How to Make a Doll Head Mold

Make your own one-of-a-kind dolls.

People have been making dolls for centuries. Dolls range from one-of-a-kind sculpted dolls to mass-produced dolls created from molds. If you want to create your own dolls, you can sculpt a doll head in polymer clay and create a mold. This will allow you to make multiple copies of your doll. Dolls from molds do not all need to look the same. Each doll produced from a mold can still be one of a kind; you can try different hair, skin and eye color to create unique, beautiful dolls. Here is how to make a mold for doll heads.

Things You'll Need

• Polymer clay
• Doll head (purchased or pre-made)
• Petroleum jelly
• Paint brush
• Box 2 inches wider, longer and higher than the doll's head
• Small round object
• Newspaper
• Plaster
• Water
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Make or buy a head shape you want to use for your mold. Set it aside until you get to step 4. If you make the head, you can use any material that will be firm when completed. Materials such as clay, modeling clay, polymer clay, wood or plastic are all good choices for the original head shape.

2. Start making your mold by conditioning a large block of polymer clay, squeezing and squishing the clay until it is very soft.

3. Press the clay into a 1 inch thick flat piece large enough to go around the head and still have about 2 inches left on all sides. For example, if the head is 4 inches across and 4 inches long, your flat piece of clay will need to be 8 inches wide and 8 inches long. This clay will be used to help make the mold.

4. Press the clay around the back of the pre-made head, and fold it out at a right angle when you get to the center of the ears. This will create a clay shelf all the way around the head.

5. Wad up some newspaper and place it into the box on the outside 2 inches, going all the way around the bottom of the box. Leave the center empty. You will want to use enough newspaper to support the clay This will give the clay shelf support around the edges when you pour your plaster.

6. Place clay and head into the box, and squish the outer edges of the clay shelf up against the edges of the box to create a seal. The back of the head should be toward the bottom of the box.

7. Press the round object into the 4 corners of the clay to make registration marks for the mold. Registration marks are dents in the mold that will allow the 2 sides of your mold to line up perfectly every time.

8. Paint a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto any part of the original head that is showing.

9. Mix up part of your plaster to manufacturer’s instructions. You will need to mix enough to fill the box 2 inches above the head. It's better to make too much plaster than not enough. If your original batch of plaster starts to set before you mix more, it will not bond correctly.

10. Pour the plaster over your doll head. Gently tap the sides of the box to remove any air bubbles.

11. Let it set overnight.

12. Pull the box apart at the seams. Cardboard boxes have seams where they are joined together on the bottom, and one seam on the side. When you separate the seams, all you need to do is pull it apart with your fingers. Do this carefully, because you will need to reuse the box to complete the mold--unless you have a second, identical box.

13. Take the clay off of the back of the mold. Carefully pull the head out of the plaster.

14. Put the box back together, and place the plaster mold back into the box. Tape the flaps to hold them in place. This time the flat part of the plaster will go into the box toward the bottom, and you will see the face shape on top.

15. Place the head back in the mold. Paint a layer of petroleum jelly on the back of the head and across the plaster. Make sure you coat the registration marks. Any plaster that isn’t coated will stick, and ruin your mold.

16. Mix your plaster. Use the same amount you did the first time.

17. Pour the plaster into the box. Fill it at least 2 inches over the highest part of the head.

18. Let it set overnight.

19. Pull the box apart, and separate the plaster mold.

20. Remove the head from the mold. Pull it out gently, so you do not break the plaster.

21. Wipe out the mold with a soft tissue, and put both halves together. The registration marks will make the mold line up perfectly. You can use a large rubber band to hold it in place. Let the mold set at least 24 hours before use.

Tips & Warnings

• Let the remaining plaster dry in the bucket, then hit the bucket on a hard surface. The plaster will just drop out of the bucket, making it much easier to clean.

• Do not use your sink to wash the plaster out of your bucket or off your hands. Wash your hands outside. Plaster can set even with water flowing, and will ruin your sink, pipes, and sewer lines.

References

• Laguna Clay Ccom, How to... Make a plaster mold.