Acclaimed dollmaker Susanna Oroyan shares some of her secrets, beginning with several simple and quick methods for fashioning doll faces. To create a doll's head, she covers a StyrofoamB. ball with flesh-colored felt. The facial features are then painted on with acrylics. Polymer Masks Materials:
Polymer clay such as SculpeyB. or FimoB.
Sculpting tools such as a metal fingernail file, dental tools, etc.
Acrylic craft paints
Optional: glass beads for eyes
Glass jar
- On a rounded, smooth surface such as a jar or can, apply air-drying or oven-curing clay (figure A).
- Model a simple mask form. Smooth, blend and trim to desired facial form. Use the handle of a pen to indent the clay for the eyes (figure B).
- Push small balls of clay into the eye indentations. The colored clay used here is for ease in showing the different pieces. It isn't what you would necessarily use when making a face (figure C).
- Flatten small balls of clay above and below each eye for more contouring (figure D).
- Add a clay ball to the face in the nose area.
- Add three small balls for the mouth.
- Use a nail file to sculpt the face, blending the clay pieces together smoothly (figure E).
- Cure polymer clay in a home oven at 270 degrees for 12 minutes.
- When cured, paint as desired with acrylic craft paints.
- If desired, glass eyes may be set in uncured clay.
Felt Masks Materials:
Styrofoam ball approximately 2" in diameter
10" felt craft square in desired flesh color
Craft glue
Rubber band
Acrylic craft paints colors for eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, etc.
Dish of water
Needle and thread
Stuffed cloth doll body
- Hold the Styrofoam ball (or egg) in both hands, and press to make eye depressions. If you want to be fussy, check to make sure the eye indents are equally deep (they should just flatten the surface) (figure F).
- Press to form the mouth and cheek area.
- Press above the eye area in the center of the ball to form the forehead.
- Press to form the nose.
- Press to narrow the head at the temples.
- Cut a 6" square of felt and moisten with water. If desired, add a little fabric stiffener to the water. Squeeze out excess water.
- Cover the front (the face) of the Styrofoam ball with a light coating of craft glue.
- Lay the felt over the face, pressing it into the depressions. Pins may be used to hold the fabric down.
- Place a rubber band around the head (over the ears) to secure the felt. Work out wrinkles in the felt by pressing and pulling the fabric with your fingers (figure G).
- Let the fabric dry, remove the rubber band, clip away excess fabric, and repeat the process to cover the back of the head. With a needle and thread, stitch the back and front fabric pieces together (figure H).
- Paint the face as desired.
- Punch a hole in the bottom of the head, place the head over the neck of a stuffed cloth body, and stitch to secure.
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