Make Reborn Dolls for Fun and Profit by KATRINA STEPHENS

Surely a new hobby of creating reborn dolls is not for every single crafter or collector. But reborn dolls are making the scene around the country. Although the time spent in the art of crafting dolls has been around for ever, creating OOAK (one of a kind) reborn dolls has evolved to interesting and large proportions over the past nine years. Doll makers and artists have perfectly refined painting methods to create realistic babies. They don't stop at the outward appearance either, by including technical elements such as a heartbeat simulator, these creations are truly life-like. To reiterate, reborn dolls aren't for all collectors. To the beginner this is a strange obsession, but to the collectors who cherish these creations, the act of making and owning these works of art provide an uncommon pleasure. Although not everyone will understand reborning, most people can get started in the technique with an inexpensive purchase of a reborn doll kit. From the most basic and miniature premature reborn doll kits to the sleeping toddler, you can add the enhancements as your skills develop. As mentioned above this could be a heartbeat simulator or a battery powered breathing add-on. Imagine your friends' surprise when they see a peaceful, breathing baby in a crib that has a real up and down movement simulating a beating heart! Before we dive into a long winded explanation on creating these dolls (from kits or scratch), let's talk a little more about the finished product. The term reborn doll refers to a factory made baby that has been customized. The process of customization is to repaint and enhance the baby so that it resembles a human. This is why we call the technique reborning. Every doll is as unique as the crafter who created it. Each has elements of beauty and artistry just like human babies. They come in every shape, size, and ethnicity you could imagine today. You can purchase kits or create East Indian, Caucasian, African American, and Asian dolls from a variety of markets - online or off. Existing or used dolls used for reborning have been stripped of their factory finishing touches before being refashioned into a lifelike baby. If you visit http://www.angelsupply.com/reborn-dolls you will find hundreds of finished reborns to get an idea of this specialty craft. Some of these are so realistic they make passersby do a double take. In fact it was told that in Australia last year, police officers smashed a car window parked on the road to care for an unconscious baby from a locked luxury sedan. The baby in question was a reborn doll. The same or similar report has happened in America in 2009. Before you start thinking that the police in either country weren't too aware you'll have to see some of these creations. From their skin tone to their micro- rooted hair (done with special tools and techniques), a perfectly proportioned and weighted body, these babies not only look and feel real they also make breathing movements. From a true masterpiece to a starter's kit, reborning baby dolls could be a lucrative hobby for many home crafters. In fact there are now many famous artists in this industry who sell their creations for thousands of dollars. However, should you want to just keep this as a hobby you'll want to enter slowly into the craft and discover the many tools, paints and enhancements available on the market. Men and women who custom order OoAK, handmade reborn dolls are not only collectors. Quite often these dolls are owned singly by women who yearn for a child of their own, or mothers who have had a child die and need a small crutch to get through the hardest days. These babies' chests rise and fall with every breath and when held closely emit a tiny heartbeat. What other extras are available to assist these dolls seem more true to life? Consider a reborn with a heating pack to maintain an internal temperature of 98.6F. Or a tiny complete with incubator and an oxygen nasal tube. Add a touch of fragrance that are also available in sweet milk and baby powder variety.
Kat Stephens enjoys making one of a kind Reborn Dolls. Visit the art, collection and crafting tips of doll making, including discount and specialty supplies at www.AngelSupply.com

Thank you Katrina Stephens for this wonderful article from amazines.com!
Happy Crafting!
Pam