How To Make Skis and Ski Poles For Your 18 Inch Doll

 How to Make Doll Sized Skis and Poles For American Girl Dolls

Winter is in full swing! The slopes are packed with snow which means it's time to get your gear together and head out to the mountains! Whether you're dreaming of being as great a skier as your favorite Olympic champion, or you're just in it to have fun & create lasting memories - we've got a tutorial you're sure to love! Follow along as we show you how to make skis and ski poles for your 18-inch doll! 

There's a few pretty cool sets available from American Girl for skiing and snowboarding, but they don't ship to all countries and they seem to be frequently out of stock. We've got you covered, try this creative tutorial brought to you by @forofsuch today!

Supplies Needed:

  • Yard stick or ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Hot glue gun and glue
  • Stick or craft glue 
  • Craft knife
  • Self-healing mat or layers of cardboard
  • Half inch wide elastic
  • Pink craft foam
  • Patterned scrap book paper
  • Acrylic craft paints in pink and periwinkle
  • Paint brush
  • Paper plate and small dish of water
  • 1/4 inch dowel
  • Colored foam board (we used a scrap of turquoise foam board we had already)
  • Wooden toy wheels with 1/4 inch hole (This is optional. You could also use bottle caps or some other round household item.)
  • Doll boots or shoes of your choice

 


Step 1: Cut your colored craft foam into two pieces, each measuring 1.5 inches by 12 inches (you could also use white craft foam and cover the whole “ski” in patterned or solid scrap book paper).

Using something curved to trace around (we used the side of our glue bottle), draw a curved line at each end of each foam board piece and cut along this line using your craft knife.

Now you have 2 skis!



 

Step 2: Cut 4 pieces of craft foam measuring 1.5 by 4 inches each. 

Take one of your doll shoes/boots, and place it in the center of one of the skis. Using 1 piece of craft foam, drape the craft foam over the toe of the shoe, only covering about ½ an inch of the end of the shoe, and, holding the shoe firmly in place, wrap the foam around the shoe and the ski, and hot glue the edges to the bottom of the ski. You want this piece to be a bit snug for the shoe, but not so snug you can’t get the shoe out. Also, you may need to trim your craft foam to fit in order to glue it down flush on the bottom of the ski.

Repeat this process for the heel of the shoe using another piece of craft foam. You will see from the photos that the foam pieces should be angled up a bit to cradle the shoe, while still allowing room for the shoe to be removed.

 

Step 3: Once the first ski is done, set the second ski next to it and the second shoe on the ski, lining up all the ski ends and the placement of the shoes before repeating step 2 to apply the remaining foam pieces to the second ski.

Now you have two skis ready to go, or you can take a few moments to decorate them in the next step!

 

Step 4: Using your patterned scrapbook paper, decide on a design for your skis. We cut strips of paper half an inch wide and laid them diagonally on our skis, glued them down, then trimmed them to fit. Then we repeated this on the back of the skis, changing up the diagonal direction. But you could do any kind of design you can think of! Cut out stars, hearts, snowflakes, or stripes!

After this, your skis are done and you can set them aside while we make the ski poles!

Step 5: To make the ski poles, first cut your dowel into two 13 inch lengths. We used craft scissors this time, but you can use a craft knife or small hand saw to do this. 

 

Step 6: If you are using the small wooden wheels to make the tips for your poles, go ahead first and make sure the dowel pieces fit into the holes on them. We had to whittle our dowels down just a bit, but then they fit in tightly and securely. 

(If you want to skip this step, you could wrap colored cardstock around the end of your poles, or paint the tips a different color than the rest of the pole, but you’ll do either of those options after the poles are painted.)

Next we paint! Separate your dowels and wheels, and paint them individually with your acrylic craft paint. (The small dish of water is to dip your brush in before you dip into the paint. Acrylic craft paints always paint better if you do this first!)  We chose a periwinkle blue for the poles and a pink to match our craft foam for the wheels. Once they are painted and dry, you can reinsert the poles into the wheels. Ours fit tightly enough that we did not need glue, but you may want or need to glue yours in.

 

Step 7: Next we need to make the handles for the doll’s hands. Cut 2 pieces of elastic measuring 4 inches long each. Fold these in on themselves in thirds and hot glue the two overlapping ends together.

Now we need two more pieces of craft foam. Cut each of these to be 1 1/8 inch  by 2 inches long. 

Stick one piece of craft foam into each elastic loop you just made. Hot glue the foam to the elastic on one side only.

Lay one ski pole down into the center of the elastic with the craft foam sticking out on either side and hot glue this down. Make sure you have about 1 to 1/18 inches of ski pole remaining above this. Also make sure the free loop of elastic that is not glued to the craft foam is facing the table during this step.

The last step is to wrap the craft foam snuggly around the pole, one end at a time, and hot glue these ends down. Once the glue has cooled, your ski poles are finished!

Now your doll can hit the slopes in style! She’ll be confident to try new things using her new, made with love, ski equipment. 

 

We'd love to see your creations too, so if you make one, please tag us on Instagram @PixieFaire and @forofsuch

You can also share pictures in the Pixie Faire Inspritation Gallery right here on the website, either use the #pixiefaire when posting on IG, or just click the little + box to upload your picture right here on the website!

Thanks everyone!

For Pixie Faire, @forofsuch

 


 

 

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We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and tell us,  Which would you rather -  Hit The Slopes OR Sip Hot Chocolate in the Ski Lodge?

 


100 Comments

Cassandra D
Cassandra D

February 16, 2022

Sip hot chocolate in the lodge.

Rosemary Kelley
Rosemary Kelley

February 16, 2022

i love the extra little things that makes these dolls so funny .

Cheryl
Cheryl

February 15, 2022

I would prefer drinking hot chocolate in the lodge watching my grandchildren ski.

Maureen A
Maureen A

February 15, 2022

Sip Hot chocolate in the lodge! I’ve been skiing but it never ends well for me, LOL

Susan
Susan

February 15, 2022

I LOVE SKIING!! Unfortunately I can no longer ski!! Instead I love watching the skiiing at a lodge sipping hot chocolate or a hot toddy instead!!

Callie
Callie

February 14, 2022

Both! I love athletic activities as well as sitting with a hot mug of hot chocolate with a good book or a relaxing needlepoint project.

Carole L Clement
Carole L Clement

February 13, 2022

Hit the Slopes is my preference. I already have one ski outfit cut out ready to sew! I cannot wait to dress the girls to ski!

Gail
Gail

February 13, 2022

I would rather sip hot chocolate. This weekend I sat inside the lodge working on my cross stitch while watching the family ski down the slopes. It was lots of fun.

Monica
Monica

February 13, 2022

Definitely hot chocolate! With a book or needlework project in front of the fire…. bliss!

Pam
Pam

February 13, 2022

Hot chocolate all the way!

Bjrose
Bjrose

February 13, 2022

I’d rather sip hot choc and watch the younger people ski down the slopes. My mind is willing but my body says no, so I’ll just enjoy watching others. It is great fun.

Toni C
Toni C

February 12, 2022

Oh, speaking as a chocoholic, definitely hot cocoa in the lodge and friends/family to snuggle with to share love and laughs!

Candy
Candy

February 12, 2022

I would like to try to ski, only on the bunny slopes! But for safety I better choose to sit in the chalet and drink hot chocolate!

Sandra L.
Sandra L.

February 12, 2022

I’d rather sit in the lodge surrounded by friendly people and sip Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, of course. I’ love snow but have never been skiing and at my age way to dangerous.

Betty K.
Betty K.

February 11, 2022

I’d rather just sip something to drink – even if I could ski.

Abbie Hughes
Abbie Hughes

February 11, 2022

I’d rather sip hot chocolate by the fire, reading a good book.

Thresea
Thresea

February 11, 2022

Sip hot chocolate in the lodge. Too old to start skiing now.

Gayle Petr
Gayle Petr

February 11, 2022

Sit in the lodge drinking hot cocoa – just because I live in Minnesota – doesn’t mean I do winter sports. Ice skating when younger – never interested in learning how to ski.

Madeleine F.
Madeleine F.

February 11, 2022

Sip hot cocoa

Linda A C
Linda A C

February 11, 2022

Sip hot cocoa.

AJ
AJ

February 11, 2022

I’d rather hit the slopes, but with my coordination and health it probably isn’t a great idea. But I don’t like hot chocolate, so I’d just go out and play in the snow!

Deborah
Deborah

February 11, 2022

I’d rather hit the slopes

PATRICIA
PATRICIA

February 11, 2022

I would rather sip hot chocolate and watch the skiers on the slopes

Susan
Susan

February 11, 2022

I’d love to sit back and look out the window at others skiing—I’ll take the hot chocolate!

Anne Haun
Anne Haun

February 11, 2022

I would rather sip hot cocoa and be a spectator!

Louise
Louise

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate for me, I’m 80. Love the patterns.

Jacquie Corrigan
Jacquie Corrigan

February 11, 2022

I’d rather sit in the lodge and watch out the window! I used to ski, but no more.

Debi
Debi

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate by the fireplace!!! Heaven!!!

Linda
Linda

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate please and watch all the brave skiers!!! Thanks….

Rebekah
Rebekah

February 11, 2022

Hit the slopes ~ I feel inspired after watching the Olympics! ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Barb
Barb

February 11, 2022

I’ll take hot chocolate! Yum…. ; )

Joanne
Joanne

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate sounds good to me with a knitting doll sweater project. Thanks so much for the contest!

Alta
Alta

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate in front of the fireplace

Kim
Kim

February 11, 2022

Hot chocolate in front of the fireplace

Suzan
Suzan

February 11, 2022

I would love the thrill of skiing. Thanks for asking and offering such fun ideas.

Donna
Donna

February 11, 2022

I would sip of hot chocolate . I like to watch it/

Lynn
Lynn

February 11, 2022

Love to sip the hot chocolate. Yummy and warm!

Dorothy
Dorothy

February 11, 2022

I’d have to sip hot chocolate these days. If I fell, I’d never be able to get back up!

Donna Landreth
Donna Landreth

February 11, 2022

I would rather dip Hot chocolate in the ski lodge abs watch everyone ski. Thank You for the awesome giveaways.❤️😘💋

Katherine Ackerman
Katherine Ackerman

February 11, 2022

Never ski, now too mature to try. However can pretend and outfit dolls for enjoying the ski trip

Jackie
Jackie

February 11, 2022

I would rather sit by the fireplace and sip hot chocolate.

Joanne
Joanne

February 11, 2022

Went skiing 2 x when young & loved it. Now would just watch drinking hot chocolate 🤗

Theresa
Theresa

February 11, 2022

Since I don’t ski, it would definitely have to be sip hot chocolate in the ski lodge.

Theresa
Theresa

February 11, 2022

Since I don’t ski, it would definitely have to be sip hot chocolate in the ski lodge.

Lisa
Lisa

February 11, 2022

I would love to hit the slopes but bad knees mean I would be sipping hot chocolate in the lodge.

sheila
sheila

February 11, 2022

Definitely sip hot chocolate by the fire! too cold out there for me…

Barbara Flynn Buehler
Barbara Flynn Buehler

February 11, 2022

I love hot chocolate! At 71, who wants a broken leg? I’d rather watch the winter Olympics.

Doll Lover
Doll Lover

February 11, 2022

I would definitely prefer to sip hot chocolate in the ski lodge! Too likely to break a leg otherwise…

Janie
Janie

February 11, 2022

I would be sipping hot chocolate right by the fireplace. Yum!

Diane
Diane

February 11, 2022

I’d rather hit the slopes! I’ve been a bit jealous watching all the skiers having fun at the Olympics.

Jo
Jo

February 11, 2022

Sipping hot chocolate in the ski lodge would definitely be “my thing.” Although snow can be beautiful at times, I really only enjoy it on Christmas Eve.

Jo
Jo

February 11, 2022

Sipping hot chocolate in the ski lodge would definitely be “my thing.” Although snow can be beautiful at times, I really only enjoy it on Christmas Eve.

Jo
Jo

February 11, 2022

Sipping hot chocolate in the ski lodge would definitely be “my thing.” Although snow can be beautiful at times, I really only enjoy it on Christmas Eve.

Florence
Florence

February 11, 2022

At this point in my life having never been on skis I would probably opt for the lodge and hot chocolate.

Tamara G
Tamara G

February 11, 2022

For some reason I’ve never had the desire to snow ski, so I’ll enjoy some hot cocoa while admiring the skill of those who do!

Gloria
Gloria

February 11, 2022

Since I have never been on a set of skis in my life and am too old to start trying, my choice would be to sit beside a cozy fire and drink hot chocolate. It would be fun to ride in a lift chair as long as I didn’t have to ski back down.

Michele
Michele

February 11, 2022

I’d love to be sipping a special coffee drink up at the ski lodge!

BevM
BevM

February 11, 2022

I also used to snow ski, back in the day.

Shelly Peters
Shelly Peters

February 11, 2022

I’d love to hit the slopes and then have hot chocolate.

Candy
Candy

February 11, 2022

Would want to be on the slopes but at my age I better stay in the lodge

Margaret Goodman
Margaret Goodman

February 11, 2022

I am FOR SURE in that ski lodge with some hand sewing and a cup of hot cocoa!

Cynthia C
Cynthia C

February 11, 2022

Definitely the lodge, I can’t stand being cold.

Bev
Bev

February 11, 2022

I would rather sit in the lodge by the fireplace sipping hot steamy hot chocolate and watch the talented snowboarders and skier’s on the slopes, like I used to do when I was a teen.

Jackie
Jackie

February 11, 2022

Setting by the fire and sipping hot chocolate.

Cristy Estep
Cristy Estep

February 11, 2022

If they offered tubing or sledding I would hit the slopes! If not, then hot chocolate for me!

Misty Chapman
Misty Chapman

February 11, 2022

I’d definitely be in the ski lodge and drinking hot chocolate, my body does not like cold weather and I have the balance of one of those wacky tube guys you see used for advertising, lol.

Brandi
Brandi

February 11, 2022

Hit chocolate all the way!

Jackie
Jackie

February 11, 2022

I would like to Sip Hot Chocolate in the Ski Lodge but if I was younger I would Hit The Slopes

Milica
Milica

February 11, 2022

I haven’t gone skiing in a long time and would take it over hot chocolate which always tastes better after skiing anyhow-that would be cross country or very beginners slopes.

Sandra C.
Sandra C.

February 11, 2022

I would rather Sip Hot Chocolate in the Ski Lodge at my age, but if my Granddaughter wanted to hit the slopes, then I would do it for her even at 64 and having never before skied before but I think I could do the “bunny” slope with her. LOL. Then we can both head back to the Ski Lodge for Hot Chocolate because she LOVES it too!!!!! If there is a hot tub around, that would be the perfect ending for both of us…

Crystal
Crystal

February 10, 2022

I would rather sip hot chocolate indoors where it’s warm. All though skiing would be awesome but it’s to cold outside for me.

terry kuntz
terry kuntz

February 10, 2022

How appropriate, Cute idea

Jeanette
Jeanette

February 10, 2022

I would rather sip hot chocolate in the ski lodge and work on handcrafts like these doll skis and poles from my Craft and Sewing Go Bag!

Linda J Baker
Linda J Baker

February 10, 2022

Love the skis for the dolls and for my granddaughters! I would rather sip hot chocolate that ski! I wouldn’t be able to stand on skis for more than 5 minutes! Good thing we can live life through our dolls!

Marian Tworek
Marian Tworek

February 10, 2022

I like my hot chocolate bittersweet but I like to watch others ski out the big lodge windows!

Lynn F
Lynn F

February 10, 2022

In years past I loved the slopes. I’ve aged and prefer sipping hot cocoa. It’s been a good life.

darlene
darlene

February 10, 2022

Would love to ski but at my age all watch my grandchildren ski drink hot chocolate with some carmels

Sam
Sam

February 10, 2022

depends on the weather – if its nice out, hit the slopes, if its slush, hit the coco

Deborah
Deborah

February 10, 2022

Definitely hit the slopes

Rebecca
Rebecca

February 10, 2022

I’ll take the hot chocolate!

Sandra
Sandra

February 10, 2022

Hot chocolate at the lodge.

Carol
Carol

February 10, 2022

At this point I will be sitting inside with the hot chocolate watching all the kids have fun in the snow and cold.

Dianne Mann
Dianne Mann

February 10, 2022

I’m no skier………….I’ll take the hot chocolate!!

cheryl
cheryl

February 10, 2022

I’d love to hit the slopes but I just can’t anymore>

Renee B.
Renee B.

February 10, 2022

I would love some hot chocolate with whipped cream on top, sitting by a roaring fire all comfy and cozy in a plush chair with my feet up. I might have a good book to read or just stare at the flames. I sure do miss my real fireplace, the gas logs are nice but not the same. I gave up skiing a long time ago. Nearly killed myself trying to learn to ski on man made ice slopes.

Marilyn
Marilyn

February 10, 2022

I would sip hot chocolate in the lobby.
Marilyn

Pauline
Pauline

February 10, 2022

Hot chocolate all the way! And if it’s Mexican hot chocolate, even better.

Dani
Dani

February 10, 2022

I would much rather sip hot cocoa, preferably next to a roaring fire and under a cozy blanket!

Vanessa
Vanessa

February 10, 2022

I would probably ski, I am horrible at it, but who cares as long as I have fun!!!

Vanessa
Vanessa

February 10, 2022

I would probably ski, I am horrible at it, but who cares as long as I have fun!!!

Sharon
Sharon

February 10, 2022

I would sip the hot cocoa. Never did learn to ski.

DeeDee
DeeDee

February 10, 2022

Sip on hot chocolate. This fluffy girl is staying off slopes!!

Tuuli
Tuuli

February 10, 2022

Cross country skiing

Marsha
Marsha

February 10, 2022

I prefer to sip hot chocolate in the lodge because ai would probably break a leg trying to ski.

Sparkle
Sparkle

February 10, 2022

Love the doll skis! I’d hit the slopes and save the hot cocoa as an apres ski activity.

Nanalynn
Nanalynn

February 10, 2022

I am a hot chocolate in front of a fire type of gal! Love to watch the skiers but, not join in.

Sandra Stuckless
Sandra Stuckless

February 10, 2022

I’m more of a ‘Sip Hot Chocolate in the Ski Lodge’ kinda girl!!LOL

Nancy
Nancy

February 10, 2022

I would love to hit the slopes again. Those were the days when I was young and limber.. Now I can only sit in the lodge ad sip hot cocoa

Pam H
Pam H

February 10, 2022

Hit The Slopes or Sip Hot Chocolate in the Ski Lodge I would say hit the slopes. This is such a great tutorial for skis and poles, and it won’t break the bank.
j Kuglin
j Kuglin

February 10, 2022

Sip hot cocoa while reading a book by the fireplace

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