Dollcraft

Finding a good articulated 12" doll is an ongoing challenge, and when it comes to male bodies, action figures can be a good solution. GI Joe is the most famous action figure, yet they are hard to find new or in the 1/6 scale size. Older GI Joes are collectable and can be unaffordable for casual collectors like me, who simply want a diverse doll world. I have recently purchased several "World Peacekeepers" dolls. They are available at Big Lots for $13 or $20. I haven't seen them anywhere else yet, and their  website  doesn't seem to sell online. I recently purchased a doll made to resemble a black or Latino man. There is also one Asian option I have been unable to find so far. Power Team Elite: World Peacekeepers Action Figure  Action Figures is just a silly name for "boy" dolls with "boy" themes: fighting, guns, police, rescue, etc. The wikipedia article on GI Joe says that they came up with the term Action Figures because "boys...

I've found a lot of amazing guides for styling hair in ways that reflect the human black community. Here are the ones I have tried so far. hanging out the the sisters Afro I used this wonderful guide from How to Play with Barbies.   It's a modified boil-curl that you pick apart with your fingers until it's fluffy. I made my dolls 'fro very large- I had intended to trim it more, but it's so big and bold, it feels wrong to tone it down! (I'll probably trim it down...) Reading for a boil curl picked out to perfection Dreadlocks Another How to Play with Barbies guide uses the doll's original hair and an iron . The guide says it takes 20 minutes- it felt much longer to me! But the results were a lot of fun- works great with doll hair that's already in bad shape. I even melted away the stump of unwanted bangs. The final result is rather stiff, but it has a unique quality I like. For a yarn re-root , check out this video by My ...

If you want to craft with your dolls, hair is a basic skill. There are two main components- trims, and boil washes.  My personal preference is for hair styles that reflect reality. Very few people have waist length (or knee-length) hair! Also, doll hair tends to be thick and overwhelming. If you buy a lot of used dolls, like I do, you may be dealing with ratty mussy hair. Here's a good way to tidy it up. No one needs this much hair. 1. Give your doll a basic trim Use good sharp scissors. Keep it longer than you want it to be for the first cut. It will probably not be a straight line for the first cut because doll hair is very thick. Take your time, and start longer than you plan to finish. You can always go shorter. Needs a second trim! You may find some surprises, like a bad rooting pattern. Tinkerbell is nearly bald in the center of her head because she always wears a high bun. Keep it in mind for your final hair cut plans. 2. Prep for Boi...