Dutch Wooden Shoe made from Paper

When I told my mom that I was making Dutch-themed crafts for a crafting series, she told me about this paper wooden shoe she made in preschool when she was young. I loved it! I never had the chance to make these as a child, growing up mostly in the US, but I can see children making these at the beginning of December to celebrate Sinterklaas in school.

Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday, most related to Christmas. It starts in November with a parade, as Sinterklaas comes to The Netherlands on his white horse, by ship. Children mind their manners as they wait for December 5th. Songs are sung by the fireplace, carrots are left out for the horse, and each member of the household leaves a shoe on the hearth in anticipation of a treat.

If you have been good, Sinterlaas might leave a chocolate letter, some Marzipan, and even a small toy. Treats like Pepernoten and Kruidnoten are often left by the Sint as well. However, if you have been bad, the Sint leaves a bundle of sticks in your shoe – the Dutch equivalent of a stocking full of coal, but with a corporal twist.

To make your wooden shoe from paper, all you need is:

Yellow paper (yellow is the traditional color, but you could use another color if you like)
Scissors
Tape or staples

Start by folding your paper in half.

Then in quarters.

Now fold one corner in.

Fold the paper in thirds the opposite direction – the diagonal fold will help, because both spots where the diagonal fold meets a horizontal fold represents a third of the page.

Cut away the top two squares, and cut slits into the bottom, splitting the bottom three squares.

Use the slits to make the back of the shoe, then tape into place.

Fold together the front of the shoe, then tape or staple in place.

Stuff with fake grass or straw, and you have a wooden shoe… made from paper!

Make sure to check out all the other awesome bloggers sharing their countries for the World Cup Series!