Heres a tip......when smoothing out the skin on the face of your doll when sculpting with polymer clay, you can use a soft brush to gently brush any areas that are rough and it will make those areas magically disappear   marcia

Awesome!

Do you wet the brush?

Marsha

Hi Marsha, no just make sure you use one thats clean, I keep one just for that purpose.

Hey heres another tip that I learned at the doll convention at Las Vegas last weekend....the water that you use to paint your resin or polymer handsculpted doll parts with, put a little dish soap in the water, it breaks the tension and they will paint easier. It works perfect with acrylic paints    

I just discoverd the wonder of wax pastels, they are water soluable . Use them like water colors on your dolls to paint them, they are sooo fun. Paint the eyes with acrylics to get the details of the eyes then watercolor paint with the wax pastels to get wonderful color shading on your doll, great with charater dolls to fill in all the lines and make them come alive...here the name of them, Dick Blick sells them in all colors even gold and bronze I think...I use the post it note papers as my paint pad, and scribble some color on it then with water and paint brush you mix the colors just like watercolor paints...so fun!! And easier then squeezing out paint from the acrylic tubes each time.
Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Artists' Crayons    [  Marsh

Go to that link to see the doll that I painted with the wax pastels, Marsh

WOW, she's beautiful!!

I don't know how much the wax pastel will help my painting,    LOL, but I most definintely am going to puchase some!!!  

Marsha

Hey Marsha....Im really liking these wax pastels and I just started to use them. They go on so transparent, and you can easily wash them off with some water if you want, its like painting a watercolor painting. When I was done with her I went back and added the dark color on her eyes with some acyrlic paint, as its more opaque. I bought those on ebay real cheap awhile ago, maybe you can find a set there...hope you like them. Ill be teaching people how to use them they are fantastic!! Let me know how it goes, Hugs M

Oops I forgot to tell you, that I did put some pastel chalk on lightly when she was done to give it a soft look and lightly sprayed it with fixative...hugs m  

I said earlier to use the post it notes but I found that they are not as good to use as a piece of glass or plastic like those flexible cutting boards....you can just tissue them off when finished...so easy!

Did you do her lips using the wax pastel or acrylic?  

Do you add clear fingernail polish on the lips to give them a shine when you're done?  

Marsha

Hi, I added the lip color with the wax pastels, you scribble some color on your plastic pad ( they are like crayons ) and then add just a touch of water. You can use fingernail polish, I use a fimo gloss varnish. Im really liking how you can add layer after layer of a wash of color and the build up is so thin....and you can see thru the layers, it gives a depth to the doll thats great. I hope you like them. Marsh

Marsha how did you put that picture of the witch on here, if I dont know how to do it Im sure there are others that would like to show their dolls and dont know how, can you share???? Marsh

Hi!

Upload your picture.  You don't need a website.  It can be picturetrial.com, kodakgallery, etc. . .

Right click on the picture and select properties.  Highlight the URL address and copy.  

Above this message box is a tool bar that has a B, and I, U, etc.  

To add a picture click on the eye.  It'll put [img] in your textbox.  Now past your URL address.  Click the eye again.

And there's your picture!

Marsha

[/img]

Aww it didnt work let me try it again
http://groups.msn.com/MarciaBackstromsDolls/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1

what am I doing wrong? M  :/  :/

I dont know why its not working, I posted a picture, I clicked on the eye, then posted my URL and then the eye again and no picture, dont know whats wrong