Something girly....

I had been thinking for a while how I can "feminize" the tin can people, and I may have found a solution.... Maybe.... ;)

I used a 390ml Coke bottle to make a kind-of mannequin in a tutu. It's still a working concept, but I think it turned out OK?

More refining to be done, but it's getting there. ;)

Purple elf...

So, I have tried a slightly different shaped bottle, just to see what would happen. It started its life dispensing mayonnaise, but turned it over. It'sw much smaller than the coffee containers, and due to the shape, caused a few issues.

Since it was narrower at the top, I had use spacers for the arms. I used a flat clear bead to use as a spacer, but then it looked strange putting the arm straight on it, so I used some eyelet screws. A couple of extra beads made elbows and knees, so he is fully articulated. Its all tied together with beading wire, and some knots and glue.

He started very differently, and kind of evolved into his final state. 

Lots of materials used to make him - plastic container, sample cup, beads, wood and wire. His hat is the top of a sauce bottle and his feet are biscuits used for joinery. His nose is a wood plug. ;)

I put a bag of beans inside him, also, to stop him from potentially toppling over. He is pretty stable already, but if he's hanging over a ledge, he could easily be knocked off. 

Anyway, he is a different style, that I may try again. He was challenging, but successful, I think? :)

Three little soldiers...

Aren't they looking good as a trio?

I think I know what everyone is getting for Christmas! ;)

I still have two in progress, so best get back to it! :) As you can see, I did end up adding his little beard. He looked a little unfinished without it......

Bride progress

It's taken a while, but I finally made some progress on my tin can bride. 

So, her legs are done, stockings are on, but not sure how to deal with shoes yet. I experimented with some stryrofoam, but it doesn't carve very well, plus I made them too small so back to the drawing board. I made bigger feet and took the corners off, so will have to sand and shape them and see how they look. I only have basic tools, so it was hard to hold the wood while I cut at this angle. I may have to rethink this and make some sort of jig.....

Her dress is together and attached. She has borrowed the Grooms legs for now, but you get the idea...

I have some beads and stuff for the dress, which will come later...

Also trying to do some hair. I saw a tutorial on YouTube on using Mod Podge on a plastic bag/cling wrap base which makes a cap, of sorts, that you glue the hair onto. First attempt was not so great, since I didn't have Mod Podge, only PVA. This is too rubbery to work properly, so I have started again with some decoupage medium and we will see how that goes... If I have to get Mod Podge, then I will, but that stuff ain't cheap!! ;)

I also upgraded my Groom's trousers as they seemed too black, so they now have a white trim on the side....

Hopefully, I will get motivated over the rest of the Easter weekend, and we will see some more progress... I have been a little low on motivation lately - I need to clean up my space to refresh myself. I have a doll I want to make, but I need to make some space to cut out the pieces out without glue and tools in the way. I have already cleaned out the shed and bought some new tubs as the clear ones went all brittle, filled them up, now just to put them back in the shed. Hopefully the weather will hold out an I can get some stuff done.... ;)

Groom progress...

Starting to get an idea of how this is working. Quite pleased with the results, so far ;)

Arms are on, hair is on... Still waiting for the glue to set, hence the pins, and he's looking a little scruffy, but I can trim that up later. The hat I already had, but I think it's a perfect size. 

This is the first time I have used the ball for a hand, and it works great! Bought more this morning :)

Still deciding on how to do the face. I don't think I will be able to paint directly on the head, as it is so glossy. I may have to try the painted vilene that I used for Dorothy....

Top hats and tails...

Been toying with the idea of making a Bride and Groom couple based on the toy soldiers, so since I was all on my own today, I cranked up the radio and off I went!

The groom is going to be in full formal with tails, and I hope I can reuse the coat pattern for future soldiers ;)

 

Still waiting for the paint to dry on the tin, but you get the idea......

I hope this will work.... The bride is going to be more complex, but I think it will be fun. Maybe...

How I made my Minion

Supplies:

Cardboard tin - coffee, custard, gravy, etc

Styrofoam balls

Paint

Plain paper

Spray paint -yellow and black

Glue - PVA works fine

Dowell

Screws

Denim

Iron-on Vilene 

Ribbon

Googly eyes

Plastic tube to fit eyes

Cardstock 

Split pins

Coated wire

Pens and pencils

Assorted tools -screwdriver, drill, hammer, cutters

First, make sure your ball is going to fit the tin. You can do this by placing the ball in the neck of the tin.

Cut the ball in half - I use an old serrated bread knife - and glue it to the BOTTOM of the tin.

Cover the ball with layers of glue. The tin, in this case, is quite dark, so I painted a layer of white to lighten it before covering with paper, which was measured to fit with a small overlap. Make sure any bubbles are removed as you go.

Once it is dry, cover with two light layers of spray paint. Allow to dry completely between coats. The paper layer on the body absorbs most of the first layer. The second creates the glossy appearance. Be prepared for a bit of a lingering odour, but this will disperse once dry.  

While this is drying, you can go ahead with making the legs. Cut the dowell to length, and mark the centre of each end. I punched the centre with a nail, and used my screws to make the holes. You can pre-drill if necessary. Also, mark the location of the legs on the lid and make the holes. 

Test screw the legs in place.

To make the shoes, take a smaller ball and cut in half. Trim each half by cutting a bit off each side.

Drill a hole in the other end of the dowell to accommodate a length of bamboo skewer. Glue in place.

Cover the styrofoam with layers of glue and allow to dry. This can then be sprayed with paint and set aside.  (I used a chunk of pool noodle and bamboo skewers to hold up my shoes. Pool noodles are the most useful things!! And cheap, too. :) )

Trace pattern for overalls onto iron-on vilene. Do not cut out! At this point you can also cut a strip of vilene wide enough for the legs. 

Add the stitching details to the trousers.

Trim on the lines...

... and glue in place on the base of the tin. Cut the strip to fit onto the legs. Trim if necessary.

Put glue on the end of the legs and secure feet in place.

Make the goggles by trimming tubing to the depth required. Paint or trim with foil. Allow to dry and glue eyes in place from the back. Glue ribbon trim in place along edge of tin and glue on the eye/eyes.

Choose the hair type, then make the holes in the head for the hair strands. Insert the lengths of wire and mold them to fit. Once happy, glue in place.

Draw mouth design onto scrap paper. Colour with pens and pencils. Trim and glue into place. I made several types, and tend to freehand draw a bunch and see which one suits best. In this case, he has a toothy smile

I painted the top of the split pins to blend them in better. I have done this on before on Dorothy, and simply sprayed the tops with paint after an undercoat of gesso.

Trace the arms onto some cardstock, then lightly sprayed on both sides. You can see the bubbles where my paint was a little thick. My bad! It's still ok on the other side... ;)

Once dry, cut out the shapes. Paint the gloves with black paint. Mark the holes and put through the pins. Given the narrow piece, I trimmed the pin once it was flattened out, so it cannot be seen from the front.

Pop them onto the body with the split pins, and open the pins as flat as possible inside the tin. Put the legs back on....

And that's it!! Minion number two is done!!

They are a naughty pair.....

I have 4 more prepped for paint, so let's see where I go from here! :)

Meet my Minion!!

Made from a coffee tin and half a styrofoam ball, I am pleased how he turned out!

Since he is the first, I had to experiment to get the right look. Firstly, I tried covering with yellow felt, but was unsuccessful on the curved top. Secondly, I tried a paintbrush. Better, but not as flat and shiny as I would like. I know spray paint and styrofoam don't mix, but in order to get the shiny look I needed, I had to work out how to make it work.

(I was trying techniques on two at the same time. Will try and take pics on the other one as I go. This one has been painted, but already has two layers of glue already on the styrofoam....)

I tried with paint as an undercoat but it didn't work so well. Instead, I used two coats of glue. Yes, glue!! The type that dries clear, cheap and cheerful... Worked BRILLIANTLY!!

To get the body flat, I used plain paper to cover the streaks from the paint. Two coats of gloss yellow, and I am done!! Bonus feature - easy application of the hair, since it can just be stuck into the foam!

Next, eyes. Looking at pics of various Minions, you can see they all have their individual features - one eye or two eyes, big or small - but they all have the silver goggles. I already had some pvc tubing (used for necks on previous can people) that fit perfectly with the googly eyes that I already had. How to make the silver?? Aluminium foil! Worked ok, but will try silver paint next time.... Anyway, I glued the eyes in and job done! The band is ribbon, with the eyes glued on top.

Clothes next.... I taped some paper on and traced out the outline of the overalls. Once I removed it and  tidied up the pattern, I traced it onto iron-on vilene and fused to the back of some denim. Worked ok, but will try some lighter weight fabric next time. 

This is the first time I have used actual legs, and although they are bigger than the cartoon, they need to be for stability. I actually turned my tin upside down, so the lid is at the bottom. I could still access the inside to add the arms, and this made the legs so easy to do. I bought a length of dowell, cut it into a random length, put holes in the ends and screwed the to the inside of the lid. Then I covered it with denim to match the overalls and glued them on.

The feet were another challenge. How can I give him more stability? Bring on another styrofoam ball, smaller this time, cut in half then trimmed to create a shoe-like shape. Another two coats of glue, and a coat of gloss black spray paint, and voila! I had originally planned on using a screw up through the foot and into the dowell, but this was not successful. Instead, I grabbed a bamboo skewer and glued into the leg, then I just pushed into the foot with some more glue. Awesome!!

So, what about arms?? Cardboard, spray paint, cut out, black out the gloves, holes, split pins, done! 

Finally, some hair. I bought some tie wire from the hardware, poked some holes in the foam and stuck in short lengths of wire.

For his mouth, I just freehand drew some designs on paper, coloured with pencils and Textas, picked the best one and glued it on.

I now have all the tools to make more of these! So much fun!! 

Banana!! ;)

The faces of Oz

So, I have been deliberating on how to do the faces on Dorothy and her friends, and discovered something that might work! I was reluctant to paint straight on, in case I made a mistake, so glueing on the features would be the easiest way to go. But how???

I found a pic on Google where the eyes were painted on a linen or tight woven fabric, then cut out and attached to the face. I didn't want them to fray, so I tried painting on some heavily pressed vilene, and it worked great!! I drew the design on paper, then copied it onto some vilene, painted it, waited for it to dry, then simply cut it out!! 

The hole on the lip is where I put a pin while testing - probably should have put it closer to the line, but it worked really well, so I will just have to live with it ;)

Tin man also got a heart and an axe....

Scarecrow got a diploma (braaaiiiins... LOL!)

And Cowardly Lion got a bravery medal (that will most likely be replaced, but it's what I had)

I think they turned out pretty good? I will definitely be trying this technique again... In fact, Toto is waiting for his face to be done. I'm not totally happy with it, so will live with it for a while and see how I feel before it's attached permanently....