Welcome to

Lasting Memories Nursery

Hi, my name is Debra Jadick, I am the owner and the Artist here at Lasting Memories Nursery.  I have decided to write a guide to help beginners and people that are just curious to what reborning is.

What is Reborning?

Reborning is when you take a manufactured doll and you completly disassemble it, strip the paint, perhaps sand the head if the doll has molded hair, remove the eyes, and eyelashes.  Once you have completed these steps you then paint many many thin layers, root hair one strand at a time, insert realistic eyes, root or apply eyelashes, realistically weight the doll and reassemble it.

What is Newborning?

Newborning is when you purchase a doll kit.  The kit will come to you without any paint, and disassembled.  You are starting with a clean slate and you can begin the reborn process right away with little to no preparing of the kit.

Most Reborn Artist use the term "Reborn" and not "Newborning" So I will follow suit and be using only the term "Reborn" to describe both.  Lets get started. 

How I became a Reborn Artist

You have stumbled across reborn babies.  Whether it was a television show or browsing the internet somehow you came in contact with these incredible life-like creations of art.  You are not only amazed at how life-like these babies are but you are shocked at some of the prices that they are going for on eBay.  I was exactly like you! 

I heard a little news item about Reborn Babies so I decided to look them up on eBay and the internet.  Well we all know how eBay returns searches the one that has the highest bid always comes up first.  My first look at a reborn baby was one that was going for are you ready for this $7,000.00.   The baby was breathtakingly beautiful.  There was no detail that was left undone.  The price that the bids were up to was shocking.  After I got over the shock and looked at other babies I had an idea.  I thought to myself "Hey you can do that and make that kind of money you could then get out of being a truck driver!"  Oh, I forgot to mention I am also a truck driver that hauls explosives here in the United States to all of our Military Branches.  Now, be truthful.  The first time you saw one of these babies you most likely thought the same thing.  Who wouldn't.  It didn't look like it was that hard to do and I did have experience painting ceramics. Okay so it was mostly ceramic christmas ornaments but hey I just knew that I could do this.  So what did I do.  Before researching what went into these babies and how they were created I bought every used doll in sight.  Once I had a stockpile of used dolls I proceeded to try and remove the paint.  Now remember I haven't read anything yet about how this is done.  I tried regular household paint remover, I tried goo b gone, goof off, and finally acetone.  Just removing the paint was pretty easy when I got to the acetone.  I then decided to google "reborn babies", "fake babies" and every other term I could think of to find some instructions.  I found tons of tutorials.  I grabbed the first one and I was on my way.  WRONG.  I followed the tutorial step by step.  The tutorial told me to use Purple Rit Dye as an inside rinse, I did this, the tutorial told me to use acrylic paints, I did this. The tutorial told me to weight the baby with sand, I did this. This is the baby that I created.

Not to bad for my first attempt.  I was very happy and in love with this art.  I went to work that week with a smile on my face.  Came back home after 5 days on the road excited to see my baby!  Got in the house and my smile turned to horror and tears.  My beautiful baby girl looked like she had been ran over by a truck!  The purple rit dye that the tutorial told me to use on the inside bled to the outside and caused what looked like massive bruising from severe trauma.  I was devastated. 

After I got over the shock I immediately got on the computer and did more searches.  Come to find out most of the tutorials I found are so outdated it wasn't even funny.  I then decided to join some yahoo groups.  This was also new to me and I joined every group there was regarding Reborn Babies.  Of course I set them all up to receive individual mail since I didn't want to miss out on any help.  The next morning I turned on the computer and went to check my mail.  I had over 5000 emails!!!  I jumped right in and started reading and asking questions.  I was told what supplies I needed and didn't need, how to root and how not to root, what to weight with and what you should never use.  But please remember this.  Reborning is an ART.  Artist differ in their techniques.  I had information over load. I picked bits and pieces out of everything and bought more supplies from many many different suppliers.  I was determined to make this work.  I had a goal to get out of the truck!!!  I spent entirely way to much money on supplies and it seemed like just when I thought I had everything I would need something else.  I finally finished my second baby.  Here she is while I was doing her.  If you scare easily dont look.  I had no idea how to root hair! How to do eyebrows either.  I ended up having to pull all of her hair out and do some more reading on how to root hair.

This is what she turned out like.

Okay stop laughing.  I know no baby in the history of the world has ever been born with this much hair.  I have to tell you though.  Lily Marie, thats what I named her, is now living with her new Mommy in IL.    Okay so I didn't get $7000.00 for her.  I probably ended up losing money on her but... someone bought one of my babies.  There was no stopping me now.  I began another baby immediately,  I was finished with him in 2 days!  Here he is, little Christopher, who has also been adopted.  I was brave and decided to root his eyebrows and eyelashes because it is really hard to draw the eyebrows and a pain to glue the eyelashes.  Have you noticed I didn't put that much hair this time lol.

Well now I know there is no stopping me.  Im getting better at least in my own mind.  Im making a couple of babies a weekend.  Remember I am only home on the weekends 34 to 48 hours a week.  I finally felt that I was good enough to justify spending $100.00 on a real doll kit.  It took me forever to find the one that I wanted.  I finally decided on a Denise Pratt, Paisley kit.  I couldn't wait to begin.  While I was waiting for her to arrive I did my homework.  I downloaded some ebooks. ( I will tell you where to get all of the information later) and I kept working on my dolls.

Paisley finally arrived.  I opened the box took out the kit and was amazed at how soft the vinyl was, how translucent it was.  This was a whole new experience for me.  No more hard heads to root, no more stripping paint I had a blank slate to start with.  I followed the ebook step by step.  It took me weeks to reborn her.  Finally she was completed.  I just had to add the Arlene tears to her eyes... I did and they ruined her eyes.  It wasn't the tears fault it was the eyes that I had tried to save money on.  Now what.  I have this baby and no eyes.  Im not a patient person so I ripped the eyes out of another dolls head.  Well actually it was a head that I got to showcase wigs.  I named her Emily and I fell head over heels in love!

I discovered what reborning was all about when I created Emily.  It isnt about the money that you think you can make because believe me you will spend more than you will ever make.  It isn't about rushing thru a baby just to get him or her listed on eBay.  Reborning has to come from the heart.  It is truly an act of love creating these babies.  You will go through a wide range emotions with each baby that you create.  From being happy with the baby to angry or mad that something is going right with him or her, to so excited when someone adopts one of your creations to tears when you box him or her up to go to their forever homes.  If you are in it for the money stop reading here.  Because nothing I can say or do will every help you.  But if you are willing to put your heart into creating an amazing work of art I will tell you how to do it.  Thank You for letting me share my story.  Now for what you really came here for.  KNOWLEDGE.

REBORN 101

The first thing that you need to realize is that Reborning is EXPENSIVE!   Did you get that?  Reborning is Expensive!  That being said.  I have already did all the wrong things and spent thousands of dollars learning this art.  Im here to save you from making the same costly mistakes that I made.

You will need to purchase supplies.  I sell a couple of different reborn beginners kits.  Believe me when I say this.  You will need everything in this kit to reborn a baby.  You will pay less money if you purchase a kit then if you buy each item seperately.  

  Here is a picture of a Bountiful Baby Starter Kit.

 I know that seems like a lot of money but you will get everything you need including a doll kit to complete your first baby.  The paints will last you for the next 9 babies if you use them correctly.   I purchase my mohair from Mohair by Debbie.  She has incredibly soft baby fine mohair.  I used Secrists hair once and what was supposed to be blonde hair made my baby look like it had Dennis Rodman (orange hair tattooed basketball player) for a Father.   Now this is just my opinion and thoughts.  You are more than welcome to purchase mohair thru Secrist.  I said before each Artist has their own techniques and preferences.

These are all of the supplies except for the fine glass beads,  and poly-fill that you will need to complete your baby.  I want to be honest with you here so I am going to tell you where to purchase your glass beads.  I purchase mine thru Harbor Freight.  The glass beads are used for sand blasting.  So if you know someone who is a sand blaster you can get them thru that person.  Home Depot and Lowes do not carry them at least not where I live.   I also sell them if you don't want to have to store 50 pounds of them.    These beads have the consistency of fine white sand.  They have to be sealed into the arms and legs or they will leak.  

The poly-fil you can purchase at your local Wal-Mart.  Or you can even purchase a new pillow and simply cut the pillow case open.  The inside is exactly what you are getting when you purchase poly-fill.  Sometimes you can find pillows on sale if you are watching money.  Poly-fill is really cheap though and should only cost you no more than $5.00 for a small bag.

Okay.  We have covered all of the supplies that you will need and where you can purchase them at.

You still are not ready to begin.  I know you want to but trust me.  The next thing you need to do is join some yahoo groups.  I highly recommend International Reborn Doll Artists.  There are yearly dues which I believe are $18.00 but don't quote me on the amount.  There are a ton of yahoo groups that you can join that are free but IRDA is a must.  The members of this group are the founders of the Art of Reborning.  Stephanie Sullivan, the lady that you see in all of the Secrist tutorials in the owner of this group.  All of the big named Reborn Artist are members.  The knowledge that you will get by paying $18.00 is incredible!  There are online tutorials that you get for free.  Any question that you have can and will be answered in this group.  This is the one group that is recognized and respected throughout the reborn community.  I am a proud member of this group.  As I stated earlier, I joined every group that was out there.  I am currently the member of two groups IRDA and Reborn Baby Dolls.  I found the other groups had to many topics that were not about reborning and to much in fighting among members.  You will not find any fighting at all in the two groups that I mentioned.  We do go off topic once in awhile but most of the conversation is about this wonderful art.  So please join some groups and gain some knowledge.  Do the online tutorials ask questions do all of this before you begin painting, while you are painting and when you are finished painting show your picture to the group, for encouragement, compliments, and yes constructive criticism because this is what you are there for to learn.  I also highly recommend going to lulu dot com.  and downloading some eBook tutorials.  I personally use Stephanie Sullivan's book and Jeannine Holper's books.  I personally like the eBooks because I can print them out and put them in a binder to use while I am painting.  Here is a baby that I did using one of Jeannine's Books.

Olivia by Debra Jadick, Lasting Memories Nursery LLC

Olivia is an Adrie Stoete , Sydney kit.  She is available for adoption.  Her adoption fee is $299.00

All right you are ready to begin!!  One last thing before you begin remember this.  You are supposed to gain enjoyment from Reborning a baby.  When it starts to feel like it is a job, or something that you need to just get through.  WALK AWAY!  TAKE A BREAK!  The baby isn't going anywhere.  I promise.

LETS GET STARTED

Once your supplies arrive you need to get organized.  Find a quiet place in your home that won't be easily contaminated with pet hair, cigarette smoke, cooking smells and yes kids and husbands or wives too!  Most Reborn Artist use a cookie sheet and a clean white lint free towel.  Well, I don't know about you but I can't seem to find a lint free towel anywhere so I use this handy little device.

 Reborn Rack $18.00 + shipping in my ebay store.

I call this the Reborn Rack it is a piece of wood as the base with holes drilled into it and then wooden dowels put into the holes.  I use it to bake the babies in oven and I now have no lint problems.  I also use it while I am painting.  When I finish with one limb I place it back onto the rack so that it begins to dry.  This prevents any marks from a towel getting into the paint.

Now, If you have done all the things I have told you to do  you will have a couple of ways that you can now mix you palette and a couple of different techniques to try out.  So I won't go into how to mix the palette.  I will tell you a few things though about the paint.

GENESIS HEAT SET PAINTS.

Genesis Heat Set Paints are highly concentrated oil paints.  You only use a very very tiny amount and then you thin down this tiny amount with paint thinner.  I use Mona Lisa paint thinner.  I find it works the best.  GHSP will not dry out.  I have left a jar open for a week and came back home and it was fine.  What does this mean.  It means that you have to bake the baby in the oven to make the paint dry and adhere to the vinyl.  If you bought a kit it came with an oven thermometer.  If you didn't buy the kit and you didn't buy the thermometer you have to buy it before you can begin to paint.  Here is  picture of it.

 price $14.99

Please take this part seriously.  I was shocked to discover that my oven which is only a couple of years old was extremely off in its temperature.   The last thing that you want is to open the oven and discover a melted baby.  Also if the temperature is to low the paint will not dry completly and you will be left with a mess!  So please make sure that you have the oven thermometer.  Here is another hint.  Turn your oven on before you begin painting.  Sure the hubby or the wife might throw a fit because of the electricity but guess what.  My electric bill actually went down after I started reborning.  I leave the oven on for 12 hours sometimes and my bill hasn't gone up yet.  If you have a gas oven I don't recommend doing that gas prices are to high!

LETS BEGIN TO PAINT

Okay so you have your supplies, your oven is warming up and you have your palette ready to go.  Now what.  With the biggest brush that you have and a cosmetic sponge you begin your journey into the reborn world.   Dab your brush into the paint mixture that you are using and apply it to the sponge.  Don't dab the sponge into the mixture you will soak the sponge too much and create a mess.  Once the sponge (one side) is coated begin pouncing.  What is pouncing?  Pouncing is a up and down movement with the sponge.  Make sure that you go up and down up and down up and down. If you smear it you will not get the same effect.  Once you finish the first layer on ALL  of the parts place them in your oven to bake.  You will be amazed at how much can be accomplished around the house in 8 mins.  The time that the baby has to bake.  You then go onto your next layer.  Again I don't know which tutorial you are using so I won't say which paints to mix.  You continue the same method for each layer.

TIPS

The layers are supposed to be almost invisible.  If you have to much paint on the baby take a clean sponge and dip it into the paint thinner then use the pouncing method to thin out the paint on the part.

Let the parts flash dry before baking.  This means let the shine of the paint disappear before placing the parts in the oven.

Let the parts bake for the full 8 mins.  If they are not baked enough the paint will not adhere completly to the vinyl.  To make sure that it has set completly in the vinyl use a slightly damp q-tip and gently wipe the vinyl.  If paint comes off then you either did not let it bake enough, your temperature is off or you have used to much paint.

Let the parts COOL completly between layers.  Remember Genesis is a Heat Set Paint.  If the parts are warm it will cause the paint to start setting before you are ready. 

Always start with a light version of the color you want.  It is easier to add another layer of that color than it is to take a layer off.

If you mess up don't freak out!  The worst thing that can happen with the paint is that you have to strip the parts and start again. 

Take your time.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  Pay close attention to details.  Take the parts outside and look at them in the daylight.  Look at them under house lights from all angles. 

Most Importantly have fun.  You are making a baby.  Okay so it may not be as much fun as making a real baby but it is pretty darn close!

If you have any questions ask your group members or email me.  Believe me no question is stupid.  I have asked everything and have done some pretty crazy things like catching the microwave on fire when learning to root the hair.  I will tell you all about rooting in my next guide. 

 Thank You for reading my guide.  If you have enjoyed it please click the useful button.

 Good luck and I can't wait to see your babies.

Debbie Jadick

Lasting Memories Nursery

http://stores.ebay.com/lasting-memories-nursery

Here is one of my recent babies.