#handy tips

When making characters, always try to create them so you can say at least 10 descriptive words about their personality.

Example: Harry Potter can be described as

1. Brave

2. Cheeky

3. Loyal

4. Friendly

5. Scarred

6. Troublemaker

7. Scruffy

8. Strong

9. Confident

[image description: The top image is of two weekly pill cases, one on top of the other. The left-hand center image shows a person's hand with a sock over it, inside out. The right-hand center image shows the sock rolled halfway onto the pill cases. The bottom image is the pill cases completely inside of the sock.]

🥄Spoonie tip!🥄 So I've always liked using these kind of pill organizers so I only have to dose out my pills once a week and it takes only a little longer than it would take me to get out a single day’s dosage. It also helps me keep track of whether I've remembered to take the drugs yet, as long as I can keep track of what day of the week it is.

However, traveling with them used to inevitably end in at least one open section and pills scattered in amongst everything. But y'all, a dang sock just does the trick. It holds the cases closed better than a rubber band and doesn't slide off or break or anything.

It costs nothing, and you don't ultimately have to sacrifice the sock because once you get to your destination or back home you still have one perfectly usable half of a pair of socks.

A definite progression! First picture: My very first doll, with factory paint.  Second pic: My VERY FIRST (and super-awful, clumsy) attempt at a repaint of said doll. Ugh, it looks soooo bad to me, now. I tried using acrylic paints-- mistake! 

Third pic: Same doll, attempt number two. A much better try, this time with just watercolor pencils and chalk pastels, but still severely lacking.

Fourth and fifth pics: The same doll AGAIN. Much better this time. Still primitive, but obviously I leveled up or something between tries number two and three because she looks a lot better.

Sixth pic: My most recent repaint. I feel like I’ve come pretty far since that first attempt (and I’ve gotten a bit better at doll photography, too)!  So, if you’re new to repainting and don’t like how your dolls are coming out: NEVER FEAR. YOU CAN IMPROVE! A few helpful tips: -Don’t start with acrylic paint. It’s VERY difficult to use well, especially if you’re new to this. Start with watercolor pencils and chalk pastels-- they’re much easier to “control”, and if you think of it like putting on makeup (which is basically what blushing and putting on the eyeshadow is like) it seems much easier. -DON’T be afraid to start over. And over. And over! Get a cheap doll on sale (or buy used dolls on eBay) and wipe them down over and over again. It’s great practice (and if you’re using a less-than-perfect doll, you won’t feel so bad about “messing it up”. I have a drawer full of one-armed, gnarly-haired or otherwise fugly dolls just for practice). -Watch tutorials on YouTube. They really help a lot! Just seeing how other people work can be helpful even if you don’t follow their methods exactly. -Ask questions! Lots of repainters are happy to share their wisdom. 

-Remember that everyone has their own methods-- there’s no one “right” way to do it.  -Use good sealant. Mr. Superclear Flat UV Cut is usually available on eBay for a fair price. It’s the best one I’ve used. Testor’s Dullcote can also work, but I find it takes a bit longer to dry and doesn’t take color quite as smoothly.

-DON’T WORRY IF YOU THINK YOU SUCK AT DRAWING. I suck at drawing. I can’t draw a picture to save my life. So yes, the hardest part of a repaint for me is always drawing in the eyes and brows-- but the rest, like I said, is more like putting makeup on a very small person than like drawing or painting. Watching makeup tutorials can even be helpful, especially if they talk about contouring or highlighting or how/where to apply blush. MH dolls have very definite face shapes and features that a human being would have, like high cheekbones on one doll or deep-set eyes on another, and you can apply what you learn about human faces to them.