Santa Doll??

I joined a Christmas Doll swap and I think I may make a Santa Doll.  I have a certain image in my head of what I want to do but, don't have a pattern for it.  Some of you may know that I'm a big fan of the doll artist Terese Cato.  What I have decided to do is use a combination of ideas from her book called Fanciful Cloth Dolls and then add some slight modifications to the body.  Most of the changes or original patterns will be in the doll clothes though.

For the hair, I found this Curly Crepe Wool Hair that I think I will use.  I hope it's enough.  I think it will be since he will have a hat on therefore less hair is needed for the head.  Also, the package notes that the hair triples in length so, I should be fine.  Before I actually connect it to the doll, I'll test it to make sure.  So, over the next few entries on my blog, please follow along as I make the doll.  I also highly recommend this book for any artist doll sewer.  I have used it quite a bit and it was well worth the price.

I prefer a strong, good quality muslin for my doll face and bodies.  Also, this is the hair I hope to use

Here is the book I keep talking about.  I just love it.  I've made a version of the cover doll in the past.  She is pictured on my Pinerest account

I made photocopies of the pattern pages and keep them in an envelope after I use them.  The next time I use the pattern, it's ready to go.  

Prima Doll Stamps

I just love the stamps by Julie Nutting and the Prima Dolls Collections.  Here is my latest tag that I did.  This one obviously is for Christmas.  The picture does not pick up the texture of the red dress but, it's a velvet paper that I've had in my "stash" for a long time.  It was just waiting for the perfect thing to use it on.  With these dolls, I stamp the doll on paper first and then color in her skin tones with Copic Markers.  I used E00 and R20 for the tones.  I colored the hair in brown Copic markers. I then cut out the paper doll without worrying to much about the dress lines.

I then stamp just the dress and shoes on the velvet paper.   I cut it out and glued lace to the bottom of the dress.  I finish it off by adding white glitter to the top of the boot, black ribbon for a belt and white glitter paper for the collar.

To decorate the tag, I bought some floral picks from JoAnnes.  I took a picture of the ones I bought.  I dismantled the snowflake and used just one flake (the pick had 3).

Finished Tag

Tag Base made with cardboard covered with scrapbook paper

Doll stamp plus some supplies I used

Here are the picks I bought

I wish the camera picked up the glitter better because it really sparkles.

Christmas Pot Holders

I made a few potholder today.  After all, they are always in need and make great presents.  The fronts have a machine embroidery design and the backs are Christmas prints.  They are fairly simple and the only time consuming part is the embroidery but, they are fun to make.

ATC cards

Look at these wonderful ATC's that came in my mail today.  It is so nice checking the mailbox and getting happy mail instead of bills and sale flyers.

 I really love trading

Polymer Clay Angel

I went back to the drawing board i.e. the doll mold and tried another doll.  This time I tried an angel doll.  I still have difficulty pulling it from the mold.  Mostly the feet and hands have issues.  I tried spraying it with water but that made the clay hard to push inside because it did not want to stick at all and then I tried brushing it with corn starch.  I have a little more luck with the corn starch but, for everyone I get out I have 2-3 fails that have to be remolded  Once I pull them out, the hands and feet still tend to get stretch or flattened but, practice only makes you better right???!!

Here is my angel attempt:

Picture of the mold

Doll right out of the mold

Doll trimmed

3

Finished doll front

Finished doll back


I think I might trim her hair some and then call her done.  I actually molded 2 others so, I might take a break and then try to dress those.  I want to come up with different dress options for her

If anyone has an ideas, I welcome that

Polymer dolls

I have done a little work with Polymer clay.  In the past, I've made little Christmas ornaments etc.  I've been wanting to learn more about it and create dolls vs simple animal figures.  I bought various doll molds but, found them challenging to use but, decided to give it another try.  This is a mold by Patricia Rose that I bought off Ebay.  I made a little Elf out of it.  I have a long way to go but, for my skill level, I was happy with the way it turned out.  Even after getting the doll out of the mold, it's challenging to figure out how to do the hair, painting the face, and designing its clothes.  These do not come with any clothes patterns and traditional ones have to be modified.  Since her arms and legs don't bend, you have to consider that when making the clothes.  I bought another packet of flesh tone clay today and will keep trying.  I think I'll try an angel next.  Here's my little elf girl.  She is about 5 inches tall.

By the way, she is still an ornament.  Hidden in her hat is an metal eye so, I can put a hook through it for hanging.

I'll take pictures of the process on the next one.  If your interested in trying your own, maybe seeing my process will help you through some of the pitfalls you might otherwise encounter.

Thread Art

I went to a couple of craft fairs this last weekend and picked up a few goodies.  There is one particular textile artist that I think is great.  I first came across her 3 years ago and bought one of her thread art kits.  Since then, I bought a few more and this year, I picked up the gift tag set.  I have not played around with the new set but, here is a picture of the thread art ornament I made last year with one of her books

You get a template that you can use over and over again, all the directions and, if you buy a kit you even get the thread and everything else you need to make one.  Three years ago, I used her Christmas tree pattern for Christmas cards.  This year, I want to incorporate the designs in her gift card line into some Artist Trading cards and, of course, gift tags.

Check out her website with the link below,  Her prices are very reasonable and this is a fun craft to do.

http://www.tfw-designs.com/

Here are a couple of the ones I bought.  The star one from above and the new one this year