Doll with Painted on Clothes

One of my favorite things to do is make dolls. That is WHAT we do. I'm always looking for new and fun ways of doing this. I decided I wanted to make a big Fairy Doll, I can put on my front porch, so designed a 30" doll. I'm loving the larger size, easier for these 'old eyes to see what I am doing. Inspiration came because I have a drawer of Fairy Wings I have collected for a long time and have these huge wings I wanted to use.

I decided to paint on part of the dolls clothes, so took my Shimmer Paint and painted on her blouse including long sleeves. I used the teal, gold, emerald colors shimmer paints done in sort of stripes. I let the fabric dry in the sun which took no more than 10 minutes.

I used Keelings Kolors our new Skintone dye and dyed the face, head, neck and hands in a very pale dye mix. Used about two drops of the skintone base color and about two tablespoons of water. It is so easy to do your own skintone. The skintone fabric is expensive. My two drops of dye likely cost less than ten cents.

Painted some tyvek, a used envelop, with Shimmer paint, used the heat blower on it to 'shrink it into fun bumps and bubbles. Drew a shoe the shape of the doll foot, sewed the tyvek into a shoe shape, but it on, used the Heat Blower to shrink the shoe to fit the foot. Ahhhh-haaa a done deal.

My husband, Doug who is the master of our doll faces took on the head/face design. I added a big glob of fab colored SoySilk for hair and our Flower Fairy is ready for a cup of Tea while she sits in the garden.

I have painted shoes and boots on dolls before, but never a blouse. Came out very cool, then I added in some beading and a bunch of machine embroidered leaves. Think she is totally cool. I am thinking I might turn this doll into a pattern if anyone is interested let me know. It very fun and nice change to do the bigger size. We have done two full size dolls too.

Barb Keeling http://www.keelingskrafts.com/

Painting the Couch and shoes, and cardboard

This was really a fun project and not as over powering as one would think. Figuring out what to do and how to do it was the hard part.

We have lived in the same house for 18 years. It was time to fresh'n up, so I took on the painting of the living room, hall, and kitchen. Painting always makes things look so snappy. We got new drapes for the living room and everything looks great. However anything that is a little drab sitting there by the fresh painted walls and new drapes can look really terrible. Our poor "retro" denim couch was not to worn but was a fright sight because it was so faded. There was no "budget" for recover-y. So needed another plan.

I wondered if I couldn't "paint" it. I am a fiber artist and dye or paint fabric all the time. Just because this is a 8 foot faded couch, filled with padding, stuffing and four very large pillow on the back and two huge seat pillows, not to mention the miles and miles of awful looking denim covering it, should not be a problem. Sounded like it would work to me.

I am fearless when it comes to trying things. I figure the worse that can happen is that it does not work. With the idea that this COULD work, I figure I could start the paint/dye process on one of the four pillows and if it turned into a disaster I could cover the pillows with some fresh fabric and not worry about it.

Possible failure never worries me. So I let my “dye the couch” thoughts move forward and I did have a plan. Well sort-a. I mentioned to my husband I was thinking of "painting the couch". He never said a word, just gave me that "of course you will" look, knowing I WOULD try it. We've been married over 50 years so there have been more than one weird idea that has pop't into my head.

I have been working with a wonderful company that makes a Non Toxic paint that I now sell on my website. They have a fab dye that is so easy to use. I mixed my own color using their concentrated color liquid. A few drops of color and water and a spray bottle. And off I went . Tried a pillow first For the pillow the all blue seemed boring so with the wide choice of color in the dye I added all sorts of color. Mixing the Non Toxic paint/dye colors is so easy. Then sprayed the dye onto the pillows. Spraying and brushing to blend the colors.
The dye does NOT change the feel of the fabric or make it stiff. This dye is awesome.


I could see this would work so I did the whole couch with the blue.
This dye is easy to use, is Non Toxic and can be made to go on clothing and be washable too. While I had the dye out I also dyed a silk scarf, justing the spray bottle process.

Go to my website and get the basic dye set. There are four colors you can use to mix any color plus the fabric magic if you plan to dye anything you want to wash.

When you order the paint I will send you more detail how I did the couch. You may not be planning to do a couch, but the process will set you in motion on other projects.
Go to my website: www.keelingskrafts.com/catalog2 Click on the NonToxic Paint. Click on the COLORANT DYE SET.

Happy Painting. Barb Keeling barbkeeling@aol.com

Painting Sneakers

I remember wearing "keds". There were no "fancy" sneakers in 'them there days. Now sneakers are a basic shoe wear. I suppose I am like others in that you get favorites and it hard to give them up. But in due time that start to look terrible, I mean really terrible. I had two pair headed for the dump when I found this fab Non Toxic paint that goes on "anything". So figured I had nothing to lose by painting them. They came out so funky and fun and put new colorful life into the old 'kicks. This is Shimmer/Opaque paint. It is on my website. Be sure and get all the colors for it will give you great fun to paint, fabric, use on rubberstamps, leather, rubber, metal and so much more. Check out the great old rollerskate I did too. The wheels are rubber, leather uppers and there is metal under the skate which I also painted. Go to my website and order the paint. You will just love it. www.keelingskrafts.com/catalog2

Painting Shoes.

I have always loved shoes. In my youth I would romp around all day in 4" spike heels and not think a thing about it. Now as a 'Snappy Senior I have had to lower my "stand"-er-s. No matter still love fun, funky or snazzy shoes. Some shoes I have walked nearly to pieces others who wait for "special occasions" so grow old with little or no wear. They often just need an update. I have found a wonderful new Non Toxic paint that you can use on nearly everything. It is a Shimmer/opaque with dandy colors. A sort of thick-ish wee like nailpolish spreadness, that can also be thinned down with water if you want a diluted paint to paint with. Anyway here are some of the shoes I fussed with. A pair of boots I've had some 15 or more years and worn them nearly to a shred. That look totally fab. A really wonderful pair of black heels, great looking shoes but BORING, so splashed them into smashing fashion wear with a small amount of magenta paint. Way coooool looking now.

There are 12 great colors of the wonderful Shimmer/Opaque paint, www.keelingskrafts.com/catalog2 Go the the Non Toxic paint catagory. All the color are there. But get the set you will not want to miss any one of the colors. When you buy the paint remind me and I will send you some extra info on how to do the shoes.

Check out BRA DOLLs Blog too

Check out this fun blog to see each of the Bra Dolls I did for the BRA DOLLs Pattern for Cancer Awareness. After you look through these pattern dolls also check out the BraBlog.

Then check out my Bra Doll Blog where I show you some of the great bradolls that were made for the Bra Doll Challenges or people who made dolls as Cancer Prayer Dolls and Cancer Awareness. You will be amazed at the neat fun and funky dolls people made and included a bra as part of the doll. Check it out at: http://bradolls.blogspot.com/
The Bra Doll pattern is available on my website: www.keelingskrafts.com/catalog2 Part of the BraDoll pattern income goes to cancer.