One Sixth Sense - Tutorial - Closing a Toothy Smile #1

Click below to learn how to close a mouth by "filling the gap".

The tooth extraction in this tutorial was not as dramatic as it would have been had a doll with a bigger smile been used. However, the technique used is the same no matter how wide the grin. Use this method to remove the teeth and preserve the lip width and shape. Should you want your smiley faced doll to have no teeth but fuller lips, try Method #2. Click below to go to that tutorial. Thank you! Have fun pulling teeth!

Step 5

Now you're going to gently squeeze the doll's face in the opposite direction to close the mouth. Use a fingertip below her chin and, at the same time, push down on the top of her head. Make sure you have the lips situated the way you want them because that glue you applied will STICK. Hold the lips together for about 20 seconds and then ease up on the pressure a bit. Watch closely to make certain that the lips don't separate. Release.

Voila! Your doll now has a closed mouth smile.

Step 4

Closing the Gap:

Again, gently squeeze the doll's face between your fingertips so that the mouth opens. Say, "Ahhhhhh!" Just kidding. Carefully place a small amount of glue inside the gap, along the flat interiors of the lips. Don't use too much. You don't want the glue to ooze out at the corners and make a gloppy (very scientific term) mess. Count to five. Not six. Not four. FIVE. Move to the next step quickly before SIX happens!

Step 2

Now it's time to yank out those teeth. Ouch! Firmly grasp the doll's head in one hand and, using the knife tool in the other hand, carefully slice into the vinyl just under the doll's upper lip. Try to slice, not saw. You want a smooth cut. If necessary, slice lightly in one fluid motion to give yourself a "groove", and then slice again, this time completely through the vinyl. Be very careful around your fingers! Repeat the slicing process just above the lower lip.

Step 3

Gently squeeze in on the doll's cheeks to enlarge the mouth opening, and remove the vinyl "teeth" with tweezers. After removing the undesired vinyl piece, you might see tiny uneven pieces of vinyl still inside the mouth. Use your blade to carefully shave off any of these pieces. Remove with tweezers.

Closing a Smile - Method #1: Cut & Glue

D.D.'s

for the diminutive diva

One Sixth Sense

and OSS Unlimited for Doll Art in 1/4 Scale

OSS Tutorial

Step 1

The first thing you need to do is remove the doll's lip/mouth color. If you're going to do a full repaint, you might as well take off all the facial screening. I use straight acetone and cotton swabs. I buy my acetone at a beauty supply store. It works well without causing me any stress. Stress causes wrinkles. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it. After removing the face paint, I wash the vinyl with a gentle soap and water. Pat dry. I've been told that this cleansing/neutralizing step is unnecessary; however, it gives me peace of mind, so I do it. You can choose to do it or not. It's your call.

Items Needed:

Smiley Faced Doll

SHARP Exacto Knife or Similar Tool

Tweezers

Instant Krazy Glue

Immediately After Surgery

After a Full Facial.

Neither D.D.'s One Sixth Sense nor the artist has any affiliation whatsoever with any doll company or manufacturer.