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I was very happy to be matched to Scoochmaroo in Carsoncool’s “non featured gift exchange” and immediately started thinking and experimenting to determine what to make. Scoochmaroo wanted something awesome to keep at Instructables HQ, but I hope the doll will not only go on display, but will also be played with ;-).
I first thought of making some kind of action figure of Scoochmaroo busy with food, but when I saw her DIY-Convertible-Dress Ible I went for a fashion doll, complete with a doll version of the dress.
When the Toy Challenge was launched I knew I couldn’t pass on that and rushed to finish the gift and enter an Ible on it in this challenge. Many thanks for all the votes getting me in the finale!
In the meanwhile, I added the shoes, both to the doll and to this Ible (step 8).
I first thought of making some kind of action figure of Scoochmaroo busy with food, but when I saw her DIY-Convertible-Dress Ible I went for a fashion doll, complete with a doll version of the dress.
When the Toy Challenge was launched I knew I couldn’t pass on that and rushed to finish the gift and enter an Ible on it in this challenge. Many thanks for all the votes getting me in the finale!
In the meanwhile, I added the shoes, both to the doll and to this Ible (step 8).
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Signing UpStep 1Materials
For the doll:
- Sculpey® SuperFlex polymer clay, two packages of assorted colour, possibly other polymer clay and skin tone acrylic paint
- 5 or 6 strands of copper wire,1mm2, about 15 cm long.
- 5 pieces of brass tubing fitting over the copper wire, 1 to 2 long cm, about 2mm inner diameter.
- Some markers, or pencils to colour lips and eyelashes/mascara, optionally some high gloss varnish for the irises.
For this doll I experimented with Sculpey SuperFlex Bake & Bend on a copper wire frame. It proved to be a great and easy way to make a posable action figure, but after a couple of days some cracks appeared at the stronger bends. So bending should be kept limited. An exagerating thinning of elbows and back of the knees and careful positioning of the copper wires should help, but that is something to test in a next project. The “flex” also is still worthwile to make details like fingers and hair less prone to breaking.
Sculpey SuperFlex Bake & Bend™, typically sold in a blister with assorted colours. From these you can mix to obtain the colours you want. I made "skin tone" from white and red, some yellow and pinch of green. One blister gave enough material for the limbs only. So for the body and head I used Fimo polymer clay. As it slightly changed colour during baking I ended up painting all parts with the same acrylic skin tone paint. The acrylic paint holds well when bending the Sculpey SuperFlex. It also survived a second baking (see step 5) very well.
For the armature I used copper wire as in electrical installation wire.
Materials for the dress:
- Tyvek, about 1 A4 size
- Clear contact glue and optionally (for the shoes) white wood glue.
- Icrylic paint and or permanent markers
Tyvek is a polyethylene fibre based non woven with an appearance somwhere between paper and textile. It is quick and easy to work with as there is does not unravel, so there is no need to hem. Also, because it is thin, it is easier to obtain a scale look for clothes on small dolls (which can be difficult with thicker fabrics). It can be glued (preferably with clear contact glue) or sewn. It can be coloured with markers and acryl based paints and it is quite strong. Tyvek comes in different grades, with the most common ones a stiff "paper" type as used in heavy duty envelopes and a soft "textile" type as used in single use overalls. I used the latter, as in most of my doll clothing projects.
Tools:
Wire cutter and pliers
The sculpting tools of your choice (I used the one included with the Sculpey SuperFlex, a tooth pick and a razor knife)
scissors
An oven that can be set to a 130°C:
Some non stick baking paper
Waterproof sanding paper, 320 grit
Optionally an iron.
- Sculpey® SuperFlex polymer clay, two packages of assorted colour, possibly other polymer clay and skin tone acrylic paint
- 5 or 6 strands of copper wire,1mm2, about 15 cm long.
- 5 pieces of brass tubing fitting over the copper wire, 1 to 2 long cm, about 2mm inner diameter.
- Some markers, or pencils to colour lips and eyelashes/mascara, optionally some high gloss varnish for the irises.
For this doll I experimented with Sculpey SuperFlex Bake & Bend on a copper wire frame. It proved to be a great and easy way to make a posable action figure, but after a couple of days some cracks appeared at the stronger bends. So bending should be kept limited. An exagerating thinning of elbows and back of the knees and careful positioning of the copper wires should help, but that is something to test in a next project. The “flex” also is still worthwile to make details like fingers and hair less prone to breaking.
Sculpey SuperFlex Bake & Bend™, typically sold in a blister with assorted colours. From these you can mix to obtain the colours you want. I made "skin tone" from white and red, some yellow and pinch of green. One blister gave enough material for the limbs only. So for the body and head I used Fimo polymer clay. As it slightly changed colour during baking I ended up painting all parts with the same acrylic skin tone paint. The acrylic paint holds well when bending the Sculpey SuperFlex. It also survived a second baking (see step 5) very well.
For the armature I used copper wire as in electrical installation wire.
Materials for the dress:
- Tyvek, about 1 A4 size
- Clear contact glue and optionally (for the shoes) white wood glue.
- Icrylic paint and or permanent markers
Tyvek is a polyethylene fibre based non woven with an appearance somwhere between paper and textile. It is quick and easy to work with as there is does not unravel, so there is no need to hem. Also, because it is thin, it is easier to obtain a scale look for clothes on small dolls (which can be difficult with thicker fabrics). It can be glued (preferably with clear contact glue) or sewn. It can be coloured with markers and acryl based paints and it is quite strong. Tyvek comes in different grades, with the most common ones a stiff "paper" type as used in heavy duty envelopes and a soft "textile" type as used in single use overalls. I used the latter, as in most of my doll clothing projects.
Tools:
Wire cutter and pliers
The sculpting tools of your choice (I used the one included with the Sculpey SuperFlex, a tooth pick and a razor knife)
scissors
An oven that can be set to a 130°C:
Some non stick baking paper
Waterproof sanding paper, 320 grit
Optionally an iron.
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I’m sure you will give her a good home.
Has she recived it yet?
Obviously I can never make a gift like this for someone who believes in voodoo :-)
I could not wait for the doll to get to Scoochmaroo before publishing, as I really wanted to enter the Toy Challenge.
I'll post pictures when I get it!
Of course, the clap-off bra as an accessory might have been deemed excessive.
I'm definitely going to be playing dress up with this one. I can design all my own clothes in miniature now! This is amazing. Thank you for your glorious handiwork!