DIY Jingle the Elf - Free Pattern

Christmas is almost here and I just finished making this rather cute and simplistic Elf on a Shelf doll. The arms and legs and hat are made from socks. I think the body could be made from a sock as well, but I used skin tone fabric. Here is the pattern I whipped together for this project.

Cloth Newborn Baby Doll Pattern

Free Pattern: Ken's Hansel Lederhosen

image source: MyLifeInPlastic

image source: MyLifeInPlastic

Free Pattern: Vintage Soft Doll

Above doll is made by Megan McGinnis via 'Mon Petit Frere'. I included it because I thought the pattern looked similar, and I like her face variation.

Above doll is by  'bybido' and she also has a craft book called Story Book Toys

Here is a link to the hair tutorial.

Free Vintage Baseball Head Doll Pattern

More dolls please

Here's a little freebie 8x10 printable for ya. Would look cute in a frame, or modge podged onto a wood plaque. For modge podge you have to use a laser printout from a printshop printer or a color photocopy. If you use a printout from your home printer you will get streaky color bleed when you brush on the glue. I have stopped the bleed quite a bit by spraying the paper with several light dustings of clear spray paint, or workable fixative spray intended for paper. Better, but still not great results.

Free Pattern: Tiny Bear

Source: Pretty Toys

Sew a tiny bear for your doll.

Free Pattern: Tiny Antique Bear

Source: Pretty Toys

 9 cm bear is made from non-stretch fabric with glass bead eyes, stuffed with filler and sand to keep it weighted so it can stand. 5 pin joints and to finish it is tinted with pastels to give it an aged look. The nose is made from embroidery floss which is varnished.

Sharpie Paint Markers for Doll Customizing?

Sharpie oil based markers work on plastic and can be used on plastic dolls, HOWEVER the ink will bleed deeply into the vinyl and over time spread out much father then you ever intended.  Never ever use these markers for a doll's make-up. The only option I can see is using these is for complete recolors as the paint drys flexible, resistant to scratching, and does not get sticky or chip. The coverage is not very even though which makes a vinyl spray paint the best solution for complete doll repaints. I still have yet to find a supplier who carries more then the regular colors of vinyl paint, like white, black, red and tan. I contacted a custom auto painter and they can only get the paint in large bucket quantities, not in spray can form. :(

I have experimented using Testors model paint (intended for plastic models) with does work on the hard plastic bodies, but has a chemical reaction with the doll hair. (It transfers onto the hair and stays sticky.)

Most doll artists use acrylic paints or chalk pastels as makeup then top with clear sealers. This method is the safest solution for modification as it does not have long term plastic breakdown.

Here is a photo of a vinyl Blythe scalp that has been colored with a sharpie paint pen. You can see the flexibility and color cover of the ink. After removing the paint with acetone you can see the deep ink bleed. When the paint was removed the color bleed eventually faded away after 11 months. But results will vary based on the type of plastics and rubber.

Bitty Baby Bunny & Kitty: Free Pattern

Free DIY Paper Doll Christmas Ornaments

How to Sculpt and Mold a BJD Doll Head *Best*

Free Pattern: Lambskin Doll Wigs

Tibetan Lambskin or lamb fur (also know as Mohair) can make really soft realistic wigs for dolls. It can be dyed different colours and sewn into different sized doll wigs. It is great for doing many hair styles and squares can be purchased on ebay for under $10. For wig patterns in head sizes 8.5, 7, and 5.5 visit Antique Lilac.

How to Sculpt a BJD Doll Head