Glue Gun Dolls

native doll

doll

When my daughter was 9 years old she got a "DollyMaker™ Oven" for her birthday .

She just loves to play with it. I was curious if I could use another material to make the dolls. In a craft magazine I once read that you can fill plastic molds with lo-melt glue. As the dolly molds are metal, I decided to try it with hot-melt glue. As you can see above it worked.

DollyMaker™ Oven by ©Canada Games Company Ltd

I have not seen it in stores any longer.

How To Make The Figures

clear glue doll

white glue doll

I've experimented with various materials to season the molds, to make unmolding easier. First of all oil doesn't work. What seems to work really well is dish washing detergent. All it needs is a drop or two spread with a q-tip or a paint brush.

Let the glue gun heat up well, the glue flows better. Then slowly start filling the mold beginning with the deepest part.
Try to make it continuous, as when the glue has already cooled a little, the new glue leave a mark and your doll can look like a very muscular person.
To speed up cooling put mold in fridge or freezer for a few minutes.
With white glue it is easier to see when the mold is full. The doll is stiffer.
With clear glue it is harder to see when the mold is full, but the doll is softer.
Clean the finished doll with a tissue and then paint it with a water based primer.
Let doll dry and then paint with water based craft paints in any color you choose.

Making The Doll's Dress

dress pattern

dressed doll

To dress the dolls I've first made a pattern from a paper towel and then from fabric or leather.
The strip of fabric is about 3 1/4 inches long and 1 3/8 - 1 1/2 inches long.
Fold fabric in half, cut a semi circle for neck and split back part.
Drape over doll and tie with a piece of string or ribbon.

I also made other figures with the glue gun and molds.