A Barbie Doll with Green Earrings

I just love how this $1 salvaged doll turned out,  I think she was a really great find! This doll's amazing transformation is my post for Transformation Thursday which is hosted by The Shabby Chic Cottage.

I found her naked at the Greenslopes Lifeline store tied up with another Barbie and a shoeless Bratz doll for 2 dollars. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with the Bratz doll, and the other Barbie has hair in very poor condition. I'm actually wondering if I'll give up on the other dolls and maybe sell them on ebay.

This doll with green earrings was in such good condition I knew I could clean her up well so this is the second doll I 'restored'. I combed, conditioned, shampooed the hair with herbal shampoo. Then I left conditioner in the hair for 3 minutes after combing through, rinsing thoroughly when done. I washed the doll's body with shampoo also, there was a black mark that could be texta on her leg that didn't come off straight away but now it has rubbed off. I finished off the hair my smoothing some baby oil over it lightly when it had dried naturally.

I chose the lovely multi-coloured baby wool for her dress with flecks of green in it, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I added the raised ribs into it as I went along, and made it a pull-on style so it's easier for a younger child to dress the doll. The stitch on the skirt is something I saw at craft group and involves clusters of 5 trebles (English) that are separated with an English double in the middle of the cluster below. I saw this in a picture for a wedding dress for a Barbie doll.

All is left to do is make some cute scuffs for her flat feet, which have very cute pink painted toenails! I finished these orange sandals yesterday, they are a cinch to make! And because it's winter here now she looked a trifle cold in her strapless dress so I put on the green shrug I did months ago when I was trying to work out how to make one for me. The green shrug was just a random thing I did while I was trying to understand how shrugs were shaped.

I'm really happy at the transformation of this bargain $1 doll, from naked in the op shop bin to cleaned and dressed, she has scrubbed up very nicely indeed!

I just love looking through the other posts for Transformation Thursdays, there are always fantastic ideas, I highlight my favourites below. If you love home crafty things, be sure to check out the other blog party posts at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

<3

Some of my selected highlights from this week's party (oh so many!)

• chalkboard paint ideas @ A Little Bit of Sanity and a Lot of Chaos AND @  House of Grace


• craft room storage ideas @ Clean Mama AND @ In My Own Style


• easy apron pattern with adjustable neck strap @ Yards and Yards


• how to look after a wood chopping board @ Tools Are for Women Too


• hanging jewellery organisers @ Red Heads Craft More Fun


• make a reusable workbook using an old album @ Feels Like Home


• what to do with a bored child @ Somewhat Simple


• a really pretty rag doll with fleece hair @ Sew Much Ado