Various books or guides on how to reborn dolls are out in the market. To choose the best ones that are specifically tailored to your needs and skill, you must check the author, the contents of the books, and of course the feedback on the books. Each book on how to reborn baby dolls offer different techniques and tips on reborning baby dolls; some are in-depth, while some offer the basic techniques.
Crafting reborn dolls started circa early 1990s in the United States and it is described as the art of creating realistic, lifelike baby dolls. The main challenge however is the actual process of touching up the reborn dolls to make it look as human as possible. The first ever reborn doll was auctioned off in 2000 on eBay which resulted in reborn hobbyists opening up online shops or ‘nurseries’ for their works. Currently, reborn dolls go 500 up to 4,000 dollars.
Reborn dolls start off as a vinyl doll or silicon-vinyl doll. Reborn artists then add layers of paint and lifelike physical features to the doll. Hobbyists can select from a variety of brands offering vinyl dolls, or purchase reborn doll kits that feature supplies and doll parts to create a reborn baby doll easily.
Jeannine Holper’s Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series
Jeannine Holper is one of the widely known reborn hobbyists and has been crafting reborns since 2002. She has also helped over 300 reborn dolls from her nursery become adopted. A workshop teacher for over 20 years, Jeannine is adept at instruction and training. She has created over 25 books on how to reborn dolls, pattern books, movies on CD and fact sheets that offer various tips on crafting reborn dolls. Some of the best guides on how to reborn baby dolls can be found in her Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series of books.
Realistic Hair for Reborn Dolls & Kits: Hand Rooting Techniques (Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series)
This book tackles the creation of realistic hair for reborn baby dolls. It includes over 150 full color pictures and is one of the more popular case studies in the Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series on how to reborn baby dolls. It presents the processes involved in crafting a reborn baby doll with realistic, hand rooted hair and includes techniques for hair rooting utilized on reborn dolls so that readers can get acquainted with both the Human and Mohair hair hand rooting techniques. The book also features basic hand rooting, micro rooting, mini rooting and the ultra micro rooting techniques used for lashes and eyebrows. Moreover, the book features step-by-step instructions, a supplies list and a section on applying wigs.
Facial Features Application & Techniques: Reborn Dolls & Kits (Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series)
In this book, hobbyists will learn how to create natural and realistic facial features to newborn reborn dolls, just born reborn dolls and reborn doll kits. It also features over 150 full color pictures. This book features tips on creating eyes including topics on baby tear ducts, making, inserting, positioning, removing and securing natural lids, and hand rooting, colors, positions and hand application for lashes. This book on how to reborn dolls also features topics on micro rooting, positions and hand application basics for eyebrows, and facial accents, cradle cap, skin spots, rosacea, baby acne and milk dots/milia for skin conditions. On noses, topics covered include birth marks, freckles, accents, and breathing and on tongues and lips, topics include tongues and gums, natural lips, wetness, taste buds, textured application, moisture and tears. Lastly, ear topics include hair colors, rooting hairline techniques and accents.
Learn To Paint Part 1: Genesis Heat Set Paints Coloring Techniques - Peaches & Cream Reborns & Doll Making Kits (Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series)
The book provides in-depth instructions on how to reborn dolls and utilize Genesis Heat Paint Sets to craft heirloom and collectible realistic reborn baby dolls. It features beginner instructions for creating a base skin tone from the inside via the application techniques of Internal ‘color wash’ and includes examples on Starling, Ming and Zoe; three of the Secrist reborn baby doll kits. It likewise features body art options and facial accents such as sleepy eyes and 100 full color photos.
Learn To Paint Collector's Edition: Genesis Heat Set Paints Coloring Techniques for Reborns & Doll Making Kits - (Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series)
This collector edition book for the Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series on how to reborn dolls features advanced and beginner techniques for perfecting that peaches and cream complexion on reborn baby dolls, reborn toddlers and newborns using the Genesis Heat Set Paints. It also covers techniques for newborn skin layering and additional bonus materials not found in the series’ books 1 and 2. Featured Secrist dolls include Taffy, an example for newborn layering techniques on medium skin tone, plus Zoe, Starling and Ming. Other topics include body art options, veining, touches on reborn doll hair, wig application, and facial accents and techniques applicable to gouache, oils, acrylics and many others. 300 full color photos are also included.
Learn the Most Reborn Coloring Techniques for Doll Kits + Soft Body Patterns (Excellence in Reborn Artistry Series)
In this book, instructions on using the most widely used color mediums utilized in doll making and reborning dolls with the use of the paint mediums gouache, Genesis Heat Set Paints, stencil crèmes, pigment inks, acrylics and oils are featured. Six large and in-depth sections covered by the book include soft doll kit patterns, applying base skin tones, body art, accents, newborn skin layering techniques and blushing the peaches and cream complexion. 300 full color pictures associated with how to reborn baby dolls are also featured.