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Painting a Dollfie Dream body tutorial (UPDATED)

Mar 26, 2005

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    1. I have updated this tutorial with imformation on paint ammounts to cover a DD body, spraycan tips, and if V color works on the resin head (yes, it works fantastic on resin, and didn't show any staining after stripping.)


      I've been getting quite a few inquiries on the subject since I created Yooskie, so I decided a basic tutorial should be created. I will try and add more info as time goes by, it's very hard to take photos when you are messing with scary paint!
      [​IMG]

      This tutorial is only for experienced airbrush people,so if you want to do this and you have never airbrushed before. YOU NEED TO PRACTICE FIRST with less harmful paints!



      DD bodies are great for those spare heads and the right price for when you want to go maybe "a little crazy" right? Seems the DD body is the best choice for this project.
      "What paint is right?' You ask.

      :grin: A note about V color-

      V-color is a very strong paint produced by Irisawa in Japan. It is mostly used to paint vinyl retro monster toys and models from companies such as M-1, Bare Model, and others.
      Acrylics and enamels don't work well on vinyl or rubber. These materials tend to stay oily and moist, making it impossible for Enamels and Acrylics to fully dry properly on the surface. They tend to remain tacky and sticky forever.
      V color actually fuses into the vinyl becoming part of it. I don't know the ingredients of V color,but it is intensly toxic and just a small ammount of time exposed to it can make you sick! I've learned my lessons, believe me!
      Able to fuse with Vinyl? :?
      Must be dangerous! *_*
      So use it at your own risk please! :o

      It's available in small 23 ml bottles and spraycans. There is flat, or matte colors available. There is also a "Flat-base" that can be mixed with regular gloss to turn it matte.
      Spray cans, or "Rattle cans" tend to run out quickly. I use an airbrush so I think you are allowed more control. If you plan to apply V color with an airbrush, you wil need the thinner as well.
      If V color isn't thinned at least 1 to 1 ratio, it comes out of the airbrush like spiderwebs before it even hits your project!
      There are other products available in the states claiming "works on plastic" ect, these don't work properly on vinyl, so don't waste your money. V color is the only thing I have found that works!

      AMMOUNTS USED TO COMPLETELY COAT A DD BODY AND RESIN HEAD:

      Bottle: you will need 2 23ml bottles and one 400 ml can of thinner for thinning and cleanup.
      Spraycan: You will need at least 3 cans for one complete DD body.

      What I use-
      [​IMG]
      I LOVE and respect my airbrush!
      This is my Iwata HP-C double action airbrush. You will also need 32psi of clean, de-moistured air.
      Airbrushes are a whole tutorial on their own. Maybe I will put one together?

      [​IMG]
      Protective clothing. Definitely an Organic rated respirator. Do it outside! It's nasty!
      Rubber glove too! (Not shown!) And goggles, it can burn your eyes!

      Paper, wax-free type mixing cups and coffee stir sticks. I mix the paint and thinner 1 to 1 ratio, it needs to really be thin to flow right! I can stretch on bottle of paint to color one whole doll. I will reccomend two bottles "just in case", plus for future touch ups if needed! Red seems to go a longer way, white ,you will need more! I have ommited the head from this tutorial because I use regular Tamiya acrylic paint to match it later.
      V-color works excellent on resin as well!

      And this..............
      [​IMG]
      Essential styrofoam block with chopsticks! Even if you just intend to MSC your parts, it's a perfect way to keep them clean and let them dry!
      I also advise to wash all your DD (Or any other doll for that matter!) parts in HOT soapy water to remove any mold release or dirt or dust! It can throw a real foul to your paintjob!

      So I've painted all the parts, mostly all the surfaces that will show. I don't see a need for painting areas that aren't seen!
      I spray the paint from my brush about 8-10 inches away keeping the airbrush constanly moving. I don't want the paint to pile up! Same for spraycan! KEEP IT MOVING!

      While painting with the spraycan, if the paint "sags" or appears to be "separating". don't PANIC. Simply allow the part to dry completely overnight then re-coat the area. It's best if the part is painted layer by layer until desired coat is acheived. Thick areas of paint really "flatten out" during drying.
      [​IMG]

      V color dries instantly. But I do reccomend letting it dry overnight before heating and assembling the doll.
      And there you go! Solid dried paint that won't scratch off at the joints!
      [​IMG]

      The most important advice I have truly given!

      BE SAFE
      [​IMG]
       
      #1 Paulkaiju, Mar 26, 2005
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    2. Paul, this is fabulous. :)

      I've long admired your work, and I must say, thank you for sharing and posting all of your tips here! <3
       
      #2 honeyedbiscuit, Mar 27, 2005
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    3. Yay, thanks, Paul, this is awesome! <3 I'm so picking some of this up when I'm in Japan in august. ^^

      A question - have you used the spray-can variety? Do you find it needs diluting, or does it go on as nicely as your acrylic?

      Yes. Having tried two of them (ahah, free product! -_-; ) I can throughly say, they DON'T WORK. Not even on resin. -_-;
       
      #3 zoi_no_miko, Mar 27, 2005
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    4. I can say I have used the silver from the spraycan on a vinyl Ultraman head.
      I don't like the way it "splatters" out. It's pre-thinned so there's really no way to dilute it more and once the air runs out,you go AWWWWWWWWW! :wink:
       
      #4 Paulkaiju, Mar 27, 2005
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    5. ...wow paul...

      i gotta sya that lost shot of you wiht the gask is the best XD. totaly in mad scientist mode, eh? hehehehehe!

      wow though, that is a big mask. o.o
       
      #5 alicatylon, Mar 27, 2005
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    6. :D woo-hoo!

      Now I reeeeally want to get a DD body and do this! (Especially since my new airbrush just got in and we're starting to be friends!)

      Thanks for all the tips- this rocks Paul!!
       
      #6 Annarchy, Mar 29, 2005
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    7. Paulkaiju, you are obviously very shmartastic -- is there anything with the same properties as this V color that would work on resin? Would V color work? I see that Yooskie's head is the same color of red, so I'm assuming you V colored her head as well. Please correct me if I'm wrong. ^^; I long for a black/african doll.
       
      #7 Mandiiv, Mar 30, 2005
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    8. V color will work on resin too.I just use Tamiya acrylic to conserve the V color because it's harder to get!
      You could mix a nice cocoa brown with V color(Maybe flesh + brown?) for a very nice skin tone with soul! :daisy
       
      #8 Paulkaiju, Mar 31, 2005
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    9. *_* Thank you so much. It'll be along time before I can actually do this... but relatives are giving me airbrushing lessons during the summer, and it's awesome that I have a goal to work towards *.* :: bows to you :: Thank you very much.
       
      #9 Mandiiv, Mar 31, 2005
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    10. Wow, that is really cool. Maybe someday I shall get really really ambitious and try it out. (Test and learn on a Barbie first, then do a DD body? Hm.)
       
      #10 cloudtrader, Apr 5, 2005
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    11. Kinda a long time to resurrect this post, but what about painting a NON-DD body? A male? You seemed so specific with DD it made me worry...
       
      #11 bubonicapple, Apr 6, 2005
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    12. As you can see here, the Vcolor can be used on resin, so, any body I guess =P If its vinyl or resin
       
      #12 Mandiiv, Apr 6, 2005
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    13. Painting a resin body is sort of "iffy" because the paint will scrape off at the joints with ANY paint,and I doubt anyone wants that.After alot of posing it just won't look good.
      V color fuses to the vinyl and has the same elasticity AS the vinyl so it holds on at the joints. It's a completely different reaction.
      I did mean this tutorial to be ONLY for the DD body and V color.
      Resin.....at your own risk. :cow
       
      #13 Paulkaiju, Apr 6, 2005
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    14. I really want to do this! Ehere can one buy this V-Color?
       
      #14 Niku-Sama, Apr 22, 2005
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    15. Hello!

      You can buy the paint (for airbrushes) here : http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/
      Select tools & paint from the top right menu & scroll down to paints. "Irisawa Color For Soft Vinyl" is V-Colour. They have spray & bottles, but only bottles in stock right now.

      Another source for spray cans is here : http://www.hlj.com
      Scroll down to the "browse by company" drop-down menu on the left & choose "Irisawa". Then select "paint" (the only returned option). It should take you right to the V Color Spray.

      Hope this helps!
      Anna
       
      #15 Elle, Apr 23, 2005
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    16. hey
      i found this VERY informative. i was curious as to if Vcolor or w/e makes a tanish color? cuz i realy want a DD+AESorDES head and i was thinking about tanning and this seems so much simpler than to have to dye it or w/e like i saw in a previous thing and dying i'm not even sure if that would even work on the DD body. so if you or anyone else has any suggestions i'm open. *^^* thanx!!

      ~Justin~
       
      #16 jsm031087, Jun 19, 2005
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    17. ...this makes me realize I've put off getting a new compressor for my airbrush quite long enough. lol I really ought to make that a priority...maybe I should get a new airbrush soon too. I managed to totally blow by this post when it was first made...or something, since I've never seen it. Awesome tutorial. Though now I really want to airbrush...and I can't. Boooooooooooo!

      Slightly OT question, sorry, but does anyone know of a good place to get UV sensitive airbrush paints? The kind that show up clear in normal light and are really vibrant under black light? I have an evil scheme for some raver doll clothing. lol Who needs glowsticks anyway when your clothes can do the glowing?! lol
       
      #17 Sakhmet, Jun 20, 2005
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    18. Hi!
      What you could do is get V color flesh, and brown and mix the color you want.Maybe 2 bottles of flesh and one bottle brown ought to do the trick!
       
      #18 Paulkaiju, Jun 20, 2005
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    19. I'd be curious to know if anyone tried this Vcolor on Resin.
       
      #19 GanyBlack, Jun 22, 2005
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    20. Yes, it works fine on resin too, but it doesn't fuse with it as well as vinyl.
      So I would say heads, it's good for.I've used it.
      Resin bodies, it will work, but still scratch off at the joints.
       
      #20 Paulkaiju, Jun 23, 2005
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    21. So then the best way to completely change the color would be dying?

      But the V-color is so spiff...
       
      #21 GanyBlack, Jun 23, 2005
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    22. Does Resin Dye?

      What is the BEST way to change the entire body/head color of a resin doll?
       
      #22 Wee_Little_Faerie, Aug 13, 2005
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    23. That is such a good tut Paul, thanks for sharing :D
       
      #23 chemical_x, Oct 1, 2005
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    24. Would this work on an Obitsu too, or are they a different kind of vinyl from a DD?
       
      #24 Ladyrixx, Dec 14, 2005
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    25. I'm not sure,I've never touched an Obitsu. I think parts of them are harder plastic aren't they? I know it would work on the breast part. It's a rubbery vinyl. I would like to know too!
       
      #25 Paulkaiju, Dec 15, 2005
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    26. I wonder if you sueded the joints and went all out with your doll would it help with the scratching...I would think seuding might help a bit more since it pads the joints a bit and stops the resin from rubbing itself so much.
       
      #26 Bailey, Dec 15, 2005
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    27. Does anyone know if there's another store to buy this stuff? That site seems to say everything's sold out, and I'm wondering if they no longer sell the product.

      Also ressurecting this thread cause it's very helpful. :)
       
      #27 BlindEnvy, Dec 24, 2005
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    28. If you use it on Resin Dolls will it have a Matte fnish like the doll does or will you have to coat it?
       
      #28 Nuku, Dec 28, 2005
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    29. I went to the site and saw all the colors of this paint that they have listed. Pretty impressive :)

      It doesn't show the actual colors however. How do I know if it is the right shade for what I am going for?

      I guess I would just have to order a few different ones and take my chances right? Or is there some way to see samples?

      Thanks,
      ~Sarah B. Seiter~
       
      #29 MisticUnicorn, Feb 27, 2006
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    30. i just wanted to say thanks for posting such an awsome tutorial!! i wasnt sure what to do about my newly airbrushed doll :( the paint started scraping off ( i used acrylics ) , but now i'm DEFINATELY going to try the vinyl paints!! i dont know why i didnt think about it before i started *doh*

      so now i just gotta wash off all the acrylics *sigh* (SO MUCH WORK) and spray the v-color on....orrr....do you think it'd be okay if i just airbrushed ontop of the acrylics? or....would that prevent it from bonding to the viny ?


      *sigh*
       
      #30 inulg, Mar 5, 2006
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    31. You will need to mix your color.The colors are all fairly basic.

      Yep, you need to strip it all off!
       
      #31 Paulkaiju, Mar 5, 2006
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    32. i was just wondering....i was thinking about getting a resin doll, an i wanted to know how your joints are holding up after alll this time has passed w/ the v-color on them. I'm thinking about painting it also.
       
      #32 inulg, Mar 25, 2006
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    33. I'm piking up from this that you;d have to mix all your colours from scratch, yes?

      If I wanted a nice tanned brown colour, I guess the best stuff to buy would be flesh and light brown... any ideas on how much I would need, if I was going to run it through an airbrush?
       
      #33 Guide, May 12, 2006
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    34. I'd love to try blushing a DD body this way. I've NEVER airbrushed though. Any recommendations as to classes being beneficial? Or will tutorials and research do best?
       
      #34 roxyk630, May 18, 2006
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    35. Sounds and looks fascinating. In the last pic of you with the mask--is that what we should wear for the Mr. Super Clear as well? Where do we buy those? Home Depot?

      Love Red Devil girl. A green witch would be cool too!
       
      #35 LisaMarie, May 19, 2006
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    36. I wouldn't reccomend painting a resin doll. To dye it seems a better option.
      V color only works well on oily plastics and vinyl.

      Yup, make sure it's "Organically rated".

      Tutorials and reaserch, trial and error. Using an airbrush is easy, but easier with practice and experience. Classes are good, if they are offered in your area!


      Yes, or you could mix brown with some clear and just tone the flesh a bit darker. You might want to add a bit of V color flattening agent to cut out the glossiness. Or a flat clear coat when it's all done.

      For a whole body, I reccomend at least 2-3 bottles,(Or 2 bottles flesh and one brown plus one bottle flattening agent) and alot of thinner!
       
      #36 Paulkaiju, Jun 30, 2006
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    37. After all this time and alot of posing, still no wear!
       
      #37 Paulkaiju, Jun 30, 2006
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    38. Hi SeaMonkeyPirateGuide,
      How do you like your tanned Lishe?

      Is she one of the tanned dolls that start to appear greenish, do you know?
      (she's resin, correct?)

      I dyed my Soah, but, since I didn't know the parts would still keep getting darker -even out of the dye bath- her upper torso stained darker than the rest. I had to re-dunk everything to try & match them to it So now she's a bit darker than I wanted.... but I'm happy with it, I guess.

      I'm extremely proud of myself for gathering up the courage (sober, too! ha) and doing it myself - I just wish I would have known about the dye still getting darker :o I would have stopped before I got each piece the color I wanted.

      I say just go for it. Have fun - think of it as a rewarding (and damned expensive) learning process. ;) LOL

      Hugs,
      Nanette
      <><


       
      #38 SammysGrammy, Oct 3, 2006
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    39. one of my [many] future doll projects is to make a night elf with the dd body, but i cant afford to get all the airbrusign equipment for jsutone doll (isnt arbrushing stuff really expensive????) but does anyone else have experience with it and would be willing to do it for me? i would pay of course, for the color and the labor >.< i just cant do it myself
       
      #39 Chuuie, Oct 8, 2006
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    40. Righto. I was all set to get some dyeing done, but maybe now I'll track down V-color, thanks!

      Lucy
       
      #40 lucybond, Jan 8, 2007
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    41. lol :lol: I thought you said that NE sucks :) Anyway, a Nightelf is on my future project list as well. I was going to make her before the end of the year, but weather turned bad and the painting is best done outside, so I have to wait a bit until last spring probably :|

      I am addicted to Dollfie Dream :love Have two already and am making payments for my third *whishes they came in different colors to begin with* *grins*

      ~Sarah~





       
      #41 MisticUnicorn, Jan 8, 2007
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    42. I've looked everywhere that has been suggested, and i'm not finding anything called V-color. I've typed it as "V-color", "V-Colour", V color, V colour, Vcolor, and Vcolour. NOTHING. what the hell am i doing wrong? LOL

      is there a compny name or something? or is V-color it? I've also just looked for the spray paints, without typing v-color, and i'm not finding ANYTHING that even remotely sounds like the same thing.
       
      #42 comicbookartistboi, Jun 25, 2008
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    43. link

      I searched "Irisawa" maybe that will help?
       
      #43 vulpes, Jun 25, 2008
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    44. I cannot seem to find a deep brown V color anywhere :( especially in spray can :(
       
      #44 comicbookartistboi, Jun 30, 2008
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    45. still looking for anyone who can help me find a few cans of Brown Vcolor spray paint. :(
       
      #45 comicbookartistboi, Jul 9, 2008
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    46. Is this what you're looking for?

      ^__________^

      - Enzyme
       
      #46 Enzyme, Jul 9, 2008
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    47. LOL Close, but not quite it i'm afraid. :( That's solid black. I'm actually looking for a deep chocolate brown. I'm trying to turn my dollfie Dream into a african american girl.
       
      #47 comicbookartistboi, Jul 9, 2008
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    48. Try mixing black, red and yellow to make a dark brown. You may need some white too.
       
      #48 twigling, Jul 9, 2008
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    49. but is that going to be possible with spray paint? I don't have an air brush :(
       
      #49 comicbookartistboi, Jul 10, 2008
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    50. That's a good point, but if you can't get the spray paint in the colour you want, wouldn't it be better to look into using an airbrush or a spray gun. I use a spraygun (for automotive purposes) for all my priming, and it overall yields much better results than a spraycan.
       
      #50 twigling, Jul 10, 2008
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    51. Oh, sorry, I didn't read the list of colors they had in-stock.
      If you write to them, they do custom orders, maybe they can
      get you the color you want. They have great customer service.


      - Enzyme ^_________^
       
      #51 Enzyme, Jul 10, 2008
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    52. Thanx....good suggestion. I did just write to them. Just asked if it's possible for them to order brown of any shade. LOL
       
      #52 comicbookartistboi, Jul 11, 2008
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    53. Well, good luck comicbookartistboi, I hope you are able to find the color you are looking for.
      Good luck with your DD as well.


      - Enzyme ^____________^
       
      #53 Enzyme, Jul 11, 2008
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    54. I got my response from Hobbylink Japan...they said that V-color doesn't make brown paint :( And that a secondary option is "Tamiya" paints....but i do not know how these will affect vinyl, or if they will bond the way that V-color will :(
       
      #54 comicbookartistboi, Jul 14, 2008
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    55. thanks! Today buy airbrush, and the future will proyect change color of my doll.
       
      #55 Demonya, Jul 14, 2008
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    56. Nice tutorial!
       
      #56 ANFlifier, Aug 19, 2008
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    57. Hey Paul, Thanks again for posting this! I remember reading it back when you first put it up. Now I'm re-reading because I'm going to coat my first doll myself. Not a color unfortunately, just MSC, but still, seeing the way you use the styro and chopsticks helped a LOT!
       
      #57 schnitzle, Aug 23, 2008
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    58. Where do you get v-color in the states?
       
      #58 Freaky_Ferret, Jan 30, 2009
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    59. #59 humanmind, Jan 30, 2009
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    60. Thanks for this! If I ever get up the nerve to paint a doll this will be handy.
       
      #60 degraala, Jan 31, 2009
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