How to Paint Reborn Preemie Dolls

Learn to turn your baby dolls into reborn preemie dolls.

Creating reborn dolls is not a secret that only a select few can accomplish. Technique, practice and supplies contribute much more to its success than skill. Reborn dolls have captured the hearts of old and young alike for several years. Small preemie reborns are especially a popular find. Learning how to paint reborn preemie dolls is an art that most creative people can accomplish.

Things You'll Need

• Reborn flesh tone heat set paint
• Reborn wrinkle and crease heat set paint
• Reborn blush heat set paint
• Sponge wedges
• Small flat paintbrush
• Large round paintbrush

Instructions

1. Mix two or more similar shades together to create a customized flesh tone. Paint the entire flesh section of the baby with a sponge wedge. If you choose to use more than one color, mix in another shade to create a varying skin tone.

2. Place the portions of the doll that you painted on a paper towel-lined cookie sheet. Allow the doll pieces to remain in a preheated 225-degree F oven for about eight minutes. This will set the painting and make a permanent bond. Do not place the doll into the oven if you are not satisfied with the appearance of the paint. You cannot wash it off after heating.

3. Highlight areas that are shadowed or creased with wrinkle and crease paint and a small paintbrush. Lightly hit the areas under the eyes, around the nose, above the lip and around the chin and ears. Paint the creases in the arms and legs. Hit areas between fingers and toes and in the palms and bottoms of the feet. If the shading appears too dark, lightly tap over it with the sponge you used for the flesh color. Place the baby back into the oven to set the coloring when you are satisfied with its appearance.

4. Lightly tap a flat brush into a blush color. Dab it on a sponge or paper towel if you get too much paint buildup. Apply a light layer of the blush on the lips. The color should be a pink color that appears natural, not a lipstick color. If the coloring is too dark, press over the lips with the flesh sponge. Do the same procedure with the fingernails and toenails. Again, only a light shade of pink should appear. Set the paint in the oven.

5. Dip a clean sponge in the blush color. Press a large round brush to the paint on the sponge. Tap, do not rub, the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin with the brush. This will give the baby a "blotchy" newborn appearance. Keep in mind that preemie babies often have a less even complexion than other newborns. If the reddening is too prominent, lighten it with the flesh sponge. Do the same with the tops of the hands and feet. Place the body parts in the oven when you are satisfied with the appearance.

6. Dip a small brush into the eyebrow paint. Make upward strokes with the brush along the eyebrow line. Begin close to the nose and work outward. Make the two eyebrows as congruent as possible. Preemie baby eyebrows are "just barely there" and the coloring should be faint. If the coloring appears too dark, press over it with the flesh sponge. Heat set the paint when you are pleased with the appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• Add more life to your preemie newborn by purple washing the inside of the head before beginning the flesh paint. You can buy purple wash solution or use a purple acrylic paint. The coloring gives the impression of blood flow.

• If you are uneasy using the oven, you can set the paint with a hair dryer.

References

• Prissy May Dolls: Tutorial