Bad Hair Day Art Doll by Linda Hess

Over the years I have met many wonderful, talented people.  One of those is Penni Jo Couch, owner and designer of Best Flexible Molds.  I discovered her molds while working in polymer clay. SUPER easy to use.  The detail obtained from polymer clay can also be achieved with Creative PaperClay!

 Here is a very easy tutorial using one of my favorite molds from Penni Jo, an art doll mold.

Materials:
Creative PaperClay (www.creatvepaperclay.com)
PJ039 Caboshapes II- Divas!  (http://bestflexiblemolds.com/PJ039.htm)
Handmade paper (www.arnoldgrummer.com)
Toner Funwire (www.tonercrafts.com)
crystal
scissors
Knitting needle or turkey lacer
dremel or small drill

Procedure:
1) Press a bit of creative PaperClay into the large art doll shape.  Be sure to press clay firmly into the mold.  Once filled, flex the mold to remove clay shape.  Set aside to dry (about 24 hrs).

2) If you are not a patient person when it comes to creating (like me), you can quick dry the art doll form by baking it in a low temp oven (275 degrees) for about 15-20 minutes. 

 3) Create a "dress" for the art doll using Arnold Grummer's papermaking kit (I use the PaperMill Pro).  Follow the directions here (https://polymercreations4u.wordpress.com/2015/01/19/painting-with-paper-pulp/) to create pulp.  To create stripes, place colors (one at a time) next to each other on the paper screen.  Follow the directions for pressing out moisture and completing the sheet of paper.
4) While damp, wrap the striped handmade paper around your dried art doll form.  Tear away excess paper.  Press paper firmly around form...take your time! 

Set aside to dry OR put back into your oven at 275 degrees for 15-20 minutes to quick dry.
5) Use a small drill or Dremel to drill holes around the top of the head (5-7).  Creative PaperClay drills so easily, but be careful not to drill to close to the edge!

6) Choose 1 or 2 colors of Funwire (I used Grape Ice and Bubble Gum).  Cut 6" pieces.  Thread wire through holes and twist as shown.

Continue until all of the holes have wire.  Use the knitting needle or turkey lacer to curl wire one piece at a time. 

Arrange hair as you go until all of the hair has been curled.

 

 

Drill another hole at t bottom of the art doll.  Use a final piece of wire to add a crystal. 

 

There!  All done.  Your Art Doll can be hung on the wall by twisting 2 pieces of "hair" to form a loop.  OR add a magnet to the back and it becomes refrigerator art (hehe).

I hope you enjoy this project.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.  Come back and visit again :-)