Hi Ya'll. Well, I've goofed again and need some help. I painted eyebrows on one of my babies (and did a really great job, if I may say so), but I apparently didn't do a good enough job of blotting before I baked, and now they are very dark. Is there anything I can do short of stripping the eyebrows off (as well as the underlying paint) and starting over? I'm sooo frustrated because this baby has otherwise turned out so well. Drat! Melinda
You can use a thinner on a toothpick and try to just remove the eyebrows. I have been poo-pooed for mentioning goof off as a medium to remove. As they say it can be harmful. There is also a brush cleaner (Winsor & Newton) Brush Cleaner and Restorer. They say will do the same thing. I bought some today. By using a toothpick, dip the end of it in the thinner and remove each eyebrow stroke. You will hopefully not disturb you underlying flesh layers. Hope this helps.
Thanks, Brenda! Where do you find the brush cleaner? I'd like to give that a try. I have goof off and use it on the furniture I build. Never thought of using it on the babies, but it might just work, too. I'm too afraid to try acetone because it almost always strips right down to the bare vinyl. Thanks for your help!
Hi Melinda, I'm trying to think of ways to solve this without having to remove paint. Have you tried using a tiny eyebrow brush to paint the foundation (flesh) color over the individual eyebrow hairs? I've tried this on eyebrows that I thought were too dark, and it lightened them. It can have the visual effect of very light, almost invisible eyebrow hairs.
If you think the flesh color looks too light, you might try mixing some flesh in with the eyebrow color.
Hope this helps!
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Linda Dreyer~ Forum Moderator Secrist Certified Newborning Teacher & Dealer Apple Valley DW Dealer Play Days Dolls & Collectibles PlayDaysDolls.com (Current Avatar: Erinfrom Secrist Dolls)
Thanks Linda! That's a great idea. I did try to remove a little of the paint with acetone (yuck), and got it to lighten up a bit without removing too much of the paint underneath. But it's still too dark, so I'm going to try your suggestion. I'll let you know how it works out. Melinda
I would love to know how it works out. I'll try just about anything because I really, really dislike removing paint.
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Linda Dreyer~ Forum Moderator Secrist Certified Newborning Teacher & Dealer Apple Valley DW Dealer Play Days Dolls & Collectibles PlayDaysDolls.com (Current Avatar: Erinfrom Secrist Dolls)
Belinda, If you are happy with the eyebrows when you paint the next pair, (do them with thin strokes) you shouldn't need to blot them and this way you will end up with a pair of lovely clean brows You could try doing them in two stages, ( I wish I could draw on here) Slightly apart for the first lot then fill in with the second go. Hope this is a help. XXXXX June.
June, thanks for the suggestion. I've got a new kit to start after I return from the IFDC in Las Vegas. I'll definitely give that a try. Boy, eyebrows can be such a pain! If they turn out badly, it can ruin an otherwise beautiful baby. Acckkk! I know, practice, practice, practice! I hope I get it someday! Melinda
IFDC sounds like fun. I'm here in Las Vegas at a convention, too, but not attending a doll-related event. (National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs at the Flamingo.)
Anyway... I bet the eyebrows on your dolls will turn out better each time you do them. For me it was a matter of practice and taking my time. When I used Genesis for my eyebrows, I would set the doll aside and wait until the next day to bake/cure the paint. It helped me to double check them after a good night's sleep. With the new eyebrow brush and the Authentic Reborn paints, painting the eyebrows seems to go much better. But... I still set the doll aside until the next day.
Hope you have a great time at IFDC!
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Linda Dreyer~ Forum Moderator Secrist Certified Newborning Teacher & Dealer Apple Valley DW Dealer Play Days Dolls & Collectibles PlayDaysDolls.com (Current Avatar: Erinfrom Secrist Dolls)
Thanks Linda. We had a great time last year (my first), and I'm looking forward to it. I'm just hoping it's a profitable convention for me this year. We're leaving this afternoon, so I'll let you know how it went when I get back! Melinda
If you think drawing the eyebrows on would work better we do have the eyebrow pencils now. You don't bake them you just draw them on and let them sit for a few days. Then you can also use the thick medium over them to give them a 3D effect. Or like June said, do them in 2 stages like I do.