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Doll making? (uh oh)

#1 2007-03-30 18:19:44

Lengo
Member
From: Springfield, Oregon, USA
Registered: 2007-03-21
Posts: 153

Doll making? (uh oh)

What I've seen in the past is, you put a post on the bottom of a doll's head, then insert that post into a post receptacle in the doll's body (at least that's what I think I remember).

Well, I got a problem. My doll's body is a balloon, and my doll's head is a balloon. I can see putting a post on the head, but in order to put a post receptical in the body, I gotta saw it in half, install the receptacle, then glue the body back together and layer it some more for strength.

There's gotta be another way! I'm not very sure that I can get the post and receptacle aligned properly for one thing, and sawing the body in half and adding more layers is gonna ruin the shape of the body.

What's another way to do this to make it structurally sound (strong) and keep things aligned? Right now I'm considering a post on the head, then simply inserting it into a hole (no receptacle), then builidng a neck around the post with pulp. This would require that I support the head in alignment while the pulp dries. I thnk I can devise such a support, but it seems like a lotta work. More importantly, I'm not sure that this will be structurally sound and strong enough. Has anybody got a suggestion?

If you've done this before with good results, please advise how to do this.

Thanks!


If you see spelling errors, it's becaue my fingers are glued to my keyboard!

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#2 2007-03-31 13:52:39

snoozysnowshoes
Member
From: England
Registered: 2007-01-29
Posts: 153
Website

Re: Doll making? (uh oh)

Hi
You could try a tube so it goes from the base of the body to the top of the head it would be strong and reduce wobble then join with pulp or layers.

You could try getting a large cardboard box with one side open, cut a hole in the top part so the head can sit like an egg in an egg cup. Then place the body underneath the suspended head and line them up ajusting the hieght of the box to suit. This would keep things still while drying then slice box open and remove.

Hope this is of some use and makes sense.

Sue.

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#3 2007-04-01 00:37:50

Lengo
Member
From: Springfield, Oregon, USA
Registered: 2007-03-21
Posts: 153

Re: Doll making? (uh oh)

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm done already though. Here's what I did.

I cut two pieces off a toilet roll, each about 1/4 inch. I then cut one of these rings and set inside the other and taped it so that it would stay the right size to fit inside the other.

I then spot glued the smaller one to the head and let it dry. Then, I placed the outter ring on it, and positioned it on top of the body (not through). Then I spot glued the bigger ring onto the body.

Then I put a bead of white glue all around the inside and outside of both rings. When these dried, I build up the inside of the ring on the head with pulp, and the outside of the ring on the body with pulp. They are now both dry.

Now I've put the head's ring into the body's ring, and marked the center of the face. The head is removed and I'm gonna build up the nose, mustache, cheeks, and eyebrows with pulp. When these are dried, sculpted and sanded, I'll be ready to put the head onto the body permanently. I'll coat both rings liberally with white glue, and insert the head ring into the body ring, then make a bead of pulp on the outer ring at the top. This should be plenty strong, although the body ring doens't go through the body.

The head will then be ready for gesso and painting. I still gotta build up the coat on the body, his coat tails, the cummerbund, and make him a bow tie. I'm not just gonna paint these -- I want them raised and textured. I can then add his shoes ( i figger these go on last to avoid stressing them while working on his body details),  gesso it, and start painting.

I'm REALLY worried about painting! I haven't painted since I was in 4th grade, about 45 years ago! I have NO confidence about painting, so I'll probably spend some time practicing brush strokes.

I think I got about 1 week until he's done. Sheesh! I've already about 2 weeks into this, so I can't screw it up now!

PRAY FOR ME (or send in the calvary)!  Hey! Even John Wayne needed a backup in most of his movies!  big_smile


If you see spelling errors, it's becaue my fingers are glued to my keyboard!

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