Materials needed

tracing paper  
pencil  
ruler  
transfer paper  
stylus or dry ballpoint pen  
softballs with white synthetic or vinyl covers and red stitching (new or used)12" or 9"  
2"x3" piece of 1/8" thick balsa wood  
sandpaper  
acrylic paints- rose, cream, green, black, yellow and white  
palette or paper plate  
small round paintbrush  
medium-line permanent black marker  
matte spray finish  
tacky (white) glue  
straw hats-6" for the larger ball 4" for smaller ball  
sunflowers- lg. ball(one 2" with 3 leaves) sm. ball(three 1" flowers)  
1/8 yd. plaid or check fabric in color of choice  
scissors  
stapler  
lightweight 
cardboard  
cotton swab  
paper towels  
2 oz. raffia  
rubber band (to fit around balls)  
embroidery needle  
green six-strand embroidery floss  
craft(X-Acto)knife  
flat black buttons- one 3/8" and one 5/8"  

LARGE BUDDY: Tie Ring:Cut a 1" x 11" piece of cardboard and a 2-1/4" x 12" piece of plaid or check fabric. Center cardboard on fabric piece. Apply glue to edges of fabric and fold in, attaching edges to cardboard. Let dry. With raw edges inside, bend into a ring. Overlap short ends 1" and staple layers together securely. Place baseball on tie ring to stabilize it as you paint.

Face Painting: Trace patterns onto tracing paper. Use transfer paper under Large Buddy Face pattern to transfer pattern onto the unprinted side of the 12" ball, centering face on one side of ball so nose is centered about 1" above mouth stitching.

Place small amounts of each color paint on palette or plate.

Mix half water and rose paint. Use cotton swab to add to cheek area. Let dry and repeat if area needs to be darker.

Allowing paint to dry after each color, first paint eyes cream, then green, then black. Dip stylus or toothpick into black paint and dot on freckles. Use marker to outline eyes and add eyebrows. Let dry.

Lightly spray two coats of matte finish over face. Let dry.

Glue on 5/8" button "nose". Let dry.

Crows: Trace crows pattern onto tracing paper. Use transfer paper under pattern to transfer pattern twice onto wood with stylus or dry ballpoint pen.

Cut each crow shape with craft knife. Sand each cutout on all sides until smooth, first with medium, then fine sandpaper. Remove sanding dust with a damp paper towel.

Allowing paint to dry between colors, paint back, edges and top front of both cutouts black. Paint beak yellow. Add white and black of eyes. Add beak lines with black marker. Let dry. Spray front and edges with finish.

Finishing: Run a bead of glue around top edge oftie ring. With staples in back, add softball "head" on top of ring, placing it at a slight angel to the left with mouth stitching about 3/4" above the edge of the ring. Wipe away excess glue. Let dry thoroughly.

For hair: Holding a 3" thick hank of raffia, 10" long, tie it in the center with embroidery floss. Glue tie area to top of head. Spread raffia around head, gluing to sides, back and forehead. Use a rubber band to hold in place while drying. Remove rubber band and trim raffia above face for bangs and trim away any long stray pieces.

Using 6" straw hat, bend back brim to meet the crown. In center of brim, use floss in embroidery needle to tack brim in place.

Remove or cut plastic from leaves and cut base of 2" sunflower short. Glue leaves onto brim, letting them each extend out in a different direction from center over stitching. Glue flower to center of leaves. Glue crows onto edge of brim to right of flower. Let dry.

Run a bead of glue along inside edge of hat crown and add hat to head with flower at center front, holding in place with rubber band. When dry, remove rubber band.

For bow tie, cut an 11" x 12" piece of plaid or check fabric. Fold right side out in thirds. Gather center together and tie across center with floss, knotting ends in back. Cut ends short and glue to tie ring below scarecrow's face. Let dry.

SMALL BUDDY:Follow directions for Large Buddy with these changes: For tie ring, cut cardboard 8" x 3/4" and plaid or check fabric 9" x 1-3/4". Use 9" softball and Small Buddy Face pattern, centering pattern so nose is 3/4" above mouth stitching. Use the 3/8" button for the nose. Omit crows.

Glue face to stand at a slight right angle. Use a 1-3/4" thick hank of raffia for hair. Cut piece for bow tie 7-1/2" x 1". Use the 4" straw hat, gluing the three 1" sunflowers onto the front of the hat crown.

Submitted by Nobie