Is it possible to make a barbie or doll that looks like me?
would that be a lot of money?? where would i have to go to make it??
Thanks for answering xx
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Call mattel toys and ask them how much it would be. They probably will do it but require you to produce a lot of them and pay a lot of money. Why not dress yourself up like the doll instead? That would be easier. Doh!
You would have to contact a toy company, and my best guess as far as cost goes is that it would be expensive (making a new face mold, only one doll produced, etc.).
However, there is a simpler solution that will cost whatever you put into it and will be under your control.
YOU can do it yourself!
Here are some great websites that have actually helped me create my own dolls using Barbies:
http://www.wideeyedgirls.com/rerootinstruction.html
http://www.squidoo.com/Repaint-a-doll
http://www.thebdoll.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=34:Customizing%20Barbie&id=66:suoristus-ja-permanentti&Itemid=56&lang=en
http://www.dollyhair.com/submitphotos.htm
http://collectdolls.about.com/library/weekly/aa081800e.htm
http://www.manbehindthedoll.com/A-Z.htm
I’m sure one of these mentions Acrylic paints for Barbie’s face, but I don’t know which one it is so I’ll tell you quickly what to do:
DO’S:
-Only use nail polish REMOVER to remove the paint on her face NOT her body–alcohol/acetone will melt her plastic body (use Q-tips for the face)
-Buy the smallest brush you can find for finer detailing (sometimes they’re expensive, but one brush will do, just dip it in water after each color) you can find good ones at Michael’s or Joann’s.
-Only use acrylic paints, and gloss it over (once its completely dry!) will acrylic sealer (same aisle).
-Some say that drawing lightly with pencil on the face before painting is best if you’re a beginner, but if you’re an artist, go crazy (its okay if you mess up, again use remover with Q-Tips)
-Sharpies can be used on her body ONLY (from experience), it will last a long time and it won’t rub off–great for “tattoos”. However, lightly draw on the body with a pencil to avoid ruining the doll and then trace it over with fine tip Sharpies. You can use acrylics on the body too, but I find Sharpies get the job done quite well.
-Finally, I suggest styling her hair (rerooting, boil perm, etc.) before painting her face, the paint will come off in hot water.
-For a curl boil perm: Buy pins, straws (thin ones work well) to use as curlers (like the old type of curlers), and bobby pins to hold the straw in place. You stick the pin on the straw to hold it as well. You don’t have to use clips, just stick the doll’s head in boiling water for a few minutes and then in cold water, wait 24 hours to completely dry or put her in front of a heater and turn her head every now and then to avoid melting the hair. Use a ton of hair spray to set the curls.
You can do any curly style (I did Victory Rolls on one doll and it looks cute!) but make sure that you pay attention to her hair type.
Newer dolls come with soft hair which can withstand boiling water, but older dolls come with thicker hair that sizzles even with just steam.
To avoid accidents, just test a small piece of her hair and if it sizzles, use only warm water.
DONT;S:
-Don’t use nail polish to paint a doll’s face–it will chip quickly and the part that is painted on will turn orange (never comes off, trust me, I know)
-Don’t use Sharpies on her face (as I said, only the body), it will make her face turn either orange, purple, or black.
-Don’t use spray paint to dye her hair–it will run on her face and dye it as well
-Don’t use hair dye, it will eventually come off and stain her face too.
PS:
If you plan on rerooting, WideEyedGirls gives the best tutorial (use a thick hand-sewing needle instead of the crochet needles) and DollyHair is the best place to buy doll hair any color you want. If you want curly hair for a doll you can do it yourself through a boil perm, buy straight hair, don’t buy it curly because the doll will be left looking like an unfixable mess (I say this from experience).
You can find great tutorials for painting and rerooting on youtube as well as googling images of finished works.
Good luck!
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