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Post Info TOPIC: Add color to your Dolly's face


Master American Girl Collector

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Add color to your Dolly's face


Is your Dolly looking a bit pale these days? You can make her beautiful again with just a little work. These steps are pretty fool proof, so don't be scared to give them a try!


 I had the world's palest, most sickly looking Felicity. Wanna see?



                     BEFORE                                                      AFTER


 


  Yep, that is her. The poor dear did not have a bit of lip or cheek color. She just called out for help, sitting among my other blushing beauties.


 Felicity's makeover was done using inexpensive acrylic paint, and a lip liner pencil from my own makeup bag!


 First of all, be careful of the colors you choose. People often tend to "think pink". For the colors to look right on your doll, you might want to consider  slightly more coral or peachy colors instead.


 You will need a lip liner pencil in a warm peachy tone for cheeks (lipstick, blush or eyeshadow will also work- make sure they are not sparkly)  and some cotton balls, and for the lips, you will need some acrylic paint in the color you want the lips to be (maybe Americana Gingerbread, Plaid Azalea Blush and Plaid Cinnamon Apple), a bottle  of light flesh tone or peach paint (Such as Plaid Creamy Peach) and a bottle of Textile Medium (I like Delta Brand).Be sure to get some white paint too if your Dolly has a chipped tooth. You will also need a nice small paintbrush. Having a doll with great face coloring nearby for reference is a big help too.


 If you plan to do both cheeks and lips, it is best to start with the lips. It is easiest to work if you remove the head, but it is not necessary to remove the head if you would rather not.


 First, get out a small saucer and put a drop of lip colored paint, a drop of flesh colored paint, and several drops of textile medium. Mix the lip colored paint and the flesh tone to match the lip color on your "face model" doll as closely as possible. If you do not have a face model doll, keep in mind that AG dolls do not have DARK or BRIGHT lip coloring, just a sweet hint of natural looking color on the lips.It is very easy to go to dark, so if in doubt add more flesh to lighten up your paint. Also remember, your paint will dry a tiny bit darker than it looks when it is wet.


 Once you have the color where you want it, Mix 2 parts of your mixed paint to one part of the textile medium. The textile medium will extend your paint a bit, and when it is dry, your paint will be very sturdy and will not crack peel or scrape off easily.


 If you are afraid you wil be working slowly and your paint may dry out, wet a paper towel and squeeze it out so it is just a little damp. Cover most of your saucer of paint with the paper towel, this will keep your paint from drying out too quickly.


Keep another damp paper towel nearby in case you want to wipe off the paint and start over. 


 Using a small paintbrush, carefully line your pale doll's lips. Hopefully, you can clearly see where the lip edges should be, if not, refer to a doll with good face paint. Be careful not to paint the lips too thick. If you are not happy with your outline, simply wipe off the wet paint with a damp paper towel, and try again, and again until they look right to you. 


 If it never looks right, you can just wipe the paint away, and leave you doll unharmed.


 Once you are happy with the lip outline, paint in the lip area. It is best to only do this one time. The lips look the most original with one consistent, smooth coat of paint. If you need to add a second coat, be sure to let the first coat dry completely, first.


 You should let your dolls lips dry for several hours before you handle her again.


 If your doll has a chipped tooth, mix a little white paint with the white textile medium, and touch up the tooth.


 Once her lips are completely dry, you can move on to her cheeks.


 For her cheeks, you can use a lip liner pencil. If you do not have a lip liner pencil, you could even use lipstick, blush or a blush colored eye shadow. The most important thing is to make sure that the makeup you choose IS NOT SPARKLY. Look at the makeup you choose closely under the light, if you see ANY SPARKLES or "glitter" do not use it. It will not look natural, and the sparkles are a pain to get off, even if you remove the color.Use a nice, matte color. 


 Once you have selected the makeup you wish to use, Gently apply it to your own clean index finger .Gently blend it on to your dolls cheek, being careful of the placement. Start under the pupils, and work back over the apples of the cheeks. Once you have the "blush" in place, use a clean, dry cotton ball to scrub, scrub, scrub the cheeks. Apply more color, and scrub again. Little by little the makeup will stain the vinyl. Be careful not to get too much, you want the blush to be subtle and natural looking. Ideally, you will not even really notice the blush, but rather you will NOT notice the total lack of blush, if that makes sense.Make sure your cotton ball comes away from the cheek clean when you are totally finished, that way you know her face color will not rub off when you play with her or change her clothes.


 Don't like it? Use a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser to clean the blush off and start over, or quit and leave her as she is.


 Now, your doll will have the beautiful, colorful, happy little face she deserves. 



-- Edited by American_Mommy at 15:03, 2006-03-23

-- Edited by American_Mommy at 15:29, 2006-03-23

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~Anna


Angel of an AG Heaven

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I might have to try that!  Thanks!  I was wondering about cheek color!

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Master American Girl Collector

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I've done this before! (Not on my AG)


I did a lot of customizing on some of my Blythe dolls... cutting and styling hair, redoing eyeshadow, blush, freckles, etc..


Glad to know it works with AG as well, thanks!



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AdoreVintage.com
Hope Playroom - My AG Site


Lover of All Things AG

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Thanks for the instructions! I have a few older AG's that would love some color

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Master American Girl Collector

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WaiT Where is the "After" picture?!?!?!?! I wanna see!

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American Girl Playthings!


Master American Girl Collector

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LOL!! Well, obviously, I did not do as well as I thought, that IS the AFTER PICTURE!! I will try to get a better photo up so you can see the face color better.


 Felicity had no color what-so-ever on her lips, they were the same color as her face, and her cheeks had no color at all. I do not have a before picture... well, I don't think. Let me look.


*grumbles and mumbles about how much trouble SailAway is*


_________


 Ok, I had a photo from where I sent a group shot with Lindsey when she went to the hospital. I have added a "before picture" now.


Maybe I do need to add some more color to her cheeks? I always like the cheek color to be subtle.




 



-- Edited by American_Mommy at 15:33, 2006-03-23

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~Anna


Master American Girl Collector

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Ahhhh but you know you love me!

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American Girl Playthings!


AG Goner

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American_Mommy wrote:


LOL!! Well, obviously, I did not do as well as I thought, that IS the AFTER PICTURE!! I will try to get a better photo up so you can see the face color better.  Felicity had no color what-so-ever on her lips, they were the same color as her face, and her cheeks had no color at all. I do not have a before picture... well, I don't think. Let me look. *grumbles and mumbles about how much trouble SailAway is* _________  Ok, I had a photo from where I sent a group shot with Lindsey when she went to the hospital. I have added a "before picture" now. Maybe I do need to add some more color to her cheeks? I always like the cheek color to be subtle.  -- Edited by American_Mommy at 15:33, 2006-03-23


I think you did a great job on Felicity's face!

-- Edited by My15Dolls at 17:31, 2006-03-24

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Master American Girl Collector

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Aww, Thank you.


 I love your siggie pic- you have got to be the cutest little girl scout ever! You remind me so much of a little actress named Skye McColle Bartusiak:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566084/



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~Anna


Will Write for AG

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Thank you for the great instructions!


Felicity looks great by the way!



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