Reborning Supplies

Reborning Supplies
- your shopping list.

Reborning supplies are the first thing you'll need if you're looking to reborn a doll.

When you first get started finding the art supplies you need can be a little tricky as the art of reborning is still relatively new, and most arts and crafts supply stores don't carry exactly what we need.

Whether you are choosing to 'reborn' a doll - taking apart an existing vinyl play doll, stripping the factory paint, removing the eyes and re-creating the doll entirely -

OR

'newborning' a doll - purchasing a blank doll kit that only consists of a head and limbs and is completely untouched - a blank canvas if you will-

You are going to need reborning supplies! Of course, every established reborn artist has their own preferences for their tools of the trade, but most will agree this is your basic list to get started.

Shop for Reborn Supplies Here

Reborning supplies shopping list to begin.

( you can read more about choosing a kit or doll here)

Genesis heat set paints - a basic paint palette to begin with, you can add to it with time - genesis paints last forever as they are so highly pigmented.

To get started I would recommend

- flesh 08

- flesh 07

- pyrole red 02

- pyrole red 05

- dioxazine purple 04

- burnt umber

- phthalo blue 02

- phthalo green 06

- yellow ochre

- paint stripper(reborn doll) or rubbing alcohol

-cosmetic foam sponges

- cotton balls and q-tips

-artist quality paint brushes

- ceramic paint palette ( not plastic as it reacts with the Genesis paints.)

- odorless paint thinner or Genesis thinning medium ( your preference - the painting method is slightly different depending on what you use. I use the Genesis as it is non-toxic.)

- eyelashes and eyes if your doll is open-eyed

- a cloth or doe-suede body

- zip ties

- strong earth magnets if you want to make magnetic pacifiers or hair bows.

- heat gun and/or oven and oven thermometer

- 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of mohair or alpaca hair

- rooting needles - at least 10 as you'll probably be breaking quite a few in the beginning. These are sold by gauge - 38g, 40g, 42g and 43g - the higher the gauge the tinier the needle.

- rice sock ( literally - a sock filled with rice and sewn or tied shut to fit inside the head to warm it.

- stuffing and weighting materials - polyfill, fine glass beads and polypellets. Don't use sand or kittylitter or anything organic inside your doll. Think quality and safety.

- glue Aleen's tacky glue, EZ6000, GemTac

Wondering what all this will cost?

I don't go into using wigs as the goal of reborning is to create true realism in a doll, and the wigs while usable, in my opinion do not help the doll look real.

I also don't promote other painting mediums as to date, to the best of my knowledge, other paints have proven to fade over time.

Watch Reborn Tutorials Online

Reborn supplies - odds and ends

A photo tent for taking pictures and diffusing harsh light.

A good digital camera if you are planning to sell on ebay is a must.

Baby hair cutting scissors, a razor comb, baby brush, paint brush cleaner, matte varnish for shiny spots.

Sea sponges for variety in skin tone.

A great reborn magazine.

And that's it! As you progress as a reborn doll artist you will choose your favorite reborning supplies as you go along. Don't be afraid to try, to experiment and to use your own creativity. Use the tutorials on this site as a starting point only, a guide to get you on your way.

Happy reborning!

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