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Home » Decorating

How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Modified: Feb 2, 2016 by Elisabeth Kruger · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins...Ballerinas and dancers always exude a sense of elegance, grace, beauty and control, something that I would love to introduce to my home. If you feel the same as I do then you’ll just love this paper ballerina project. My plan is to make a whole lot more in different dancing positions and hang them up from differing lengths; I just need to find the perfect spot in the house to display them proudly. These would also make incredible gifts for any dancing friends you may have.

Supplies needed:

  • Flexible wire from any craft or bead store
  • White napkins
  • Corn starch
  • Cold water
  • Clear fishing line
  • White thread
  • Thin needle
  • Scissors
  • Pliers

Start off by bending the wire into the skeleton – all you need is the features of a classic stick man. You can do the head and body as one piece, and each arm and leg on its own so that you can easily attach them to the body by twisting the wire around.Step 1 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Take your napkins and separate the layers. If you happen to have printed napkins that you want to get rid of, you can simply toss the printed part and keep the white layers that are underneath.Step 2 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

You’ll want to keep some of the napkin pieces whole, but for the rest, it’s time to rip them up! Tear them into strips that are just over half an inch wide (about 1.5cm). It’s important that you tear the piece by hand and not cut them with scissors.Step 3 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Similar Project:  Recycled Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin Decoration

Create your starch paste – this is typically achieved by mixing together equal amounts of corn starch and cold water, but you want this to be a little runnier than usual, so experiment with a bit more water. Then dip you napkin strip into the paste and start wrapping it around the wire skeleton.Step 4 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Keep going until your little stick figure resembles something of a mummy.Step 5 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Leave your skinny little mummies to dry completely.Step 6 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Now comes the time for the dress – these modest ballerinas shouldn’t stay naked for too long! Fold the napkin as shown in the photo and cut it at the desired length. Curl it around to get the bushy effect. We want some volume to this dress, so repeat the same step with a second napkin sheet.Step 7 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Next, make little holes for the arms and head and dress your ballerina.Step 8 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

To give the girl some shape in her currently unflattering dress, use some of the thread to cinch in the waist. You can then leave her in that position or bend her leg up to show off her flexibility and dress. In order to hang these, simply thread your clear fishing line through a part of the upper body.Step 9 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and NapkinsStep 9 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins

Step 10 - How to Make Dancing Ballerinas from Wire and Napkins
I like the cleanness of the all-white look, but if you want to use color napkins that’s your prerogative! I think all-red could be a nice twist – they would look more like the gorgeous Spanish flamenco dancers. Tutorial source Stariy-Chemodan Russian blogger.

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  1. swarnika

    June 22, 2015 at 5:34 am

    Please send ballernias step little more clear and elaborate

    Reply
  2. Del

    December 04, 2016 at 11:00 pm

    Thank you for the ballerina instructions will enjoy trying to make them. ?

    Reply
  3. Natalia

    January 26, 2019 at 12:45 am

    can you send me the instruction please .They are gorgeous.This will my first project.Thank.

    Reply
  4. paloma

    October 16, 2019 at 8:34 am

    Me ha gustado mucho esta manualidad, grcias

    Reply
  5. Marcia

    February 21, 2021 at 4:59 pm

    Wow, sure loved this project!

    Reply
  6. Jenny

    March 30, 2021 at 3:46 pm

    Wonderful

    Reply
  7. Joanne Weed

    July 27, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    Thank you for the Paper Ballerina tutorial. They are really sweet! I want to make some for this Christmas ,for my daughter's tree.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous

    October 04, 2022 at 12:55 am

    So very beautiful .. 😊 thank you

    Reply

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