Berenguer Reborn Tutorial:

Page 8:

Nose Holes:

Option 1:

Materials:

  • Awl
  • Liquid Paraffin Candle
  • Fingernail Polish remover
  • Round Toothpicks
  • Cotton Puffs

 
First I start by heating the very tip of my metal awl.  I wipe it off on a paper towel and insert in the nose holding the head at an upward angle and upside down. Once I have the initial small hole started I heat up the awl further up the shaft and then continue to reinsert until I am satisfied with the size of the hole.

! Be careful that the awl does not rest on the vinyl just below the nose!!!

You may need to reheat the awl several times and insert in the hole until you get the size opening that you want. 

If you remove the awl too quickly the hole will close back down some--but if you leave it in there for a few more seconds as the awl cools the hole will remain open. 

Now, do the other side. 

When you are done there will be some faint black marks on the vinyl inside the nose.  Take a piece of cotton and swirl on the end of a toothpick (looks like a mini q-tip or cotton swab).  Dip the cotton end into some fingernail polish remover and insert in the nose and wipe the black away. 

The differences between the fingernail polish removers:

Non-acetone is better to use if you are using it on painted areas of the vinyl.  It tends to just take off very recent paint and is great for redos and mistakes. 

With Acetone is better for harder and stubborn redos and mistakes--but can take more layers off and touchups may be necessary.

! Be careful that you don't get the fingernail polish remover with acetone on the lips--it can remove the paint (factory or otherwise).

 

Option 2:

Materials:

  • Small Drill bits (3/32" and 1/8")
  • Small metal files (Prillycharmin.com)

 

   

Opening the Mouth:

Materials:
  • Exacto Knife
  • Small Needle files
  • Manicure electric file (optional)

 

 
I don't usually open the mouths anymore and use the magnetic pacifiers instead.  But this is how I did it before (please note that the doll used in the pictures was already done before I took these pictures, but I wanted to show step by step how I did it.

 

Using a very sharp (new) blade on the exacto knife carefully slice through the vinyl following the natural crease in the vinyl between the lips. 

 

Use your small needle files and/or your manicure electric file to smooth the rough edges.  You will need to have the lips completely smooth before trying to repaint the lips. 

 
This inexpensive battery operated manicure tool ($5.99 at Wal-mart) works great for smoothing the vinyl on the lips.

 
Gently squeeze the cheeks together and the mouth will open.

You will need to remove the lip color if you haven't done so already with some acetone or fingernail polish remover with acetone.  Instructions for repainting the lips to follow.

 

 

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