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Aunt Jenni · Member

Advice needed for first timer

jburle · Senior Member

Hello and Welcome to our forum! We are Family Oreinted and Sometimes some of us are a little crazy at times. But it's a great place to get reassured on something or just to come and chat with others. So I hope we see more of You.. And I can't wait to see your finished baby... Some other ladies will be around later to help out they are more experienced than I am but still good to hear what others did with ZOE!

I have done three 17" preemie Zoe kits. Each one I made a little heaver than the last. Don't panic and take your time. Have you watched any of the dvd's that come with the kit?

I inserted a magnet's for the paci. I used e6000 it has a great hold. That would be up to you as the artist. Are you going to root her hair? And to fill her out with I used plastic poly pellets. and you can get them at most any craft store or on Secrist.

A paci that fits the baby's face is for most what you would want. I put a big one on my little Raven AKA Zoe sculpt by pat secrist and it didn't look right after one of these amazing ladies suggested a small paci.

Aunt Jenni · Member

Thank you for the warm welcome.
I have the magnets, E6000, Preemie Pacifier, Doll Kit, .... and keep staring at everything. LOL.
I would love to root hair sparsley but am scared to death of ruining her if I do. Also contemplating the whole eyelash issue. (I have been browsing internet on all different forums and tutorials but wish I knew someone locally who had some experience with this already_

I have watched the DVD (explains simple painting and plain poly stuffing) a few times. I would like her to be weighted to a decent degree but am annoyed at the local craft stores (Michaels, JoAnns, Hobby Lobby) as none of them sell any type of poly pellets, just the ultra light stuff that comes in a large bag and weighs less than regular stuffing.
Was thinking about using pre-made purchased bean bags with poly fill and silicone pads for tummy and buttocks, or creating a few extra small pouches with sealed steel bbs to add the weight I would like.

Also considered placing a magnet in the palm of the hand to hold stuffed animal or other accessories such as a specially made blanket. Just a thought.

I am wondering if I should do an internal perwinkle wash on her and/or adding fleshtones and slight veining. Kit came with only the three paints though and may have to take a look around the hobby shops some more.

I have a need for instant gratification and would much prefer to purchase locally and use same day instead of waiting on deliveries.

sara zata · Guru

Welcome Aunt Jenni to the best most knowlegable forum I know. We are a family group that care about one another and we are willing to share all our knowledge with all new reborners. I wouldn't use steel, as some babies , if you wish to sell them later on won't be allowed to go out of the country. I know you cant use sand to weight them. What I suggest is if you can buy some polly pellets, ( I buy them over here from a plastic bag maker) you may have one over there, also the sand blasters over here in Australia use the little glass beads which is realy good to weight your babies to the correct weight, I have been making them ( retangle Bags ) out of interlock material in a naturel colour or pale pink. I also have a set of fishing scales that I hang the baby in to weigh them wshen they are finished. As for the paints, if you are just starting out and only have a few coulors, I suggest you just buy the premixed mini tubs untill you are sure you like the art, and they do, do about 5/6 babies a little goes long way. Magnets are good but if you are selling them, you need to put a sign on them, that if you have a pace maker for them to be aware of the magnets. XXXXXX June.

-- Edited by sara zata on Thursday 19th of August 2010 09:50:18 AM

Tina W. · Guru

Welcome Aunt Jenni! I've see the babes with the magnets in their hands holding toys, adorable! Like June stated though when you add magnets and sell babies don't forget the warning for electrical equipment, pace makers, computers, ect. Poly pellets are what I use for weighting I have the same problem though finding a craft store in my area that sells them. I buy online, sometimes I get a good deal and just stock up (saves on shipping)

Aunt Jenni · Member

FOUND POLY PELLETS! Whoo Hoo, who would of believed Wal-mart had them when no one else did, salesperson working in crafts section said they just started carrying them this season.

I was getting really annoyed and started looking at different options including acrylic resin beads for use in vases. Also found different options for fleshing out baby's bottom and creating a stomach like feel for her tummy. Will have to get my electric scale out of storage so that I can figure out what ratios to use in limbs, head, and body to achieve the desired weight I am looking for without overstuffing as well as taking into account the weight of the dolls different parts. Would annoy me if one hand weighed more than the other.

Tina W. · Guru

Lucky you! Our Walmarts did away recently with thier craft and fabric sections with the new remodel =(

sara zata · Guru

Good luck with your baby making. XXXXX June.

jburle · Senior Member

I am glad that you found those poly pellets! I think thats a great idea with the magnet in the hands. I love to put them in there head and use pretty bows to doll up my little cuties!.... Glad I could help out a little!

Don't be nervous about rooting hair. I think we all get nervous to a degree. Shoot I have a 20"-22" sculpt that I haven't done yet because she makes me nervous just looking at her! lol and I have been only doing for about a 1 year next month... it's exciting! Good Luck and I can't wait to see your finished cuties!

Buffington · Guru

Usually for the babies weighing, I put pellets in the arms up to just past the wrists. Then polyfil fluff.
Legs, just up to the knees, then fluff.

I put my pellets into a knee high nylon and tie it off. put it more towards the top back of the head. The rest of the weight I put in another nylon, tie off and insert into the bottom and middle of the baby so the tushy has more weight than the middle.
I did post on your other thread about the bb's and stuff. :)

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Welcome to the forum. Like the others said this is just the right place to visit when you have questions or need advice about making your reborn doll.There are several topics that seem to come up often. If you like instant gratification, searching the forum to find answers to previously asked questions might mean you won't have to wait for an answer.

Course 2 doesn't cover everything you need to know to make a realistic reborn, and doesn't include all the paint colors needed. I would suggest Course 3 if you can afford it.

I like the idea of a magnet in the hand.

Glad you found the poly pellets!

Linda

Aunt Jenni · Member

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions and insights overall, much appreciated and was pleasantly surprised by the warm welsome that I received.

Well, this week, probably Tuesday, I am going to start my kit. By then I should have a semi functioning kitchen (it's been completely gutted for the past 8 months, as has most of the house for a complete remodeling job that was necessary due to some unknown structual damages hidden by the seller).

This first kit is for my 17 year old daughter, most of my family members are my guinea pig recipients of the different crafts I do (my newborn neice received many hand crocheted booties,bonnets, and saques; my older sister has received crocheted hen purses; and my children were subjected to most of my sewing skills). I was thinking of using some type of metal in the dolls hand and mouth instead of the magnet itself so that only the accessories would be a possible issue with electronics and such.

Since this doll will be accessible to me later for any changes, I am going to paint her using only the items in the kit and following the instructional DVD as closely as possible. I think it would be interesting to see what she can look like "as designed". Afterwards I am going to invest a little bit more in paints and tools and see what I can do with the same doll kit and more options.

I will keep you posted on progress made.

Thank you again!

sara zata · Guru

I think the metal in the hands and mouth is a good Idea, this gives you more options as to wether it has something in it's hand or a dummy for it's mouth. XXXXX June.

jburle · Senior Member

Good luck.... and Congrat's on the new kitchen!... It will be exciting to see what she/he will turn out to be!

Buffington · Guru

The only thing that would be ok to put in the doll as far as metal goes would be a magnet. Most any other metal (bb's, shot, ball bearings, etc) can develop rust, even if they don't get wet. Moisture is just naturally attracted to this metal and with rust you never know what will happen. We STRONGLY discourage it.
Here's an example: I have a steel ring mandrel (what jewelers use for measuring ring size). I have a de-humidifier in my basement. I put the mandrel in my bench drawer, no moisture in there or the room as it's always closed. 2 months later, it was really rusted! I was in absolute shock! No water or moisture around anywhere, also being pulled out of the air by my de-humidifier and still it rusted! So you see...

It was a very good thougt though hun.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Sounds like a plan, Aunt Jenni. Can't wait to see how it works out.

As for the metal and rusting, I hadn't thought about that possibility. Do you think the rust would do as much damage if the metal was encased in something like fabric? Just wondering...

Linda

NaNa2BeBe · Member

I have found a few good deals on ebay on poly pellets and glass beads. I now own 40 lbs of glass beads and 10 lbs of poly pellets. =]

I too wish I knew someone who did this locally. :/

Tina W. · Guru

Yea me too, I have to buy mine online as well I try to find deals on ebay for the shipping but sometimes its hard to do.

Buffington · Guru

If you're paying a lot for shipping why don't you ask the shipper if they can send your glass beads and poly pellets in a flat rate box? I think one of them can weigh up to 70 pounds for a flat rate. It's a thought :)

Tina W. · Guru

They are the only auctions I'll buy from Pat, I see no reason to inflat shipping by not taking advantage of the flat rate boxes, all that is needed is picking on up in the post office or even ordering online and having them shipped to your home.

Buffington · Guru

Those flat-rate boxes have saved my customers a lot of shipping costs when I ship to Oz or NZ. I think it's great! I'm thinking of using them to ship stuff to Colorado for my daughter. She's expecting our first grandchild in April. Some of the stuff can get pretty heavy.

honeyloves · Guru

Hi:) I recently done the zoe kit she is my fist also and might and more to her cawencidently the things you described all the advice I have for you is: easy on the paint.put the eyebrows on the brow bone And make sure you put the legs in the right holes as I have trouble with this ,I know don't laugh. (Even though you have probably already completed her just thought I would reply :)

Buffington · Guru

Yes, it's a learning process that's for sure. It's good to get a DVD too so you can actually see what you are supposed to do instead of just reading it. I am a visual person so I need to see and hear/read.
Getting your limbs in the correct holes is a good idea. We have had others that put the limbs on backwards on the bodies before so you're not alone on that one. Part of that is...
tummy bulge is higher than the butt bulge, so when you look at the body from the side, it should be this way.
Thanks for the advice :)

Georgiaga · Senior Member

CAn you just use the glass beads ina stocking inside the dody and then the rest polyfill or would pellets be better? Somewhere I read that the polypellets could react with the vinyl or maybe that was silicone/vinyl..?

Aunt Jenni · Member

Ok, It took longer than I thought but I finally completed my project (Preemie Zoe) LOL on New Years Day. (The actual project only took me the day, but getting to the point where I could do it undisturbed took months)

Zoe looks pretty good and has been stolen by my daughter who is taking her to school tomorrow to show her parenting class (High School). She was filled with poly pellets and poly stuffing. I was quite happy with how her eyebrows and eyelashes turned out (painted). Using a very light touch and multiple applications.

Hopefully I can get a chance to post pictures soon.

As for magnets, metals, ets... Havent added any yet but will probably use sealed stainless as it will not rust even if scratched, have used this in & near aquariums and high moisture areas before without any issues.

Buffington · Guru

Georgia, I find that using polypellets is by far less expensive than glass beads. And no, the polypellets were/are not an issue as far as reacting to the vinyl or vinyl/silicone mix kits. It is/was the "baby fat" pellets or just the baby fat in general. You should be able to search baby fat in forum and come up with threads on it.

Jenni, congrats on finishing your Zoe. I know just how it is finding "undisturbed" time to do projects lol
I guess I am not familiar with "sealed stainless".