HOW TO CLOSE UP TOOTHY SMILES - Michelle James Style

These are the instructions that go with these photos: http://www.jasmardolls.com/closedmouth.html

SUPPLIES

· Liquitex light modeling paste

· 1 straight pin

· Aleene’s Tacky glue or regular white glue

· 1 sheet of paper towel or old (clean) rag

1. Remove the paint from the lips with whatever paint remover you normally use.

2. Using the straight pin, dip it into the modeling paste to pick up a nice little chunk.

3. Apply the paste in between the lips on the right side, and drag to the middle, then stop.

4. Repeat on the other side, again, stopping in the middle. You should now have modeling paste completely filled in between the lips with some extending out past the lips.

5. Remove the excess paste extending out past the lips by taking your finger, and starting at the outside edge of the mouth, drag your finger firmly along the front of the lips and stop at the center. (DO NOT drag your finger all the way across the front of the lips, as this will most likely end up with your finger smearing the paste on the doll’s cheek)

6. Wipe off the excess paste from your fingers onto the paper towel, rag, etc.

7. Repeat this process on the other side of the doll’s mouth, again, stopping in the center.

8. Wipe off the excess paste onto the paper towel.

9. Now, repeat this same process again, using your finger to wipe from outside to center, outside to center, left to right, right to left, always stopping in the center each time. Make sure each time you swipe your finger, if ANY paste comes off on your finger, wipe it off, before swiping again.

10. After the VERY FIRST swipes, the majority of the paste should have already come off on your finger, so you probably only need 2 more, but swipe with your finger until no more paste comes off on your finger.

11. You’ll now notice that if you turn the doll sideways to see her silhouette, and turn a REAL closed mouth doll sideways, the doll will have now have a slight indent, representing where the two lips meet.

12. Look at the corners of the mouth and the lip where the paste and lip meet. If there is any excess paste that your finger didn’t catch that would make the lip look uneven once painted, wipe the paste off your straight pin (or just grab a new one like I do) and use the tip to wipe away the tiny bit of excess. You can also use the pin to "drag" a tiny bit of paste into the corners of the mouth for a totally even look if the paste did not fully extend into the corners.

13. Continue painting the face…after about 5 minutes or so of painting, (usually after I paint both eyes and the eyebrows) go back to the lips and paint a thin layer of glue over the portion of the lips that has the paste and the area of the bottom lip that you want to paint. Try to keep the glue line at the underside of the top lip, so you don’t get a "glue line" under your paint. This is also the reason for painting the bottom lip.

14. At this point, I usually go back and do the eyeshadow, and more finishing touches to the eyes, maybe some blush. By the time you’re done finishing the rest of the face, the glue will be dried, and ready for painting. You’ll know it’s dry when it’s no longer white. If you’re just not sure it’s dry, wait an extra 10 minutes.

15. Paint over the lips as usual

16. NOTE…ANY BOIL PERMING OR HEAT/STEAM STYLING should be done BEFORE the closed mouth, as the heat will sort of curdle and loosen the glue.

17. ALSO, if you make any major painting mistakes, and have to actually remove all the paint, this will probably result in you having to remove the layer of glue, also. The paste should be permanent, though…I’ve only had to do this on one doll, and the paste did not have to be reapplied, only the glue.

18. ENJOY YOUR DOLL’S NEW LOOK!

No modeling paste needed here - Compliments of Tess B. and the Custom Dolls' Ezine

There are a few dolls you can just remove the teeth and glue the mouths shut without modeling paste. Both Christies, Teresa and Teen Skipper molds. I use super glue gel. The gel works much better than liquid. Don't try it with Superstar Barbie and Ken. Done that. Uggg! If you do try it with Superstar just don't press the lips too tightly together.

This doll is so pretty. - http://www.geocities.com/customdollarchive/Fall2000/mouths.html