Hello! Today, Ayumi would like to show you how to modify your Dollfie’s vinyl head so that they can wear acrylic eyes! This lesson will demonstrate advanced techniques, so please only attempt this if you are comfortable doing so. And remember, be careful when using sharp objects!
Do you like the open eye look? If so, try it with this lesson! Our lovely model here is a New-EB J (Normal Skin) Dollfie modified by Ayumi. She is wearing Navy Grey 8mm Acrylic Eyes, and Dollfie Plus Wig L4 in color E14 (Mix Camel). She is also wearing an ensemble from our Who's That Girl 'Natural Love' and 'Wish' clothing collections, all of which can be found on our website.
Follow below for the tutorial!
Before we get started, make sure you have all of your supplies! Here’s a list of things that were used for this demonstration:
-Pencil
-Tamiya Craft Knife (or similar knife)
-Diamond Files
-8mm Acrylic Eyes
-Painting Supplies (For Make-up)
-Bent Tweezers
-Glue Gun
- Multi-use Clear Glue
Step 1-1
Step 1-1: Using a pencil, lightly draw the eye shape you want. Ayumi chose to draw a smaller, more realistic eye for her Dollfie, but you can do whatever you’d like!
Step 1-2
Step 2-1
Step 2-1: After you have drawn out the quarter section/headcap, you are going to cut through the vinyl along the penciled line using your Knife. If you are having difficulties cutting, you may use a hair dryer to soften the vinyl first. Once you have cut out the headcap, you should have something similar to what is pictured. When you are done you may want to place your headcap in a secure place, since you won’t be needing it again until the last step of this lesson.
Step 2-2
Step 2-2: Still using your Knife, begin cutting the eyes, one at a time, along the inside of the penciled line; doing this will allow you to safely expand the eye to the right shape in the next step.
Step 2-3 (Not Pictured): After you’ve completed cutting both eyes along the inside of the penciled eye shape, go back with your Knife and expand the eyes by carefully cutting your way along the penciled line, acheiving your desired eye shape.
Step 3-1
Step 3-1: After succefully expanding the eyes, you should have a good looking pair of open eyes that are both similar in shape and size, just like Ayumi’s vinyl head! But, as you can see in the picture, you may notice that your eyes are a bit rough around the edges, so what you will want to do is sand them as explained in the next step.
Step 3-2 (Not Pictured): Using a Diamond File, suitable to your preference, file the rough edges along the eye line. You will want to sand them at an angle, making sure the angled edge is inside the head. You may file through the eyeholes from the front of the head or through the back until a desired smoothness has been acheived.
Step 3-3 (Not Pictured): Also, at some point during filing, you will want to try on the Acrylic Eyes for size, just case you need to make some adjustments. Depending on the size of your eyeholes and desired look, you will want to use either a 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm Acrylic Eye.
- Step 4-1
Step 4-1: Once you have filed the eyes to a suitable smoothness, and sized the Acrylic Eyes, you are then ready to paint your Dollfie’s face however you’d like! Ayumi decided to paint on the eyelashes, but you could even add Dollfie Eyelashes for a more realistic look! Once you have completed painting a masterpiece, please place your head in a safe area to dry before setting in the eyes.
Step 5-1
Step 5-1: Once your Dollfie’s make-up has dried, then it is time to put in the eyes! To set the eyes in place, you can either use a low temperature Glue Gun or some Eye Putty, but first you will want to decide the position of the eyes. You can either place the eyes looking up, to the side, or forward. Ayumi has her Dollfie’s eyes looking forward; and for a more natural look, she has adjusted the eyes so that pupil reaches the upper eye line. Once you have decided the position of your Dollfie’s eyes, then you are ready to set them in place.
- Step 5-2:
Step 5-2: To secure the eyes in place to the position desired you will need to surround the eyes, one at a time, with either a Glue Gun, or Eye Putty. To do this you will need to physically hold the eye still while you surround it with the glue or putty. For this we reconmend using a pair of Bent Tweezers to hold the eye in place since they are small, easy to manuever, and safer to use in the situation of using a Glue Gun. As you can see, Ayumi used a Glue Gun to secure the eyes in; it looks a bit messy, but it gets the job done! Once you have secured the eyes in, check them from the front to make sure they are postioned correctly. If you need to re-adjust them, you will have no trouble doing so with Eye Putty; but, if you are using a Glue Gun, please try to make any adjustments while the glue is still warm. Once you have successfully completed this step, you are almost done!
- Step 6-1
Step 6-1: Now that you have faithfully completed Steps 1-1 through 5-2, you are now ready to attach the headcap to the head. Ayumi used a multi-use clear glue, but you can use any glue suitable for vinyl to attach the headcap on. Once the glued headcap has dried, then you are finshed!
- Step 7-1
Step 7-1: Well, you’re almost finished. You still need to give your Dollfie some hair and clothes! With your modified Dollfie, you can either use a Dollfie Plus Wig, or Rooting Hair; if you are going to root the hair though, please be careful around the headcap! But, no matter which hair or clothing you use, the main allure is sure to come from your Dollfie’s beautiful, wide, eyes!
We hope you enjoyed this lesson! Please continue to watch our blog for more! =^_^= Meow!
