-o'-lantern

bandana

straw hat

Steps:

1. The 4 x 4-foot piece of lumber will serve as the body of the scarecrow and the 2 x 4-foot piece will become the arms. Start by making a cross by nailing the 2 x 4 about 3/4 of the way up the 4 x 4 with four nails.

2. Pull one leg of the overalls over the 4 x 4, then place the 4 x 4 in the Christmas tree  stand and tighten securely.

3. Put the shirt on the scarecrow, button it up, then pull up the overalls and fasten over the shoulders.

4. Stuff some hay or raffia in the cuffs of shirt, and place a bandana in one of the scarecrow's pockets. Place a large plastic jack -o'-lantern on the top of the 4 x 4 to make the head. Top off Mr. Scarecrow with a raffia hat.

Tips

• For a more permanent display, instead of using the Christmas tree stand mount the scarecrow in a large tin bucket filled with concrete. Cover the dried concrete with straw.

• Use a pillowcase stuffed with straw as the head. Make eyes out of artificial daisies and form the mouth with red tape.

• Attach an artificial bird to one of the scarecrow's shoulders.

You can use papier mache for the head if you want to get really creative and make it more realistic!