Dolls, Plush & Miniatures How-Tos
How To: Do an uneven 3 strand braid on your American Girl doll
Follow this video to learn how to make an innovative hair style for your American Girl doll. Brush the doll's hair neatly. Then pick up some of her hair on one side and tie with a hair band at the top corner of her head. You will have made sort of a little ponytail at the side. After doing so make a braid out of that small pony tail. You will have a cute and different look for your doll's hair in little time.
How To: Do a basic braid on your American Girl doll
This quick video will show you how to do a basic braid on your American Girl doll. Follow these easy steps to do a basic braid for your American Girl doll: Put the hair into a ponytail and split into three sections. Take the outside section and put it over the middle section, then take the other outside section and put it over the middle section. Repeat this till you get close to the bottom of the hair. Put in a rubber a rubber band and you are all done!
How To: Make miniature raviolli out of polymer clay
This video shows how to make a very realistic looking bowl of ravioli out of polymer clay, to be used in a doll house. She starts with flesh tone clay and uses a piece of plastic needlepoint to press the pattern of square ravioli into the clay. She trims off the edges and then cuts out the tiny ravioli. She uses the fluted edge of a toothpaste tube to imprint the edges of the ravioli. She uses a mixture of liquid polymer clay and red and brown pastel chalk to make the sauce. She puts the ravi...
How To: Make fairy wings
Feel like getting crafty? In this 8-part video tutorial, learn how to create the perfect pair of mini fairy wings, approximately 6 inches wide. Also included within these videos is how to make realistic-looking bat and dragon wings. To complete this project, you will need cellophane, plastic coated wire, acrylic paints, polyester glitter, and a glue gun. Add these wings to a doll or a wall craft for the perfect mystical embellishment!
How To: Make miniature tacos
This great video from Garden of Imagination shows you how to create mini tacos from polymer clay. Perfect for your dollhouse, or dolls, these detailed miniature gems are deliciously real look but only mini. This excellent video shows you everything you need to know to create your wonderful mini tacos for your dolls taco night. They take some time and patience but everyone will be raving about your special mini tacos out of polymer clay. They look so real almost good enough to eat.
How To: Make miniature Valentine swirl truffles
This video teaches the viewer how to make miniature Valentine swirl truffles. The most important thing to be kept in mind is that the two colors of clay being used should be of contrasting shades. The author of the video takes the viewer through a detailed, step-by-step process of making miniature swirl truffles out of polymer clay. According to the author, one can use translucent clay sheets too, but that is not a very good idea because the translucent one gets visually overlapped by the dar...
How To: Make a miniature cream puff
The people at Garden of Imagination demonstrate how to make a miniature cream puff. Using a mixture of polymer clay, clay icing, pastel paints and a variety of tools, including a paintbrush, a scalpel, and tweezers, a miniature cream puff is born. This mini item is perfect for any number of occasions. When used in combination with other mini foods and pieces, it makes a cute and cheap decorative item. Creating a tiny and affordable State Fair has never been easier!
How To: Use a polymer clay extruder
This video host explains how to make different shapes and size of polymer clay and also show that the new extruder is better and less effortless than older one. The host shows a sample how to make a colorful square rod with two types of polymer clay. She also gives some useful tips on how to make different clay shapes and stuff. She also shows which equipment are necessary to make a square shape multicolor rod. If you are looking for ideas to work on with your polymer clay, this video is for ...
How To: Make a mold for polymer clay
Select a hard object for mold making. Oven safe items work best. Knead the polymer clay between the hands. The polymer clay must be pliable before wrapping it around the mold.
How To: Sculpting fantasy miniatures
It can be intimidating to sculpt fantasy miniatures, even if you have some artistic experience. Working at that scale, every little mistake could be a disaster! But in this 15-part video tutorial, you'll learn how to make your mini figures turn out looking great, every time.
How To: Customize your Blythe doll by rerooting her hair
We find dolls some of the scariest things in existence, but if you're a person who loves the lifelike eyes (we think almost TOO lifelike) and cherubic grin (which we've always thought was more of a sinister smile), then you probably like to keep your dolls in tip top shape.
How To: Make foam box miniature mountains
A quick and inexpensive method of making highly detailed miniature landscapes for model railways, diorama's or garden sculptures. This is a vivid scenery design lesson perfect for your train scenes or other mountain scapes.
How To: Reroot Blythe Doll hair
This is a tutorial on Rerooting Blythe Doll Hair from the CRAFT Video Podcast. Blythe dolls are great for making three-dimensional self portraits. There is an enormous community of customizers working with the Blythe Doll. One of the main online sources for customization is Puchi Collective, which houses oodles of tops for changing her eyechips, face makeup, and clothes.
How To: Make a plush stuffed toy body without sewing
Want to make a plushie, but you're all thumbs when it comes to sewing? Don't worry, you can still make a little stuffed friend without a needle and thread. You will need felt, scissors, a hot glue gun, cotton stuffing, and a fabric marker. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make a plushie stuffed toy.
How To: Paint a Warhammer 40K Space Marine Workstation
When doing a quality job of painting the miniatures for a Warhammer 40K game, it can be expensive to get the right equipment, but the end result is worth it. This how-to video shows how to choose the right tools and offers some tips for painting a Space Marine Workstation. Follow along with this video tutorial and learn how to paint a Warhammer 40K Space Marine Workstation.
How To: Set eyes into a reborn baby doll
When building a reborn doll, you have an array of options for how to put the baby together. This how-to video demonstrates the process of putting eyes into a reborn baby doll. You will need the reborn baby doll head, a setting tool, and the eyes that are being installed. Watch this video doll-making tutorial and learn how to set eyes into a reborn baby.
How To: Add rust to Warhammer 40k industrial park pieces
Using a paint called "Sophisticated Finishes," a rust effect can be added to Warhammer 40K terrain pieces. If you want to be serious about Warhammer, or any other war gaming, you'll want to have the most realistic battlefield possible. Watch this video miniature-making tutorial and learn how to age and rust industrial park pieces for a good war game terrain for Warhammer 40K action figures.
How To: Make miniature cedar trees out of grass heads
These grass seed heads make great miniature cedar trees when painted. They are a little fragile for wargaming but great on model railroads. Watch this video miniature-making tutorial and learn how to make a mini trees out of grass heads for dioramas, models, and terrains.
How To: Make a skirt for a stuffed animal out of tissues
Katrina shows how to make a shirt or skirt made out of tissue for her stuffed animal. This is a great project for kids because it involves no sewing, an can be colored and customized with markers. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make a tissue skirt for a stuffed animal.
How To: Automate a drawbridge in a castle diorama game terrain
The motor from an old remote control car can be used to make an automated drawbridge on a castle diorama. This is a nice project and a great way to add special effects to a diorama. Dioramas are great for war games like Warhammer 40K, and add a slightly more realistic touch. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to automate a drawbridge on a diorama game terrain.
How To: Build a big hill bunker terrain for Warhammer 40K
If you want to be serious about playing Warhammer 40K, you're going to need to have a decent looking terrain. Playing with the miniature army on your bed or the living room floor lacks the realistic feel that a terrain can create. This video hobby tutorial shows how to build a big hill bunker terrain for the Warhammer 40K figures to hide out in and regroup between battles. Watch and get your army ready for war.
How To: Make a game terrain diorama for Warhammer 40K
Game terrain dioramas are an essential playing field for miniature war games, like Warhammer 40K or Lord of the Rings games. While these terrains can be purchased ready-made, make your own to get the exact look desired. Watch this hobby how-to video and learn how to build a game terrain diorama for Warhammer 40K.
How To: Change a Blythe doll eyechip eyeball
This video demonstrates a method used for changing blythe doll eyechips. Blythe dolls, discontinued for lack of interest, have found some popularity in the collector's market, and are notable for eyes that change color with the tug of a string. Watch this hobby how-to video and learn how to change the eyeball eyechip on a blythe doll.
How To: Paint miniatures by dry brushing
Watch this instructional video to begin painting miniatures with dry brush techniques. Dry brushing can create realistic weathered textures on dioramas, war game terrain, architectural models and model railroads.
How To: Make a muppet style puppet
This instructional video demonstrates how to make a Muppet style puppet. You will need foam, spray adhesive, an electric turkey carver. Use felt and bottle caps for eyes and skin. Make a muppet style puppet.
How To: Make a Muppet
This instructional video demonstrates how to make a Muppet style puppet. You will need markers, scissors, tape, a hot glue gun, spray paint, spare fabric and foam, and two ping pong balls for the eyes. Make a Muppet.
How To: Use wood for building miniatures rather than foam
Watch this instructional model making video to learn some of the pros and cons of making miniature game terrains out of wood. The wood models are certainly more durable, but they take a lot of work to build. The foam models go rather quickly and can take on more naturalistic contours. It's possile to coat wooden miniatures in plaster and texture for similar effects. Wooden miniatures are certainly more durable as outdoor and garden pieces.
How To: Make miniature tile flooring at 15mm scale
Watch this instructional model making video to make miniature plaster tile flooring for war game terrain. Add a thin layer of plaster for a smooth level floor for your game piece or diorama. The layer of plaster simulates concrete as is, or you can etch in tiles while the plaster is slightly damp. Make convincing walls and flooring for doll houses, dioramas, Warhammer and war games.
How To: Build war game terrain with foam
Watch this instructional model making video to begin making war game terrain out of foam. This video introduces different types of foam and the varying strengths of high density foam. It's also possible to cast plaster molds with foam. Use foam as the basic structure for war games terrains, model railroads, architectural models and miniature dioramas.
How To: Make rubber molds of rocks and castle walls
Watch this instructional model making video to cast your own rubber molds for dioramas and model railroads. You can custom design terrain features this way. You will have your own molds for casting. If you are making large dioramas this will also save you money. Use rubber molds to cast rocks and miniatures castle walls for game terrain, doll houses and dioramas.
How To: Make miniature trees for dioramas
Here is a quick and easy tutorial on making miniature trees. Watch this instructional model making video to get started with the traditional method using Woodland Scenics and learn some alternatives using found materials like wire and scouring pads. They look great and are perfect for dioramas, doll houses, and model railroads.
How To: Make trenches in a military diorama
This tutorial shows an easy way to make trenches for dioramas. This is very useful for war and battle dioramas. Lay out the diorama on paper first so you know where the trenches are then build the structure out of cardboard.
How To: Put LED lights in miniature dioramas and game terrain
Want to put some electronics into your terrain piece or diorama? LED lights are great. You can use tiny watch batteries, which are small and efficient. LED lights are cheap, they come in colours, and you can find them in all kinds of broken gadgets. Watch this instructional video to illuminate your miniature dioramas, doll houses, and miniature war game terrain.
How To: Make repairs on miniatures
Do you actually play with your miniatures? Well, if you do they probably take a little wear and tear. However most miniatures can be easily repaired. If your model has a pink/blue foam base you can usually repair it with some spray glue and a hidden toothpick brace. With these simple tips you can repair miniature dioramas, architectural models, doll houses Warhammer pieces and game terrain.
How To: Make roof thatching and tree material for dioramas
Watch this instructional model making video to make miniature roof thatching and tree material for dioramas, architectural models, Warhammer and game terrain. There are several kinds of scouring pads, craft fiber sheets, and fibers for constructing miniature trees and bushes. You can punch roof shingles out of cardboard for very convincing shingled roof.
How To: Make plaster brickwork for miniatures
Here is one method of making model brickwork and detailing wood for dioramas and miniature game terrain. Carve some light lines into a flat piece of balsa wood and coat it with a thin layer of plaster. This simple trick creates a realistic brickwork effect for miniature dioramas, architectural models, Warhammer and doll houses.
How To: Model grass for miniature dioramas and game terrain
Here's how to place grass into your diorama scenery. These tactics may be familiar to model train builders, but there are endless fibers that can create texture for miniature landscapes. Make grass for dioramas, Warhammer, architectural models and other miniatures.
How To: Paint miniatures for dioramas and gaming terrain
Watch this instructional video to paint realistic finishes on miniatures for dioramas, architectural models, and game terrain. This model maker begins with an introduction to washes and dry brushing. When working towards a tarnished or deep finish on your miniatures, you must layer coats of paint in thin washes.
How To: Create solid water for miniature dioramas and models
You can paint your plaster blue and coat it with a gloss, but there are easier ways to make artificial water for miniature dioramas, architectural models and war game terrain. Easy Water is a product made up of small plastic pellets that need to be melted and poured onto the model. You cannot use this on styrofoam, obviously. This instructional video provides some alternative methods for creating water effects on miniature dioramas.
How To: Gather tools for building miniatures
Here are some of necessary the tools for hobby crafting and diorama making. This model maker uses wood rasps, sanding pencils, wire cutters, small pliers, a box cutter, a wood carving knife, and a Japanese pull saw. When building miniatures you may find yourself making your own tools or finding useful sculpting aids around the house. Occasionally, a wood burning gun can help you achieve detail for tiny window shutters and other fine work.