Ooak Barbie Ribbon Mermaid

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  Step 1

  First things first find yourself a victim oppps I mean volunteer! I brought this doll at a garage sale in very poor condition her face paint has worn off she has big balding spots thru her hair and her legs have big chew marks!
  "girl what on earth did you get up to last night?"
  I recommend finding a doll in a bit better condition if it is your first go! as re-rooting hair and repainting eyes and make up can be quite tricky!

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  Step 2

  wash the doll thoroughly! Then shampoo and condition hair! brush out all knots, cut hair to desired length
  I removed the head at this point and added some highlights to her hair to hide the bald spots! this can be a tricky process you need a very long needle pliers and of course hair! I use the knot method to make hair plugs as the dolls I make are not for children!

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  Step 3

  Next use nail polish remover non-acetone to remove face paint, however if the face paint isn't in too bad a condition you can always leave it and just touch it up!
  I used an acrylic paint for her eyes and lipstick and glitter paint for her eyeshadow and then covered the painted areas with a clear gloss!

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  Step 4

  To make the mermaid tail (to hide those lovely chewed legs) you need a lot of patience!
  I tied 3 different colored ribbons around her waist and wove them very tightly around her legs and knotting at the end, then used the excess ribbon to form the end of the tail by gluing together! any gaps I hid with glue!

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  Step 5

  Finally I made her top using scraps of the same ribbon as the tail just by wrapping around her chest crossing over and tying behind the neck! I also added sequins to the tail and top for that special touch!

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Lydia H. · 20 projects 1st July 2010

What is a Barbie Group? That sounds like it could be interesting. I found a few awesome vintage patterns for dolls and have been (slowly) making some of them. I have a couple dolls from garage sales (my "models") who are beat up so I may take your advice and give them makeovers.

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Chuckee · Las Vegas, Nevada, US · 15 projects 9th April 2010

This is gorgeous!
And I know all too well how these withdrawals feel

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Arty Kitkat · St Albans, England, GB · 61 projects 19th February 2010

You're a member of a Barbie group? That sounds so cool I used to love making over old barbies & sindy's but haven't done that in ages. I'm feeling quite inspired now

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KMOM14 · Fort Wayne, Indiana, US · 378 projects 19th February 2010

Nice makeover!

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SparrowFae · Carthage, Missouri, US · 41 projects 19th February 2010

I really like this. Maybe, someday when my little girl gets to where she gives a crap about Barbies(she's only 3), we'll rescue some beat up old dolls and make them beautiful again.
I doubt I'll be rerooting any hair, but the mermaid idea is perfect, I have found so many sad Barbies with chewed up legs. Another idea would be to take the legs off and make a polymer clay tail.

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