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How to Make a Rubber Doll

Home doll-making crafts take on many different forms and materials. With the help of some liquid makeup latex, this can include rubber as well. When finished, a natural rubber doll has a soft and stretchy but sturdy construction. Create a doll in whatever size and shape you like.

Things You'll Need:

  • Liquid Latex (Available At Costume And Makeup Stores)
  • Acrylic Paint, Yarn, Cloth And Other Materials For Decorating Your Doll
  • Microwave Safe-Bowl
  • Friendly Plastic ™
  • Disposable Craft Brushes

Melt Friendly Plastic according to the instructions on the package; heat water for a few minutes in a microwave-safe bowl or cup, then add Friendly Plastic beads.

Form softened plastic into the desired doll shape. Bear in mind that the finished doll will be flexible, but bear whatever shape your plastic mold has. Allow the plastic to cool and harden fully (this generally takes less than a half hour).

Apply several layers of liquid latex rubber to the surface of the plastic doll shape using disposable brushes. Let each layer dry completely before adding the next. When finished, the latex should be close to 1/8-inch thick in all areas.

Remove the rubber layers from the doll form. With your craft knife or straight razor, cut a slit along half the doll form’s edge (this can be either the side or bottom half, depending on what‘s easier). Peel the floppy latex shell away from the doll form.

Turn the shell inside-out. This will give the outside of your doll a smooth finish.

Fill the hollow latex form with liquid latex. If too much leaks out, seal up part or most of the slit side by using wet latex as glue.

Allow the wet latex inside the doll skin to cure. This may take as much as a week or more, since the liquid is not exposed to air.

Paint and decorate the finished rubber doll as desired. You can paint cured latex with acrylic paint and attach accessories using more liquid latex as glue.

Tip

If you don‘t want to wait a long time for the doll to dry, you can make a doll that‘s partially filled with cotton or shredded paper towels--you probably won‘t notice a difference in the finished product.

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