To paint the cheeks, use a dry stipple brush and work off most of the red paint blotting it on a paper towel. Using a pouncing motion gently pounce the cheeks in a circular motion. Feather lightly around the edges.

Using a black paint pen or sharpie permanent marker, outline the nose. Then, lightly draw a black line down the center of the face on either side of the nose. Add fun stitch marks to the dividing face seam line and around the nose if desired. Next draw on the mouth to connect the cheeks. You may want to dot a white glint in the eyes with the end of a paint brush and highlight the nose also for an added dimensional touch.

To protect the paint for many years of inside and outside decorating, lightly spray the face with a clear coat spray sealer found at hardware and crafting stores. Do not spray a heavy coat. Many black paint pens will run if sprayed too heavily. Several light coats of spray are sufficient.

Hot glue the cut small straw hat to the top the painted scarecrow face. Cut small bunches of raffia and hot glue in sections to either side of the scarecrow face. Full straggly raffia will cover any of the seam lines and give a finished look.

Embellish the scarecrows new hat by hot gluing silk flowers and a wheat sprig to one side of the small hat. Silk sunflowers or rusty colored chrysanthemums look especially cute!

Last, make a large bow with crafting ribbon and glue it under the scarecrow's chin.

You can hang your scarecrow on the wall or on your front door to greet your guests.

You could also wire the scarecrow head to the top of a cross post and dress a real scarecrow body for a yard decoration.

Think creatively when you send a
Strawhatted Scarecrow hopping this year.

the end

Rachel Webb lives in Utah.