Let's Talk about Art & Magic WATERBORNE © Paints!

USING THE NEW "ART & MAGIC OF REBORNING WATER BORNE ©" Air Dry Paints

First off, in 2011 I was a total rookie when it came to using air dry paints on reborn dolls.  I researched various types of paints until I found one that is actually a vinyl-based highly pigmented paint.  After I did some experimenting and fiddled around with blending the colors for about a year, I turned to my friend, Debbie Henshaw of “They Never Grow Up Nursery”  since she was my “go to”  expert on reborning with air dry paints.  She helped me develop these paints and the results can be seen on her blog:   http://theynevergrowupnursery.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-and-magic-water-borne-air-dry.html

I’m always open to hearing how any of them might be improved.   Formulas have been tweaked and colors modified in response to customer feedback since I introduced WaterBorne © paints a couple years ago.  This may result in some slight differences if you don’t order the paints often. 

There are a few very important details you need to know before you begin working with your first doll and WaterBorne paints.    You must PREP THE VINYL OR BAKED POLYMER CLAY BEFORE PAINTING!   Critical first step...do not skip it.  Without a proper prep coat on bare clean vinyl or baked polymer clay, failure is likely.

I've compared prepping bare vinyl with Genesis Matte Varnish, and another with Folk Art Glass & Tile Medium and a third with my Clear Base Coat & Surface Prep.  I prefer the Glass & Tile Medium or the Clear Base Coat to the Genesis Matte because the Matte creates slightly more texture on the bare vinyl (it can feel a tiny bit sandpapery) and in addition, the WaterBorne paints "grab" that surface very quickly and are difficult to get off if you make a mistake.   I sell all three of these products so you can try them and see which suits you best.

Basic Supplies Needed:

• You can use any type of dish or well palette for these paints
• Distilled water to thin
• Folk Art Glass & Tile Medium or Clear Base Coat & Surface Prep -  both are sold in my store, and included in any full set of WB paints.
• Ultra Matte Gel is GREAT to mix in small amounts with your final WaterBorne layers to create a softer, velvety finish.
• Sponges:  cosmetic wedges and natural sea sponges or cellulose sponges torn into small pieces about 2 inches across.  The new honeycomb sponges are awesome!  Demonstrated on Debbie Henshaw's painting DVD, and I carry them now too.
• “Art & Magic Water Borne © Paints” sold by the set or individual jars.

First, the Good News :-)

• You can work on your kit without trips to the oven. Generally, the layers dry within a few minutes and you may proceed.  (Debbie adds:  "I made it a habit NOT to put layer upon layer at the same moment.")  As with Genesis painting, apply one small area of paint at a time and try not to over-paint it immediately in order not to muddy up your color layers. 
• It takes 24-48 hours for your kit to fully cure or dry.  Rooting can take place after this time.  On humid days, you may find that your kit needs a little more time. The use of a heatgun, set on low, can help.
• You don’t have to turn your oven on!

Then the “Bad News”

• You’ll need brushes not used for Genesis Heatset Paints (or any type of oil paint) in the past – or make sure you have washed yours very thoroughly with dishwashing detergent so that no synthetic oil residue remains in the brush.
• Each jar comes sealed when new.  Keep that seal!  And I strongly recommend you add a drop or two of water before re-capping your paints.  After you get the amount of paint you need to use, re-cap each jar quickly.
• Since these are AIR DRY paints, you won't be able to leave them on your palette, but will have to store the leftover thinned paints in airtight jars.  You can purchase several sizes of jars from HunnyBuns Reborn Supply.   If you’ve been using Genesis ® Heatset Paints you will find that mixing the colors is quite similar.  Application is also similar.  I use the same types of brushes for the WaterBorne colors as I do Genesis. 

 The biggest difference?  Instead of using Odorless Mineral Spirits to thin the paints, now you’ll use water and whatever various acrylic mediums you desire.  And of course -  not baking.  Woo hoo!!  You just got your kitchen back.

For experienced artists who prefer to blend their own palette, I offer Basic Colors, both individually and as a set.  For those who appreciate having Pre-Blended colors, I offer those as well.  The range matches some of the original Genesis ® colors or my own Pre Blended Art & Magic GENESIS colors.  Even if you buy the Pre-Blended Colors, I suggest you get the BASIC colors – at the very least, Basic Red, Yellow Ochre and Basic Black – to tweak the Pre-Blended Colors.   

You can download a Color Comparison chart here.   
And full instructions and more techniques and tips for using WaterBorne Paints HERE.

Hope this is helpful.  If you have questions or problems, please feel free to  email me at hunnybuns@roadrunner.com or hunnybunmama@gmail

I'm Baaack!

So How's THAT for a Hiatus?

Here I am again...re posting and resurrecting this blog after more than 5 years.

Yes, I'm still kicking.  I guess I should also say I've been celebrating 5 years of surviving cancer, too, YAY!  I did take a little time off at the end of 2009, which extended into a good part of 2010 and 2011.  A bunch of stuff happened, not the least of which was a divorce after 22 years of marriage.  That tends to take the wind outta ya sails.

But enough about that.

I'm going to be posting a lot more frequently in the future, God willing.  I want to have a place to discuss thoughts about reborn doll making, sculpting, paints and etc.  All things related to this business we love so much.

I started a new book about using my WaterBorne © painting system, but there just hasn't been time to finish it and publish it, so I thought it would be great if I could use this blog to share what I know about it, how I've developed the product line and answer questions.

And of course I'll let you in on new goings-on with HunnyBuns Nursery and HunnyBuns Reborn Supply.com  I have been pretty busy all this year sculpting for other people, trying out some different ideas.  Right now I'm painting one of the prototypes for my newest kit "Rosie" which is being produced by Irresistables.

So that's about it for now.  I'll spend more time decorating the place up a bit, fixing some links and adding a bunch more soon.  Comments are welcome :-)

Two New Kits this Summer!

It's been a busy year here at HunnyBuns!

Last winter I sculpted my first (and the reborn kit industry's first) set of Quadruplets. I'm very happy to say that the kits, "Micro Preemie Quads Kyrin, Katheran, Kylie and Kirsten" have been well received around the world.


After the Quads came out, I worked on a sculpt by request from "Simply Reborn Kits" Ruth Annette and named this one "Xavier". "Xavier's" features were sculpted to reflect a multi-racial baby and I can't wait to see the interpretations from reborn artists as this doll hits the market this summer.


Then there's "Kendall". Kendall is a small newborn size with legs drawn up making the finished length only 16". "Kendall"s prototype made her eBay debut this past weekend - beautifully done by Selena Saxton of "S'Real Babies Nursery" of Australia.

In addition to working on new kits for the reborn world, I've faced a real health challenge, too. I was diagnosed with cancer in March, and have completed my course of treatment as of mid-June. I never knew there were so many genuinely caring and loving people in the world, but I have been overwhelmed with emails, cards, flowers and good wishes and prayers from literally all around the world. It's humbling. God has proven His love for me through people! It's true, we are His hands and feet in this world. I'm so grateful to each and every person who cared enough to pray for my recovery and to beat this terrifying disease.

Last week, I received some good news. My first post-treatment PET scan came back clear! We are so relieved. I know I have a ways to go - healing is still a process that may take the better part of this year - but I already feel so much better than I did even a month ago.

So, now I'm back working on new sculpts and have plans for a few reborns too, as I get back to doing what I love the most. Thanks for reading :-)

Just Gotta Brag!

Last week, one of my IRDA gals got an article written up in Chicago Times! Way to go, Donna!!
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1320622,CST-NWS-dolls09.article

Hopefully many more good reborn artists will get the notice of their local media to help spread the word about these amazing dolls and the ladies who create them. We've had to fight some pretty nonsensical negativity in the media over the past couple years, but articles like this help us all.

Well Now, Wasn't That Special?

Have you seen this episode of "The View" yet? It aired on 7/25 and oh boy, did they open a can o' worms.

Click here and then click on 7/25 Baby Doll. If the link doesn't work then go to Hot Topics and you'll see it there.

Some of it was humorous, but I have to say Joy Behar went a bit too far thumping the doll around on the table and tossing it to a member of the audience. Everyone else treated the dolls with the respect and curiosity that they deserve.

I know Reborns aren't everyone's thing, but seriously, if someone is willing to pay $1000 for a lifelike collectible doll, don't you think you oughta treat it with a bit more respect?

I'd imagine, although I haven't checked in at Bountiful Baby forum yet today, that Nevin and Denise might be a bit appalled and insulted. If they are not, then kudos to them for having some real alligator hide. I know the reborn lists are buzzing like mad bees.

Yes, I wrote them. I would love the opportunity to explain to Whoopi and the others what we do and why we do it.

In a nice way, of course :-)

I Wrote a Book!

I know....I can hardly believe it either. But yes, I sure did.

One reason this blog has been so woefully neglected, actually :-D

It's available now for sale through Lulu.com and also through my online store site, www.hunnybunsrebornsupply.com

Hopefully if you get it, you'll let me know what you think of it. I have some other editions planned for specific topics later on, too.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! Have a great weekend, and God bless.

More Thoughts about Fake Babies (Real Reborns)

A week has passed and the whole Fake Baby thing is getting more and more out of hand.


The media in the US has gotten wind of the UK documentary and are now looking for people to come forward and talk to them about how they use reborn dolls as substitutes for deceased babies or babies they are not able to conceive.


Most of the reborn artists I'm in contact with have either NEVER been contacted by a person wanting such a doll, or at most, have done one or two.


I want to repeat that the vast majority of reborn collectors are normal, healthy people with a firm grasp on reality, and who have a fine appreciation for the amount of love, skill, time and intense labor that go into creating a quality reborn baby doll.







**Why can't that be enough?

**Why must it be about bereavement?

**Why must it be about the extremely tiny minority of collectors who might have reality issues with their dolls?

**And most of all, WHY is that anyone's business but THEIRS?




I had an interview this week about "Angel Babies" with the Wall Street Journal. Whether that article will be published remains to be seen.

At least I came away from the interview with a bit of insight as to why people outside the doll world might think that the main reason we make reborn babies is to replace real infants.

There are many, many "nurseries" (yes, that's what most of us call our reborn doll businesses) with the word "Heaven" or "Angel" in them. It dawned on me during the WSJ interview that that's the implication that the media are picking up on.

Get it? Angel Baby = deceased baby.

Not to cast aspersions on any nursery name with that sort of title. Shoot, when I was new to reborning and trying to come up with a good name, I went through a 100 names with Heaven's this and Angel that. All the good ones were taken :-) Hence, HunnyBuns. (there's a story to that, but it's for another day). Hey, some of my best friends have Heaven or Angel in their nursery title....

Just sayin'.
The public is a bit confused as to why all the references to heaven and angels.

Ok. So let me tell you why we like names like that.

Most reborn artists are women. Most of us dearly love babies. We love dolls. It's what got us interested in the art of reborning to begin with. We enjoy re-making dolls over into what can fool anyone into thinking for a moment it's a real live infant. We all get a kick out of that. I know collectors enjoy the realism as well.

But I think deep in a lot of women's hearts is the belief that babies (real ones) are indeed, a gift from God (whatever their perception of Him may be). A true gift from Heaven. That a new baby is a tiny angel sent to earth. Something along those lines, anyway.

That's where the Heaven and Angel thing comes from. Not because most reborn dolls are created to replace a dead infant.

Google Fake Baby today and see what you come up with. It's not pretty, folks.

I hope that those who agree with me (and I know there are many) will continue to speak out and educate those outside the doll world who are confused and thinking we're all a pack of loons who can't separate reality from fantasy.

Oh...and for those of you that think we ARE all a bunch of loons, and that reborn dolls are creepy and sick, well...you're entitled to your opinion! Have a nice day anyway :-D