- Finger bandage, as sold by chemists, makes wonderful quick and easy socks for your dolls. Just snip off the required length
and stitch the foot seam.
- Old socks, especially in bright colours, can be made into attractive shorts, skirts or jumpers for small dolls - just cut a section
from the top and sew, hem, or make two holes for arms, as necessary.
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Ballpoint ink marks on vinyl dolls can be removed by an application of Oxy-10 cream (from chemists). Leave the cream on the
ink mark for a week, then rinse off. Bad stains might need two applications. (Note - it's worked on our dolls, but we can take
no responsibility for its performance on yours! If in doubt, try in an obscure place first.)
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A light smear of baby oil rubbed over a vinyl doll imparts a good as new shine.
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It's often cheaper to buy baby shoes to fit your large dolls from a cheap 'saver-type' shop, rather than buy the equivalent size
doll shoes.
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If you buy new dolls, always keep the packaging and any advertising leaflets. In years to come, they will greatly add to the
dolls' value.
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Small-size baby clothes are perfect for many dolls, and can often be obtained cheaply from boot sales. Of course, if the doll is
very special, you could buy a brand new, really pretty outfit from a babywear shop.
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If a vinyl doll is grimy, try using a mild all-purpose household liquid cleanser. Put it on the doll neat, work in one area at a
time, and rinse well before starting on the next area.
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Try to avoid immersing vinyl dolls in water, because the water stays inside the body often for weeks, and can cause
deterioration of the vinyl.
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Never store dolls in plastic bags - it makes the vinyl sweat. Also, ensure that dolls on shelves aren't touching painted walls.
Over a period of time the paint can make marks on the dolls.
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Store sleep-eyed dolls face-down, so that the eyes remain open. If you store them on their backs, the eyes might stick closed.
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Lots of dolls nowadays are battery operated, but never leave a battery inside the doll. It might leak and ruin the mechanism.
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List all your doll purchases in a notebook, including a description, the date purchased, where purchased, and what you paid.
Not only is this useful for insurance purposes, it means that you have an instant record of your collection. If possible, make a
copy to leave at a bank, or with a friend.
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Even better is to photograph each doll and to store the photos and details on a computer. Make back - up disk copies.
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Many people keep track of their collection by using tie-on labels around their dolls' wrists, to record the make, date, mark, and
any other relevant details. This means that you don't have to pick up the doll to search for her mark. You could give each doll
a code number at the same time, to make listing easier.
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Miniature print fabric can often be bought from craft shops which specialise in patchwork supplies. These fabrics are ideal for small dolls, as often a 'normal' size patterned material can seem out of proportion.
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Look round flea markets for broken jewellery and odd earrings - they make excellent brooches, bracelets, hair-ornaments and
necklets for dolls.
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Never store dolls in plastic carrier bags, use paper bags, card boxes or wicker baskets, and always line them with white acid -
free tissue paper. Not only can plastic cause dolls - especially vinyl ones - to sweat, the colour can come off the bag and stain
the doll.
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If you want to display a group of small dolls such as Sindy or Barbie - perhaps you are taking them as an exhibit at a show -
try displaying them in one of those large boxes with acetate lids which originally held Christmas crackers. Not only do the dolls
look attractive behind the acetate, it keeps them dust-free - and if you're taking them to an exhibition hall where people might be
smoking, it keeps them free from fumes.
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Set aside a hairbrush especially for dolls. Don't use your own, as traces of grease will be spread onto the doll's hair, which not
only will cause deterioration of mohair, it will also attract dust and dirt.
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Fashionable acrylic-hair scrunchies and false segments/plaits can be adapted to fit a bald small doll. They can also be used for
rerooting the hair of modern fashion dolls.
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