Modding a Monster/Ever after High

She looks good, you should do more of them!

Did you have to cut her head open to get the eyes in? And did you just use eye putty to hold them in place?

 

Wow great job!! I really like that eye mod!

 

My research into fashion doll repaints shows that the materials are basically the same as bjd faceups. MSC, watercolour pencils, pastels. You should look up Nicolle's Dream on YouTube.

 

You can't say that about your work. Everyone started out as a beginner. Everyone! Just practice. Perfection doesn't exist. Who knows, maybe someone else will look up to you.

 

My bad! What about something super kawaii and rainbowy?

I've only ever done 2 repaints myself and they are below preschool level haha! You really have done a great job, especially for a beginner!

 

No problem! Just keep practicing and your skills will only grow!

 

She looks perfect to me. You did a beautiful job on her.

 

Oh wow! I'm so impressed by the fact that you got inset eyes into her at all, let alone the rest! She looks great!

I actually really love how the wig came out, even if it wasn't what you first planned-- the gradient you got in the end is really beautiful.

I've been dragging my heels on starting my own MH project (which... won't be so impressive a final product, I don't think), but it's really inspiring to look through your photos and see you just dive in and do it and get lovely results. I'm sure your friend will really love it!

 

Her make up is great!

I got a Spectra today. I kind of want to try put eyes into her but I want to keep her hair. Might be too difficult to cut around the roots... I hate rerooting with a passion! I'm definitely not patient enough.

 

This is my current project. She is one of four Create-a-Monster High dolls, which I'm making into personifications of the natural elements. Cutting out the eyes takes time. I spent an hour on every eye. At first I made the mistake of using a cheap scalpel knife, which is too blunt even when new. Once I upgraded to a more professional sharpness, it was like slicing through butter. This is how I could cut away the excess vinyl behind the eyes to create sockets.

 

Looks good! Please show the finished product!

Do you have a dremel tool to smooth the eye holes? Or needle files?

 

Thanks! And I will as soon as possible. The project is on hold because it's raining.

Vinyl doesn't take sanding well. Luckily, when using a really sharp scalpel knife the cuts are very smooth. Shaping was done by cutting away a sliver of vinyl at a time. I only used a fine sanding needle on minuscule bits sticking out, too small to cut.

 

This is so awesome! I've been debating trying to cut open MH doll eyes for a while now, and the comments here are giving me the drive to try! @Lael, did you end up switching to an exacto blade? Those a super sharp, so I figured that that's the type of blade that would work for this.

 

*googles the name* I've been using the scalpel / pen shaped kind of Xacto blades, not those you can retract. The latter has too much play to properly work with. The problem was I started out with the blades I found in hardware stores, and those are just too blunt. So I bought myself Proedge #11 double honed blades at a scale modeling shop, which are perfect for this type of modding.

 

I tried cutting out a Barbie eye last night as a test (the poor thing is my crash test dummy for everything). I used a not very sharp hobby blade and made lots of little cuts until I got the whole way through and it worked okay.

After the hole was done I used my dremel with a rounded burr to thin the vinyl from the back. I also used it to round the opening but it didn't work that great. I think I'd prefer to use a round file and do it manually.

The dremel definitely worked for making the eye well though. I want to test it at higher speeds on the edges too, as I was trying not to make too much noise. This took maybe 30 mins of messing about?

(Excuse my nails)

 

Ah, it does make sense to get knives specifically for something like scale modeling. Thanks for the name! I'll have to see if I can't order one online if I can't find it in stores.

 

I've been repainting Monster high dolls for a few years now, and I never once thought to mod them like this. I'm gonna have to try this.

 

I looked at my knife and it is a #11, but a no-name brand so it's pretty blunt. I'm going to order some proedge blades

 

I really like when people try to add glass/ plastic eyes to monster high dolls I am too afraid to do that :/

 

Guys I am here on my knees to beg for your expertise. I have 2 MH girls I've been trying for years to customize but I keep getting frustrated and quitting because A. I can't get the hair out and B. I can't get the faces off. What do you use to remove the face that doesn't harm the doll?

I would so appreciate any help, I'd love to get these girls done someday (my other failed project is pulips- I can't so that either! Failfailfail)

 

I've just used regular acetone nail polish remover and cotton balls/q tips for MH faces! You kinda have to scoop the paint away. It will take a bit of time and effort but it'll work!

 

To get the hair out give the doll a buzz cut. If you have trouble getting the head off heat a mug of water in the microwave for about a minute, put the head in to soften it a bit, then it should come off easier, and they return to normal after cooling.

To get the cat barf out of the inside of the head I pour hot water in the neck to soften the glue and pull it out with long tweezers. It's a bit wet, repeat the water as needed, but it gets the job done. Needle and thread or knot method work best to reroot.

 

Thank you! I actually managed to do it! Several heads cleaned and one de-haired Now that's left is the actual fun parts. Someday. When I have time again (might be this weekend!!)

Well this would have been an easier way to do it XD But It's ok, she's bald and blank so all is well. I will remember this method for the next time (if there is one).
I don't plan on rerooting (I think that would be like planning my own suicide.), I think I'm just going to make wigs. So far that's the plan.

 

Ok but I love this. I have four monster high dolls and I might actually do this! One thing I didn't like about their faces is their god awful eyes. I'm not a faceup artist but I like the following eye effect 3D eyes give vs 2d ones. Great work!

I had a question though. What size eyes did you use?

 

So excited to see this thread! I'm going to try eye carving on some of the smaller dolls sooner, but right now I'm working on a 17" Gooliope that I'm totally in love with. I want to share photos of her, but non-doll people (even normal MH collectors) are kind of skittish about mid-mod dolls.

As of right now, she's had her eyes carved, eyelashes added, and a new faceup applied. Sadly, the shape of the eyes is a bit weird, so I'm going to try to go in with a dremel behind them to even it out and make it so that the eyes will sit a bit nicer. She's waiting on a few various colored eyes (lightish colors) and a blond wig from ebay. Both are on their way, so I'm just trying to kill time until they get here!

 

wow the difference 'proper' eyes make to MH dolls what a great idea!

oooh she'll look amazing when she's got some eyes in too - what size are you getting?

 

I bought 20mm because that's the size Lunis's Dollhouse uses and I absolutely adore her dolls! H owever, I think I carved my eyes even bigger than hers accidentally...

 

they'll probably be fine - a few of my dolls take that size (including SD size Erica in my avatar) and I put them in my 90cm AoD Bo too when I had him - it just meant the iris seemed a bit small so more white of the eye was showing - you could fill gaps with white poster tack maybe?

 

I thought I'd stop by with an update photo on Gooliope! I've decided to call her Lisha and her eyes just arrived a few days ago. I didn't realize they were acrylic and honestly they're a bit small, so hopefully I'll be able to get some nicer glass ones on eBay after I get paid. Overall though, I'm really happy with her! It makes me smile looking at her, she's come out so pretty!

 

Wow! She looks amazing-- I love her face, and even if the eyes are just temporaries, they look good! Thanks for sharing pics.

 

@RainbowsHaven, that looks quite impressive! Still within the Monster High style, yet very unique. I especially love her lips. Those little lines always do the trick to make them look more realistic.

 

It's been a while since I worked on my custom Monster High dolls, but I finally got around to sticking their eyes in with some Blu-Tack. I'm very happy with the result. They have finally come alive for me and their personalities are starting to show. The gray one still needs a faceup and the others probably will get a new one at some point, but for now I'm satisfied.

This is my first attempt at everything. My first faceups. My first doll clothes. My first modding. The only thing I would have done differently is use a different sealer. The Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear was perfect at first, but then I put the heads in a plastic bag and left them there for a couple of months. Now, the faces are a bit sticky. Dust will most certainly stick to it and ruin the faceup.

Materials used:

• 4 Create-A-Monster High dolls
• Nail polish remover with acetone to remove the original faceup
• Proedge #11 double honed blades to carve out the eye sockets
• Aquarel pencils and soft pastel blocks for the faceup
• Cheap yet pretty 10 mm plastic eyes from eBay

Of course, work isn't done yet. Gray needs a faceup and they all need their own wigs (Blue wears the black and purple one just for show). No idea when I'll get around to doing that, but once I do, I'll make sure to post the results here.

 

She looks amazing. Just may try that out on one of my bigger monster high dolls.

 

I haven't been on DoA much, but here are some updates for my girls. I'm about to start modding a second glass-eyed Clawdeen for a friend tonight as well.

Here's Lisha (my Gooliope) with her final eyes, wig, and outfit:


Here's repainted (standard size) Lagoona, made to look like Undyne from Undertale:


And here's my WIP 17" Clawdeen, who is going to be a faun. I'm really happy with her faceup!

 

Does anyone have the 28 inch tall Monster high girls? I have one, and would like to modify her knees so they are movable.
Not much success yet, not even with finding joint pieces large enough to work. Any ideas? Thank you :-)

 

Does anyone know of any good acrylic paint alternatives to use on monster high dolls ?