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I needed tiny eyelash strips for a 9" open-eye baby.  Of course, such tiny eyelashes aren't sold.  As they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention".  So I put fears to flight and tried to make my own eyelash strips.  It worked!  And here's the mini-tutorial of how I did it:

1. Cut a little bit of mohair (that matches baby's hair).  You should cut enough for a thin strip, and it should be about twice as long as the desired length.
2.  Lay the mohair flat on a piece of wax paper at the desired thicknes (remember, not too thick, babies lashes are quite wispy).  Arrange it so that the strip of mohair is slightly longer than the eyehole where you are going to apply it (better safe than sorry).
3.  On another part of the wax paper, pour a small dot of glue (I used white glue, but any glue that dries clear will work).
4.  Dip a toothpick in the glue, just a little bit.  On yet another part of the wax paper, make a thin line of glue with the toothpick.  The line of glue should be slightly longer than what your strip of mohair is.
5.  Carefully lay one of the edges of the mohair strip on top of the line of glue (it's a bit tricky, but it can be done).  You should have some mohair beyond the glue on the 'wrong' side, it'll be trimmed later on.
6.  Now dip the toothpick in the dot of glue again (depending on how big you made the dot, you may need to add more glue to your dot). 
7.  Very, very carefully, make a thin line of glue (or series of tiny dots) on top of the eyelash strip, thus 'sandwiching' the mohair in glue.
8.  Repeat for other eyelash strip, and let them dry fully.
9.  Trim off the excess on the 'wrong' side, so that the edge of the eyelash is the dry glue strip.  Then trim the other side to desired length.  Remember to cut some hairs shorter than others to give it a more realistic look.  As you go, try it against the eyehole to see if you like the look.  You'll also have to cut the whole strip a little shorter to make it the right size.  Cut little by little, it's easier to cut more than make a whole new strip.
11.  If you want the lashes to be curled, curl them now before you apply them.  It's easier to do them now than later.
10.  When you have it the way you like it, apply it as usual to eyehole, either before or after you put in the eye, depending on your preference. You'll still have to glue them in, put the glue on the dry glue strip (treat the dry glue strip like the thin piece of plastic/string most boughten lashes come attached to).  Tuck the dry glue strip under the eyelid where it doesn't show.  You have just lashed your baby!  Give yourself a pat on the back and count the money you just saved.  :)


This is helpful if you do a lot of open eye babies (and get sick of paying so much for all your eyelashes).  Also, it's good for tiny babies, and extra large babies.  For sleeping babies, it's always best and easiest to root the lashes.  Hope this tutorial is helpful and easy to follow.  Let me know what you think of it. 


-- Edited by Miss Reborner at 22:37, 2008-09-03