Q&A for How to Make a Ball Jointed Doll

The original sculpt is typically made out of polymer clay, while the finished product is made of polyurethane resin, a type of plastic with a porcelain-like finish.

It’s a combination of the materials they’re made of and the skill and effort it takes to make one. Sculpting, casting, and stringing the doll is a complicated process, and high-quality resins and doll parts (like eyes and wigs) can get pricey.

There are several ways to do it, but it helps to create an “infill” over which to sculpt the face, such as a ball of aluminum foil or clay wrapped in cling wrap. You can also cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape of the character’s facial profile and slide that over your infill. Then, build the face over the infill, using the cardboard profile to guide your placement of the features, such as the nose and lips. If you plan to put in glass eyes, you’ll need to leave openings so they can peek through from inside the finished head.

First you need to trace the designated area of the doll to make a pattern, then trace the pattern onto fabric, then sew. This will most likely be a trial and error process, because BJ dolls move, which makes it difficult to dress them.

There are a lot of factors that go into determining that. For example, it depends how detailed you want the bjd to be, how much practice you've had in the past, and how carefully or quickly you work - all of these things can affect how long it will take. When professional artists design and make bjds, it usually takes months.

It can be extremely costly, so if you're able to cast your own, it may save you lots of money. There are many many things to take into consideration when having a company cast your doll, i.e. the size of the doll, the colour and tone of the skin. And the company you choose will also affect the cost.

You can. But keep in mind that you cannot lengthen it. You could try making two if you want to have one with long hair.

Paper clay was the original doll making material. The finished surface depends on the fibers in the paper clay. If you choose toilet paper instead of paper towels or newspaper as the base material, you will have a smoother finish. Adding a little corn starch or flour can create a fine, smoother texture. Be aware that any food substances can attract insects so a small amount of borax should added to the mixture. Otherwise, coat the entire surface to prevent insect access.