Thursday 21 February 2013

101 painted faces. . .

I have three projects sitting on my desk.  Homework, paid work and these three girls.
 Obviously I should be doing my homework and the paid work first but these girls have been calling to me to paint their faces.  I've been staring at their blank bodies for days...um what to do, how to paint them. etc etc etc...They could wait no longer.  Since this morning they have had about 101 different faces painted on them and then painted out again. This is the latest version.
Now it's cup of tea, pecan and white chocolate muffin (me made) time...
Then paid work and homework...the girls will have to live with these faces for awhile...


A couple of you have asked how I made them.  

Here's How
Grab your supplies and prepare to get messy.... yippee!!!
  • cooking foil - it's quite easy to mould, especially for small fingers
  • cocktail sticks/bbq sticks (depending on size of doll)
  • sticky tape - I use masking tape/decorators tape
  • pva glue (thick white glue - water it down) or collage sticking glue or gesso. I used gloss medium - because that's what I have in the cupboard.


  • very loosely scrunch up a sheet of foil (about A4 size) Don't scrunch too tight or you will have problems in sticking the sticks in.
  • you will need to make a head, body and limbs. This is where the sticks come in. For long legs, use a bbq stick for the whole leg it makes them more solid. For short legs a cocktail stick will do, just for attaching legs to body. (For my girls above, I used a separate piece of foil to mould onto the end of my stick for the boot. 

  • attach the limbs to the body
  • tape the limbs securely in place. I like to tape the whole body but it's not necessary
  • rip up some newspaper or tissue paper. I used some pages from an out of date telephone directory
  • slap the glue on the doll (in small areas) and then start sticking bits of ripped paper to the doll and cover with more glue
  • once the whole doll is covered in paper leave to dry (usually overnight - I pop mine near the radiator)
  • you can cover the doll with several layers it you want to

  • when the doll is dry, I like to give it a coat of primer - gesso (covers up the newsprint if you don't want it showing) and it makes the paint stick better
  • you are then ready to paint your doll and make her come alive.
  • You will find that your dolls love to have their picture taken....so snap away

Hope this is helpful.  Please please please send me photos of your dolls. If you have any questions just shout...
Share the Fun and Nonsense that you get up too...


14 comments:

Melody said...

What should i be doing.... Hmmmm, working? feeding something...dishes, vacuuming, pile of laundry to put away. Huh, sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me! Art supplies MUCH more fun! Love your girls, so glad they can look back at us now!!

Heather said...

oh my i love these. how did you make them. i would love to make one of my little white bunny.
they are adorable!

Netty said...

Loving your girls and their new painted faces. A girl has to play where the heart leads. Annette x

Lynn Cohen said...

Your dolls are adorable. I'd love to come play with you with them!

EVA said...

Adorable girls! I bet their personalities will show through as you paint their faces.

Lisabella Russo said...

These little dolls are adorable, I love their hair... Always so much on the "to do" list, but it is important to follow the flow of your heart some times :).

Anne Manda said...

Oh so pretty little girls, they must love their new faces! :) yes, to do- list is endless, fun and art are priorities, though! :)

stefanie stark said...

These girls are so cute! It is such a lovely and inspiring idea and I love it that you have shared the creating process. Many thanks!

PiaRom said...

Ahhh what a gorgeous crowd of funny dolls! Looooove them...There comes the time, where I have to try this out! I am sure ;) Thank you for such a wonderful walkthrough!! xox Conny

C. said...

Yay, Dolls! Love it!

AM Zafaran said...

They are so cute and adorable! And, you are giving me ideas!Thank you Catherine!

denthe said...

Your dolls are adorable! thnx for explaining how to make them!

Unknown said...

Son preciosas tanto las muñecas dibujadas como las demás. Un encanto de verdd.
Alicia

Jehanne's doodles said...

Oh this is really cool and thank you for the tut! I will now go and try it with some flowers.