Cornhusk Tree-Top Angel This craft is of CHALLENGING difficulty. It is for those with more experience in craftworks. MATERIALS: Cornhusks 1' styrofoam ball fabric dye manila file folder white glue/glue gun 14" #18 wire natural-colored heavy thread cotton balls miscellaneous miniature dried star flowers, baby's breath 1 skein embroidery floss in hair color miscellaneous narrow lace acru buttontwist thread scissors plastic lid crochet thread DIRECTIONS: *NOTE:* Cornhusks are either fine or coarse-grained; one side is ribbed, the other smooth and "milky". Use the milky side for the head, hands and sleeves, or where the husks are to be turned or bent. We used both dyed and undyed husks. 1. COLOR: Decide upon your angel's dress color and dye 25 husks with a solution of 1/2 package dye to 1 gallon hot water in an old pail (keep husks as flat as possible). For pastel colors, check after 2 minutes; deeper colors need more dye and time. Rinse well in cold water; squeeze out the water and place in the plastic bag. 2. FOR THE HEAD: Roll and "pinch" the styrofoam ball into a more oval shape. Using 6' x 8" undyed husk, grain running lengthwise, place the head (at the bottom third of the husk) with the chin toward the short end. Roll until covered, twist the leftover husks at the top and pull to the bottom at the back of the head. Twist the husk at the neck and wrap with the ecru buttontwist thread, leaving the tag ends of the husk hanging. Cut 4" of wire and insert from the bottom into the head. 3. Cut 10" of wire for one-piece shoulder/arms, making tiny loops at each end for the hands. Tear 2 pieces of the undyed husk 3/4" wide. Put the strip through the loop, covering the end of the hand, and wrap up around the hand to the "elbow." Secure by winding thread around the wrist and up the arm wire. Do the second hand. 4. FOR THE SLEEVE: Use the 6"-wide undyed husk, for the lower sleeve, placing it downward from the wrist, milky side facing the wrist. Gather it around the wrist and tie securely. Do the other sleeve. Carefully pull the husk back to the center of the arm, "puff" the sleeve and tip securely in the middle of the wire arm. Double-layer sleeves are made by placing a second piece of dyed husk starting at the middle of the fist sleeve and turning the husk to the center, puffing it and tying it off at the "shoulder". 5. Taking the head, wrap a narrow (1/2") strip of husk several turns around the neck area. Center the arm/shoulder piece between the head's 2 husk tag ends and wind thread around the bottom over the shoulders; tie off securely. 6. FOR THE BODICE(use dyed husk): Place 2 cotton balls in the center of a 6" x 8" husk, turning each edge inward about 1", turning the top half to bottom. Place this section against the center of the wire arm/shoulder piece (already covered by the head's tag ends). Tear 4 pieces of husk about 1 1/2" wide and 8" long and cover the bodice piece from the waist diagonally over the shoulder to the back; next piece goes the other direction over the shoulder diagonally to the back. Repeat with 2 more pieces. Gather and pinch all layers inward at the waistline and bind around 5 times. Tie off securely. 7. FOR THE SKIRT: Use the full-length dyed husk pieces. Bend the arms upward, out of the way; lay the first skirt piece at the center of the figure, pointing upward from the body and head. Continue lapping the pieces around the entire waist. Holding all the pieces and the body securely, wrap thread around the waist area many times and tie off. Turn the skirt pieces downward and cut the skirt husks off evenly at the hem. Bend the arms down again. Place crumpled tissue under the skirt and stand the figure in a 5" or 6" plastic bowl from your kitchen. The skirt will conform to the roundness of the bowl. Bend the head, if necessary, and position, the arms now. Dry thoroughly. 8. WINGS: On tracing paper, trace the wing pattern and cut out. Cut 4 wings from the undyed cornhusk and 2 from the manilla folder. Glue the cornhusk wings on each side of the manilla wings. Place in a heavy book to dry flat. 9. HAIR: When the figure is completely dry, add the hair. Cut the entire skein of embroidery floss at the loops at each end. FOR FRONT CURLS: Cut 4 pieces of floss in half. Dip a 1/8" round stick or 2" nail into a puddle of glue and then wind the floss piece around and around, smoothing the floss ends with more glue on your finger. Then slide the curl off the stick and glue to the front of the angel's head. (Have a damp washcloth handy to wipe off fingers). Continue with about 6 or 8 curls for the front. FOR LONG CURLS: Use 5 full-length pieces and tie in the middle with the 6th strand of floss. Curl a group of 3 strands on the nail, then curl the next 3 strands. Curl the opposite ends in groups of 3's. Glue to the top of the head. The tie in the center of the strands should be in the center "part" of the head. Continue with all the floss strands, placing and gluing until the whole head is covered, ending with a 5/8" donut-shaped chignon on top. "Style" the long curls by pushing and gluing to the shoulder area and back area. The curls will dry stiff. 10. FOR HALO: Wind 6" of thread over and under the pieces of baby's breath to form a circle. Tie off in the circle to fit the angel's head. 11. HANGING WREATH: From the manilla folder, cut a 3"-dia. circle, then cut the 1 3/4"-dia. circle from the middle. Glue the 1/2" buttontwist thread loop to the center back. Cover the front with white glue, placing bits and pieces of baby's breath, star flowers and tiny leaf-shaped pieces of the dyed cornhusks all over the wreath. Let dry, trim with a lace bow at the top. 12. ATTACH THE WINGS: Cut a folder piece 1/2" wide by 3" long. Fold 1" of each end toward the center. Glue the wings to this folded piece at the ends. When dry, glue the center section to the back of the angel. 13. FINISHING: Trim the figure with strips of lace on the bodice, a bow at the waist. With a swab, add blush makeup to the angel's cheeks. Glue the baby's breath halo to the head. Cut a manilla cone piece for the stand (half-circle with a 5 3/4" radius): Bend and overlap, making the cone. Staple. Cut the top hole slightly larger and with lots of glue on top of the cone, insert under the skirt. Drop more glue, if necessary. Dry; trim the cone bottom if necessary. Hang the wreath on the angel's hand, and your cornhusk Christmas angel is ready to top the tree or stand alone.