This doll is inspired by the amazing work of Broshich. I wanted to make a doll that resembled my boston terrier, Frida.

I am not going to attempt to teach you to sculpt in this instructable. I don't expect you to create exactly the same thing I did. Instead, I'm going to give instructions where I can, but some steps may just be images to show the process. I encourage you to use the following images and my process to create your own version. Perhaps you'll create a doll of your own pet.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Sculpey oven-bake clay

sculpting tools

paintbrushes

acrylic paint

super glue

thin cotton twine

foil

glass container

wooden dowel

sander or pencil sharpener

fleece

needle and thread

sewing machine

long upholstery needle

medium sized beads

clear nail polish

matte laquer spray

doll eyes

Step 2: Begin Sculpting the Head

Knead the Sculpey until it's soft before beginning.

Start with a ball a bit smaller than a racquetball.

Add a smaller ball for the snout.

Step 3: Eyes and Snout

I used doll eyes to ensure my eyes were the same size. One of the easiest ways to make your doll look goofy is to have the eyes be uneven.

Don't worry about the color. We'll paint them later.

Use a tool to block out the snout, nose, mouth etc. Make sure everything is in the right place before spending time on details.

Step 4: Eyes and Snout Continued

When adding parts that are intended to be symmetrical, start with balls of the same size so they'll be more likely to be the same as you sculpt each piece.

Step 5: Nose

Step 6: Mouth

Step 7: Ears

At this point, it was advantageous to put the head on a stand. Sharpen a wooden dowel, put some styrofoam in a mug or bowl, and use the dowel to create a stand for your sculpture.

Step 8: Finishing the Head

Take a look at your sculpture from all sides and see if there's any areas that need addressing.

Here I added whisker pores, and I used a stiff paintbrush to add the texture of her nose.

I also used some acetone and a soft paintbrush to smooth out fingerprints and rough spots.

Be sure to cut a groove in the bottom of the neck to allow it to sit on the shoulders of the body.

Step 9: Paws

I went through a couple different versions of paws, so you may see the first iteration. I put these on toothpicks in a bowl of foil for baking.

Step 10: Shoes

Use a pencil to draw the shape of the sole of your shoes. You can imprint graphite onto Sculpey by pressing them together.

Step 11: Shoes Continued

For the soles, I used a square drill bit to make impressions.

Step 12: Bake

Bake at a lower temperature than the instructions say for a longer period. The plastic doll eyes are sensitive and need to be kept at a lower temperature. I set mine to 170 degrees initially and left it in for several hours. At some point, I opted to raise the temperature and regretted it. You'll see why in the next step.

Step 13: Eye Repair

The inside of the eyes melted or shrank or something. I used quick dry tacky glue to fill in the negative spaces. I had to let it dry and continue to fill it repeatedly until it was full. Ultimately, it worked out fine.

Step 14: Painting

Again, I'm not going to try to teach you to paint, so just check out the process to see what might work for your own project.

When the sculpture is done and painted, I recommend spraying it with a sealing lacquer spray. I didn't want mine to be shiny, so I used a matte lacquer.

However, I did want the eyes to be shiny, so I added some clear nail polish to them.

Step 15: Cut and Sew Body Parts

Lay your pieces down on some fleece and draw out the body parts based on the size of your sculpted pieces.

Cut two of each piece, and sew them most of the way around leaving a small gap for filling.

Turn them inside out, so the seams are on the inside.

Step 16: Stuff Body

I opted to stuff my body with 2/3 beans and the rest with leftover fleece bits. The beans give it weight and the fleece is more solid and less floppy than fluff.

Step 17: Attach Legs

Sew on the thighs as shown using cotton twine. Using an upholstery needle, sew through the first leg, the body, then the other leg.

Add a bead, then go back the same way. When you get back to the other side, add another bead. Go back and forth once more to return to the same side you started on. Tie it off.

Step 18: Knees

Cut a strip of fleece. Roll it up and stitch it into a cylinder.

Sew it to the ends of the thighs as shown. Then stitch it to the leg.

Lay the ends of the twine along the sides of the knees and stitch them up.

Step 19: Attach Arms

Stuff the arms 2/3 full of fleece then stitch across them where the elbow belong. Sew the arms on the same way you did the thighs.

Roll back the ends of the arms and apply super glue to the top of the paws. Roll the fleece down over the glued section and press firmly.

Step 20: Attach Head

You may need to sharpen your dowel even more now.

Twist and press the dowel into the top of the body. When it's far enough in to place the head onto the body, apply superglue to the edges of the head and press it on firmly.

Step 21: Have Fun

Since this instructable is already huge with 20 steps, I'll have to save the clothes for another instructable. I look forward to sharing that process as well. Have fun!

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19 Comments

Matiposadoll

1 year ago on Step 21

Do you make these dolls to sell?

The clay Tortoise

1 year ago

Congratulations on winning second prize!

I love this project, and I definitely want to give it a try! I have done something similar to this, but this seems like it would be easier!
Thank you for sharing!

RetaLBT

1 year ago

I’m going to try to make one like my girl Maple Syrup (because she’s that color and she’s just that sweet!) Thanks for the great instructions and pictures! So so CUTE!

Algiz

Tip 1 year ago on Step 21

If you sculpt the head onto a ball of aluminum foil, it will be lighter and stronger -- and glass eyes are easy to get, they can take the heat. And you can sculpt a rim on the neck to hold the head in, or a rim on the feet

vbanaszak

1 year ago

That turned out fabulous! Both your pup and the doll are adorable. If you ever make another one, you can pop the eyes off before baking and then glue them back in after it cools. Also you can use a tin foil ball in the center of the head and then cover it with your clay so you don't have so much weight in the head. The arms could also be done like the legs and you can make a crease around the neck and sew the neck body to the neck. I have seen old fabric dolls made that way. Anyway, it is adorable. These ideas are just for your future makes. I hope they help.