How to Make Your Own Realistic Doll
It takes time and a lot of patience to make your own realistic doll. You can choose to make a porcelain, vinyl or cloth doll. Everyone has her favorite medium, but the most popular and easiest way to make a realistic doll is to start with a vinyl kit, available from Bountiful Baby. (See Reference section.) Vinyl doesn't break, and the finished product looks more realistic. The dolls are highly collectible and will keep their looks and appeal for generations.
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Things You'll Need
- Vinyl doll kit
- Craft knife
- Paint remover
- Gloves
- Acetone
- Cotton balls
- Liquid dye
- Timer
- Small funnel
- Paints
- Odorless paint thinner
- Cosmetic sponges
- Glue
- Wig
- Doll body
- Glass beads
- Cotton stuffing
- Tights
- Pellets
- Doll clothes
Instructions
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Separate doll parts with a craft knife. Remove any paint on the doll, using a remover that doesn't harm vinyl. Wash parts and let them soak in hot soapy water. Let them dry completely.
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2
Remove painted hair from the doll's head. Hold the head firmly with gloved hands. Apply acetone with cotton balls to remove painted residue. Soak the head in hot soapy water for at least an hour. Let the head dry.
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3
Dye vinyl doll parts one shade lighter than the desired skin tone you want to achieve. Place the dye in a microwave for 30 seconds. At the sink, start with two limbs. Set the timer at one minute. Fill the limbs with dye. After one minute, pour the dye back in the bottle through a funnel. Microwave the dye for 20 seconds and repeat for the second set of limbs. Reheat the dye. Pour the whole bottle of dye into the head, and roll the head around so the dye completely covers the inside. Pour the dye back in the bottle. Allow the doll parts to dry.
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Paint doll parts using flesh color and odorless paint thinner. Apply with a cosmetic sponge. The instructions for painting with Genesis Paints say to bake the parts in the oven at 265 degrees for eight minutes. After your doll cools, apply veins, blush and eyebrows with a paint brush.
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Put glue on the crown of the doll's head. With the hair out of the way, turn a wig inside out. Center the wig on the crown of the doll's head. Slowly bring the wig over the doll's head, centering it in place. Allow the glue to dry. Choose natural hair for the best effect. If you have time and want much more realistic results, root the hair one by one, Bountiful Baby suggests.
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Attach the vinyl parts to your doll body. Bountiful Baby says to fill each arm half full with glass beads, and then fill the remaining half with stuffing. Put the cap on each stuffed arm. Follow the same steps for each leg.
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Measure 12 inches from the feet of the tights and cut both legs at that point. Stretch one cut leg over a glass, fill the stretched leg with pellets, tie a knot in the top to secure the pellets, and then insert the filled leg inside the head. Put stuffing inside the head to keep the pellets from rattling. Put the plug on the head. With the next leg from the tights, repeat the process, filling with glass beads instead of pellets because you want the body of the doll heavier than the head. Tie a knot in the leg, stuff inside the body of the doll, and then add cotton stuffing all around the tummy so it's soft and you can't feel the glass beads.
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Dress your doll with your choice of doll clothes, shoes and hat. Your completed realistic doll will bring many years of joy and delight.
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Tips & Warnings
Be patient and work cautiously. Each step requires attention to detail.
When you take a break from working on your doll, place it safely out of reach of children and pets, to avoid accidents.
Do not bake the doll parts longer than eight minutes.
Work in a well-ventilated place when using paint remover and acetone.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bébé 2 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Karen Valtin
Feb 05, 2011
This method is totally outdated. Dye should not be used on the inside of the doll at all as it causes bruising in years to come. A realistic skin tone can be achieved completely with paint on the outside of the doll.
