How to Customize a Vinyl Toy

The urban vinyl toy fad got its start in Japan in the 1990's and is now popular throughout the world. You can participate in this craze and explore your creativity by customizing your own vinyl toy. The following steps will get you started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Vinyl toy
• Paint remover
• Hair dryer
• Pencils
• Acrylic paint
• Markers
• Crayons
• Acrylic sealer
• Glue
• Fur or flocking material
• Buttons
• Beads
• Jewelry
• Plywood
• Scroll saw
• Hot glue
• Modeling clay

1. Acquire vinyl toys. A popular one is "Munny," a blank vinyl toy that is ready for you to customize. Once complete, a "Munny" becomes a "Dunny." You can also recycle existing vinyl toys.
2. Remove the original paint (if the toy is being recycled) with a paint remover that is safe to use on vinyl.
3. Heat the toy with a hairdryer, then pop out the eyes and any other features you'd like to remove.
4. Paint the toy with acrylic paint. Let it dry. Apply more layers until you reach the desired color.
5. Trace details with a pencil. Fill them in with acrylic paint, markers, pencils or crayons. Seal with acrylic sealer. For texture, spread glue over the toys. Apply fur, flocking, or other material. Attach buttons, beads, jewelry or other decorative bits you'd like to add.
6. Make wood accessories for the toy, like a hat or other headgear, something to hold in its hands, or a vehicle to ride in. Draw a template for the item you want to add. Attach it to a piece of plywood. Use a scroll saw to cut out the template. Glue it to the toy.
7. Create accessories with modeling clay. Roll out the clay. Form it into the desired shape. Fire it and cure it according to the manufacturer's directions. Attach it to the toy with hot glue.