We are making a Dalarna horse - a cardboard Dala horse

Dala horses originate from the 17th century in the Dalarna region of Sweden. Historically, men carved them as children's toys. Today, they are charming souvenirs and a symbol of Sweden.

How are Dala horses made?

Original Swedish horses are made from blocks of pine. The initial shape is drawn on a board and cut out with a bandsaw. The craftsman uses a knife to shape the final shape of the horse. The finished horses are dipped in paint and then hand-painted with traditional patterns.

We will resort to simpler methods and instead of wood, we will cut out horses from cardboard and then decorate them.

• Cardboard
• Paints
• Cotton string for handicrafts
• Brushes
• Scissors
• Punch

How to Make a Dalmatian Horse Out of Cardboard

We cut out the horse's body from cardboard, based on the illustration of the original Dala horses. The next step is cutting out the legs, which will transform our image into a three-dimensional figure. We draw an arc, inside which we cut a slot the width of the cardboard into which we will insert the horse's top. From the bottom, we cut out another smaller leg separating the horse's legs. We trace the shape and cut out another pair of hooves according to the pattern.

In the place for the tail and mane we make holes with a hole punch.

Painting a Dala Horse

The next step is to paint colorful patterns on the body and legs. You can follow traditional ornaments or create your own. If your little one is having trouble decorating the horse, they can make a few simple patterns, dots, or other basic patterns and shapes.

Decorating a cardboard horse

To make the pony ready to display on a shelf, all it needs is a mane and a beautiful tail. You can make these from cotton string, yarn, or ribbons. Thread the string through the holes you made earlier, and your pony's luscious hairstyle is ready!

All that's left is to get our horse back on its feet. To do this, simply slide the horse's body into the gaps in the smaller cardboard boxes.