The Best Online Reborn Help Forum!

smiley · Veteran Member

First Baby

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Hi Cathy! Welcome to the forum! You'll find lots of help here. I haven't used air dry paints, only Authentic Reborn heat set paints from Secrist, so I can offer no help about the paints. I have done a couple of store bought dolls, removing the paint with acetone and then washing in soapy water. I didn't have to seal them first because of the paints I use. As far as instructional DVD's, Secrist has several really good ones. For beginners, I really like their Course #2. It contains so much information to get started! But all of the Secrist DVD's are really helpful. I still go back and refer to them. Good luck on your dolls! Once you get started in this art, you won't be able to stop! Hugs, Melinda

Tina W. · Guru

Hi Cathy,
I started out using air dry paints myself but eventually switched to GHS paints which require heating. It's a personal preference between air dry and heat set paints. Heat set is more tolerate for mistakes then the air dry paints and will not set up or dry until you heat it. So if you aren't satisfied with your layer you can wipe it off and start over without damaging your previous completed work. There are several ladies on here who use air dry paints and thier babies are beautiful and should be along shortly to offer their advice. No you do not seal her joints up before you paint her. This is one of the final steps in assembly. Secrist have a wonderful dvd for beginners to give you an idea how to reborn from beginning to end.
Hope this helps some.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Hi Cathy,
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you found us. We love helping others get started because we were all beginners at one time ourselves.

When I first began reborning, I read everything I could find on the subject and tried to talk to as many people that I thought would be knowledgeable as possible. I practically lived on eBay in the reborn doll section. And that is a place that is dangerous to the pocketbook because I ended up investing in too many different methods and materials. I ended up spending way too much and had a room full of confusion to show for it. I had parts, supplies, and lots of conflicting advice.

That is... until I found Secrist. Believe me, this is not meant to be a testimonial to the Secrist Doll Company, but I suppose in a way, it is. Secrist is renowned for providing an affordable, comprehensive, instructional method to beginning/aspiring doll artists. Secrist's educational materials include DVDs, tutorial and product catalogs, free online tutorials, printed sheets, charts, this forum, and class/small group instruction from Secrist Certified teachers. While class instruction is generally the most expensive, it provides valuable hands-on learning of the Secrist "method" and interaction with the instructor and other students. If classroom instruction is not an option, the DVDs are an excellent substitute.

Learning one method of making a newborn baby doll provides a good foundation for making your own modifications, enhancements or improvements to the process. It's like any other educational pursuit where new skills are added once the basics are mastered.

So... my best advice is to focus on learning one method of newborning / reborning and branch out from that base.

If you follow the Secrist method, you will use the paints that are cured or set by heating them to 265 degrees for 8 minutes. As Tina said in her earlier post, these paints are much easier to work with than the air dry paints because you have the opportunity to correct problems before baking.
.
Yes... I also have the air dry paints (acrylic). I prefer the heat set paints to the air dry. In the interest of full disclosure... I think the acrylic paints dry out too fast even when used with retarder, but that may be the case only because I live in a dry climate in the desert Southwest. Hopefully, someone who has used them and lives in a more temperate climate will chime in with some insight.

Finally... you asked about sealing the doll before you paint. Sealing prior to painting is completely unnecessary when you use the heat set paints--Genesis Artist Colors or Authentic Reborn from Secrist.

I would suggest the Course 2 or Course 3 DVD. In addition to the individual DVDs, etc., Secrist also has starter kits available that include everything you would need to complete a baby doll--brushes, paints, kit, etc. The Course 2 DVD includes a 17" preemie klt of your choice while Course 3 inlcudes a full-term sized kit.

Secrist also sells practice parts that are useful.

I didn't mean to be so long-winded! Again... welcome to the forum and to the art of newborning / reborning. There are wonderful forum members who love to share experiences and offer guidance.

smiley · Veteran Member

Thank you Tina, Melinda, and play days dolls it's great to have your advice. I will probably need a lot of it LOL! Hey play days I also live in the South West it is a little isolated. I will keep you all up to speed with my progress wish me luck guys and Thanks again
Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Wow... Are we neighbors? Well, maybe not that close if you are in a remote area? I'm in the Phoenix metro area.

if you live close enough, we could have some fun and get together to make a doll.

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Wow! Two others in the SW! I live in Albuquerque. Maybe sometime we could all meet somewhere! What fun that would be! Melinda

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi Guys,
Yeah maybe we could get together one day but we may have a little journey to make first tho' as I am in South West England LOL!!!
Hugs
Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

England! What are you doing there? Melinda and I are here. Just joking. But it would be fun to get together.

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi Guys have now started. Given baby interior and external purple wash but the one leg looks a little bruised could anyone advise me what to do?
Thanks
cathy

Buffington · Guru

If you are using the air-dry paints it probably is bruising which is caused by paint migration within the structure of the vinyl. To my knowledge it's not curable unless you can cover it up with some paints. And then there is the possiblility of it surfacing even after that.
That is one of the problems with air-dry paints, also the old Rit Dye bath that some of us used to use. I have had to throw more parts away because of that. Sorry I couldn't have had better news for you. I'm at a loss of what to do from that point. :(

smiley · Veteran Member

Thank you Buffy,
I have took a nother look this morning and it isnt looking quite as bad. I quickly washed off the excess yesterday so I will plod along and see how it goes, I will put it down to experience:( This is exactly why I started on a shop bought vinyl first I keep telling myself less is more as I go along but when your actually doing it, the aplication is hardly noticeable until the nexzt day. I wont let it put me off thanks again.
Hugs Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

This is a wonderful learning experience for you, and it's probably better that something did go wrong. Let us know how things turn out.

Linda

Buffington · Guru

smiley wrote:

Thank you Buffy,...

Buffy? Hmmm

smiley · Veteran Member

Sorry no offence! Thank you Pat :) I always apreciate your advice and help.
Hugs
Cathy

Buffington · Guru

Oh, none taken hun. It's just that the people who call me Buffi are at my college and I thought maybe you knew me through there. Most other people know me as Pat, and in the artist world they know me as Trish/Trisha (short for Patricia). Hmmm, maybe I'm all things to all people tee hee hahahaha (ooooo my bad, got carried away lol)
You can call me Buffi if you like (with an I not a Y, no vampires lol). I always tell people that because we had a show on television that was Buffy (with a Y) the Vampire Slayer, so of course someone I know had to call me Slayer lol. I told him I... no vampires. So it's a funny at school hehehe
Actually Buffi is the first 5 letters of my last name. My daughter goes by Buffy (with a Y), my husband by Buff. Pretty funny eh? lol
My father-in-law, my brother-in-law, and my nephew all went by Buff too, so when we were at the farm, I came in the door and said "hey Buff!" and they all turned around and said "what?". I said, "no, that Buff" and we all laughed. It was pretty funny, still is hehehe

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Pat, I love it. Do you know how hard it will be to resist calling you Buffi now? It's such a cute name. Wasn't there a Buffy on that old TV show with Brian Keith? You know... the Buffy that had a doll called Mrs. Beasely?

p-chan · Veteran Member

I use the air dry paints. I only do a blue wash in the beginning and I don't do the inside of the limbs or face. If you want you can use felt inside the limbs and face. I didn't find it necessary to do so but it is up to you on that one. I haven't tried the genesis paints yet. I am chicken. I figure I should get good at the skin tones and mottling and that kind of thing before I try to bake a baby! lol I am so not good at baking or cooking. Always end up distracted and then well.. lets not go there! lol It's not a pretty picture. I have photos of my dolls I used air dry paints on in the showcase forum. I am very new to reborning. I am a portrait artist and usually use pastels so this is a challenge. Good luck with your doll and hope this helps some.
Lori

Buffington · Guru

Play Days Dolls wrote:

...Wasn't there a Buffy on that old TV show with Brian Keith? You know... the Buffy that had a doll called Mrs. Beasely?

Yes, the show was called "Family Affair" and she was a twin. Her brothers name was Jody (Jody and Buffy--with a "y") hehehe.
I saw several Mrs. Beasley's at a doll show. And some toy manuf did a remake of her some time back. How funny, that little polka dot dress dolly with the square glasses.

Lori... if you do the inside blue wash, why don't you do it inside the limbs or face? Or are you not talking of the "Secrist" vinyl? I find that most of the doll kits out there don't need the internal wash except for the Secrist and some of the German vinyl kits. But I definately do it on all my Secrist, that's what it's made for. :)

I'm sure at some point you'll get curious about the Genesis and give them a try. It's not like baking a pie lol but you do have to set the timer :)

p-chan · Veteran Member

I don't do an inside wash to any of my dolls. I do a blue wash on the outside. I find it works well with the air dry paints. I have worked with acrylic paints before and actually used them on mat board when drawing. Never tried oils yet so I am afraid of the genisis paints. I am curious about them though and will most likely do them in the future. Back to the blue wash though... I do a blue wash around the eyes, nose and mouth and then I pounce the blue on the limbs like I do the blush tone. I do this first when I do the veining. I am very new at this and if there is a better way by all means please tell me. I am always happy to hear new and better ways of doing things.
Hugs
Lori

smiley · Veteran Member

Well I have now completed baby Joshua. he weighs 3lb 8oz and is 18.5 inches long. I will post some photographs but the ones I have taken he seems too light in them his hair looks ginger when its light brown and his lips look redder than they are for real. I am not very good at photography and cannot get his true likeness. I will keep trying. I have to say I am a little dissapointed because his face to me still looks like a doll his limbs are good (well I think they are, they look real with blue viens and tiny broken veins here and there.)

p-chan · Veteran Member

I can't wait to see the pictures!
Hugs
Lori

jburle · Senior Member

Hello everyone,

My name is Jodie and I am interested in reborning a doll. But to be honest I don't know that much about reborning. and I would love to know how. I have alot of questions but no where to get them answered. Like when you use the heat set paints and have to bake them, do you need to have access to a different stove? What I mean is can you use the same oven you bake out of to bake the doll in other words... I am a daughter of a seamsters and I myself love to sew by machine or by hand. I love to collect dolls yes I am young 23 years old. I love to dress my dolls... So if anyone can help me I would appericiate it alot. I am amazed the time and effort you ladies put into these beautiful dolls.

Jodie from New York

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Welcome to our forum, Jodie from NY!

If you love dolls, you will most likely fall in love with the art of reborning Actually it is "newborning" if you start with a kit rather than dismantling a doll and stripping the paint off.

About the Genesis paints... The Genesis paints will be permanent only after heating them to 265 degrees for approximately 8 minutes if you bake them in an oven as opposed to using a heat gun. I would not recommend the heat gun for a beginner.

I use my regular oven to bake the painted vinyl. You will find people who have a special oven for this purpose. This is mostly because they think it could be harmful to bake vinyl parts in the oven that is used to bake food.

I use my kitchen oven--yes, the same one that I cook in. Secrist claims their vinyl is non-toxic so I thought baking it in the oven was perfectly safe.

When I bake the vinyl parts, I lay them on a towel that lines my cookie sheet. You don't want the vinyl to directly touch the metal so the towl is for fafe

I had asked my husband about purchasing a separate oven after reading a post where someone expressed concern over potential dangers of baking vinyl in the oven. He read the article also, and felt the issue was exaggerated.

Whatever you decide to do, you will need an oven thermometer in case your oven's thermostat is inaccurate.

Perhaps a good way to start is to purchase a smaller kit and instructional DVD from Secrist.

Again... welcome Jodie from New York

Buffington · Guru

Hi Jodie! Glad to have you in our forum :)

It can be a bit intimidating to begin a new thing but we're all here to help you. As Linda suggested, try purchasing one of our started sets that comes with what you need. You can see them on the site www.secristdolls.com and we have several. I would start with a preemie (not a 6" mini) for your first one. We have pre-mixed paint sets and also brush sets. You can see what is in the starter kits if you click on them, it'll open another page for you to look see.

Secrist says their kits made in the USA are non-toxic and using the Genesis paints is really a snap once you get used to the techniques used with them. They are very forgiving which is great for newbies.

We do not "teach" you how to make a baby from scratch, we are only here to help you if you have questions after you watch your dvds. But then we are helpful indeed!
Take a stroll in the website and see what you can find. We can advise you on your selections and we have many talented artists here.

I love that you and your mother sew, I also sew and love making clothing for my babies.

Please read the rules of the forum and also on posting pics where.

Again, welcome and hope we see more of you here.

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi Jody,
Its nice to have another new mwmber that I can relate to. The guys on here are terrific and will answer any questions you have, if they can. I have found a lot of info on the net and with some free tutorials. I have read a lot about reborn / newborn and have just completed my very first baby. I think he's gorgeous!! He is made from a 50p vinyl doll from the car boot sales here in the UK. I will be posting photo's shortly so keep an eye out for them. I do have a kit to start Paige by Tash Endenholm but wanted to practice on a couple first. I have another cheapy vinyl to do next and am really enjoying it. I love babies and dolls and I love sewing too. Good Luck!! If you need any help just ask this place is a lifeline to me.
Hugs n snuggles
Cathy

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Hi Jodie! I'm fairly new to reborning, and the way I started was purchasing the Secrist Course #2 Kit. I was very happy that I did. The DVD was so helpful, and even my first baby turned out pretty good! All the Secrist DVD's are wonderful! You can actually see what you are supposed to do, and show you all the steps to take. I have done 5 babies so far, and each one gets better! IMO, Secrist is the best place to start! Hugs, Melinda

jburle · Senior Member

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE biggrin

!!

I am excited to start one hopefully soon. I will definitely come back for advice and questions as well. You all were every helpful. I just got an email that a store near me was going to have the starter kits there.. So I am excited because it's the same one that secristdolls.com has.... Talk later

always willing to learn different things...

Buffington · Guru

You're very welcome hun. We hope to see many of your babies in our artists showcase! :)

jburle · Senior Member

biggrin Yes you guys will seen one soon.. I just priced out and found a kit that I am going to get next week or so. Well talk to you guys soon.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Lori, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your alternative to the interior purple wash. I use a similar technique on kits that are not Secrist or translucent. I think quite a few people are intimidated by the strength of the blue and are afraid to use it on the outside of the doll.

jburle · Senior Member

I just bought my 17" preemie baby kit and will be starting it soon probably weds. or thurs...

p-chan · Veteran Member

Your very welcome Linda! I just make it a very watery wash. I was terrified the first time! lol But my second kit is the Paddy kit from yours truly and I love the ease of painting it. The slight texture helps the Peach and Pink kits I find are hard for a beginner... well at least it is for me! lol Then you have to get into mint washes and so on and it gets kinda confusing! lol
Hugs
Lori

Buffington · Guru

I was glad when Secrist started the microfine surface texture on their kits. Like you said it really helps the beginner (as well as us seasoned artists) because it holds the paints better than the pink, etc.
I too like the fact that you don't have to mess with color correction. Although its become minimal for me it still is a pain. :o Can't wait to see your Paddy, that one was sculpted by Danielle Zweers.

sara zata · Guru

Welcome Cathy and Jodie, to the best informative forum. There are a lot of ladies on here that have started off just like you and me, we have helped each other along the way, at first I used heat set ink and then graduated to GHSP. Such a difference, most buyers prefere GHSP Babies. As Pat (Buffi) can vouch, I was so scared to start with Genesis, now I am hocked, they are so much more life like when you use them. I used to be on here a lot but am so busy, can only jump on and off now and then. Hope to be able to be on here more soon. XXXXXXX June

p-chan · Veteran Member

My paddy is nearly finished. I am awaiting a body and some mohair to finish him and then I will put the matte on the head and post pictures. I need to sell this one so if anyone is interested let me know. I plan to use a darker mohair for him. Ialso play to root his lashes. At least I think it will be a boy! lol Hopefully I will have pictures this week.
Hugs
Lori

sara zata · Guru

Lori, Your avator baby is lovely, so I am sure your Paddy will be also. XXXXXX June.

Buffington · Guru

Can't wait to see Paddy in the artist showcase (or links here) :)

p-chan · Veteran Member

Thank you both. I am waiiting on pins and needles for my supplies to arrive. I will post pictures in the artist showcase and I will post some links here as well for you. I really like how he is turning out. Now I just hope his hair goes well! lol
hugs
Lori

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi Guys
Here he is my completed baby Joshua, I am open to constructive feedback and will not take offence I am only a beginner and he is from a bought vinyl doll. Let me know what you think please.

Hugs
Cathy

(Your pictures have been removed per the terms of the forum. You may only post links in all topics except "artists showcase" where you may post actual pictures. Please read the section on "posting pictures". Thank you for your cooperation, Pat B. Senior Moderator).

-- Edited by Buffington on Sunday 20th of September 2009 08:59:35 PM

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Hi Cathy... I think your baby is really cute. The photos look dark like the baby was in the shade on my computer. From what I can see, you've done a wonderful job. Since you said you started with a doll, I was wondering about the hair... Is the hair painted on? If so, did you paint it yourself or did it come that way?

smiley · Veteran Member

Im sorry if the photo's appear dark, they are ok on my computer. I hand painted the hair my self he has a tummy plate rooted eye lashes veins, cappillaries and milk spots he has also scratched his face and his arm with his nails which I have given him including half moons. He is done with air dry paints and is completely sealed. I am pleased with him as he's my first one and have enjoyed every minute of creating him.
Hugs and Snuggles;
Cathy

smiley · Veteran Member

P.S I have since seen that you can buy baby real eyes which is what I'm going to use on my next baby!
HUgs
Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Cathy, I am amazed at the hair. Great job!

smiley · Veteran Member

Thank you so much I wasnt too sure if id over done it. cant wait to start on my baby Paige kit.
Cathy

Buffington · Guru

Yes, we have lots of sizes of "Real Eyes" brand doll eyes on the Secrist site. Mr Secrist is the one who actually designed the eyes and they are made right in the doll factory in Michigan. I have been using those eyes for over 20 years now. I even used them in my porcelain dolls when I made them. I know you'll just love them in your new babies.

smiley · Veteran Member

Thank you for the info I will visit the site and order some I think the eyes make all the difference to be honest
Hugs
cathy

Buffington · Guru

You are absulutely right on the eyes making all the difference! Even a regular play doll seems to be more lifelike with the right eyes! I have used many brands and kinds and found to this day that I will only use the Secrist Real Eyes, or hand blown glass German eyes in my babies. Although I have found some nice Masterpiece eyes in the soft silicone that do work really well but I'm extremely particular on them.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I use those eyes also.

jburle · Senior Member

I got all my materials that I needed.... I have couple questions...

1. The internal purple wash I use on the inside of the baby head?
I did watch the movie but I am still unclear. I know I must seem really stupid but Iam just a little confused.
My second question is: do I have to use the special paint brushes that came with the kit? or can I use the paint brushes you would find in an artist paint aisle like in Joanns or Hobby lobby?

3. after each layer you have to bake the head and limbs?

4. Last question!! I use flesh 08 for my base coat but then I ca use other flesh coats over? and if I use the flesh 08 then if I want a skin color like An American Indian then I would use one of the tan skin tone paints?

Thank you for your patiences.... I am starting her this week hopefully by friday which is tomorrow.... It's a girl, she is for my mom for her birthday.... can't wait to see how she turns out and I will share my photos when she is done......

Jodie